Giving to the Waterbird Society

The Waterbird Society welcomes donations in support of its work in waterbird research and conservation. It is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization and donations from those residing in the United States are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law.

Donations help the society to:

Provide a forum for the dissemination of scientific information by:

  • Publishing Waterbirds, the Society’s internationally renowned journal
  • Holding annual meetings for scientists to present their research and communicate with other scientists
  • Bringing internationally renowned researchers to meetings to share their study results

Support students by:

  • Providing grants for travel to scientific meetings
  • Presenting student awards for outstanding presentations at meetings
  • Providing grants for undergraduate, Master’s or Ph.D. level research projects
  • Providing opportunities for students to meet and network with peers and senior researchers

Support research by:

  • Recognizing distinguished scientific research through the presentation of the Kai Curry-Lindhal and Robert Cushman Murphy Awards
  • Providing research grants

Supporting conservation by:

  • Hosting conservation workshops and symposia at annual meetings
  • Publishing special issues of Waterbirds
  • Participation in Waterbird conservation planning

Giving Options

Online donations to the Waterbird Society can be made through the OSNA website.

Membership

The Society invites anyone interested in Waterbird biology and conservation to participate in the Society as a full member. The Society offers a number of membership levels including options for annual and life memberships as well as reduced rates for online and student memberships. Society members receive of the journal Waterbirds and are welcomed to participate in the Society at a variety of different levels.
Click here for more information on becoming a society member or contact one our current council members.

Annual Giving

The Waterbird Society accepts annual gifts of any amount to assist in furthering our mission of establishing better communication and coordination between the growing number of people studying and monitoring aquatic birds, and to contribute to the protection and management of stressed populations or habitats of these species. For further information on how to make such a donation to the society, please contact the Society’s treasurer.

Levels of Annual Giving:

  • Over $100- Piping Plover
  • Over $500- Roseate Tern
  • Over $1000- Waved Albatross
  • Over $5000- Whooping Crane (Donors at this level will receive a life membership to the Society)

Legacy Giving

Consider leaving a donation to the Waterbird Society through your estate and financial planning. Legacy patrons ensure the continuation of our organization and its mission into the future. Planned gifts may be made to the Society in general or designated for a specific endowment fund (see below).

There are many ways to contribute via planned giving:

  • Through a will or estate planning
  • Though a trust
  • Designating the Waterbird Society as a beneficiary of an IRA, retirement plan, or life insurance
  • Designating the Waterbird Society as a beneficiary under a Charitable Remainder Trust or Charitable Lead Trust

Legacy gifts will be acknowledged in the journal Waterbirds.

In the US, planned giving through financial or estate planning can often provide tax benefit helping donors to meet both personal financial goals and charitable goals. Donors may deduct contributions as provided in section 170 of the Internal Revenue Service Code. These donations are deductible for federal estate and gift taxes if they meet the applicable provisions of sections 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the Code.

For more information on planned giving contact your financial planner or attorney. The Society is also happy to provide additional information, although we are unable to provide legal advice at this time. For general information on legacy giving, please contact Parsec Financial. When meeting with your attorney you will need the following information:

  1. Legal name: Waterbird Society
  2. Tax ID #: 22-2415111

The Waterbird Society is a tax-exempt not-for-profit organized under section 501(c)(3) of the Code and as described in section 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(A)(vi).

Suggested language:
I bequeath to the Waterbird Society, a not-for-profit organization, the sum of $_____________ (or ____% of my residuary estate) for support of their activities in promoting research and conservation of waterbirds worldwide.

Endowed Giving

Donors interested in donating amounts of $20,000 USD or greater may designate a specific purpose for the endowment. Endowments of $20,000 will generate approximately $1000 USD per year.

Ideas for endowments include:

  • Journal publication
  • Research grants
  • Student travel awards
  • Distinguished research awards
  • Conservation action

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