Common Yellowthroat / Karen Brown / Audubon Photography Awards
Make a difference for birds!
Donations from our community help Birds Connect Seattle advocate and organize for cities where people and birds thrive. We envision cities that integrate and value nature, minimize threats to birds, and protect habitat. Birds Connect Seattle’s urban conservation, environmental education, and community science programs are sustained through the generosity of our community of thousands of bird advocates.
There are many ways you can protect our local feathered friends with your financial gift. All donations of $49 or more qualify for an annual household membership to Birds Connect Seattle, your local Audubon chapter and independent nonprofit organization.
Support local conservation efforts in your local community with your gift. Our programs are designed to connect people with birds, and take steps to advocate for their protection.
You and your entire household can become Birds Connect Seattle members for a gift of $49 or more annually. All members receive exclusive benefits including discounts and special event invitations.
Stretch your support with an automatic monthly gift. Recurring gifts are an easy way to provide reliable and sustainable resources to fund our programs.
Special Events & Giving Days
Birds Connect Seattle regularly hosts engaging events around the Seattle area to fund our mission and programs which support it. Mark your calendars for our largest event fundraisers: Birdathon, held throughout all of May, GiveBIG during the first two weeks of May, and #GivingTuesday on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
Tribute, Memorial, and Gift Memberships
Make a special gift for someone you know who shares Birds Connect Seattle’s passion to protect local birds and habitat.
- A Gift Membership can be purchased for a new or returning member. Contact our Development Assistant to see when their membership is up for renewal.
- Tribute or Memorial Gifts honor someone’s deep commitment to local birds. Tribute and Memorial Gifts can be made in any size and you can choose to send an e-card or card in the mail. If your gift is $500 or more it is eligible for a custom engraved feather on display at the Nature Shop as part of the beautiful art installation, Feathers for the Future, created by local artist Stuart Nakamura.
Legacy Circle: Planned Giving
Create a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship through a planned gift or bequest to Birds Connect Seattle. By including our nonprofit organization in your will or estate plans you are ensuring that local birds, other wildlife, and habitat are protected for future generations. Visit our Legacy Circle page for more information.
Other Ways to Give
Donor Advised Funds
A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is an investment account for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations, like Birds Connect Seattle. You can contribute cash, securities, or other assets to your DAF, and receive an immediate tax deduction. Those funds can grow tax-free, and you can contribute to qualifying nonprofit organizations at any time.
Donations made to Birds Connect Seattle from your DAF can be used to pay your annual membership dues.
IRA or Retirement Fund Gifts (QCD)
If you are over the age of 70 ½ you may be eligible to make a qualified charitable distribution (also known as an IRA withdrawal or IRA Charitable Rollover gift) that is paid directly from your IRA to Birds Connect Seattle. In this circumstance you do not need to pay taxes on the gift to Birds Connect Seattle and it also helps to satisfy the annual minimum distribution requirement. Contact your investment portfolio manager to learn more.
General Qualified Chaitable Distributions (QCD) information:
- Money is transferred directly from your IRA account to Birds Connect Seattle (Tax ID: 91-6009716).
- Donors must be 70 1/2 to make this type of donation.
- Donors may give up to $100,000 annually, tax free
- Donors are required to give a minimum from their IRA annually, and QCD’s count towards this minimum requirement.
Gifts of Stock
Birds Connect Seattle gratefully welcomes gifts of stock and other publicly traded or marketable securities such as mutual fund shares and options. Please contact the Development Director for more information.
Corporate Support & Sponsorship
Business owner? Align your community involvement efforts with one of the Seattle area’s oldest and most effective conservation organizations. Demonstrate your company’s commitment to the environmental health of the community in which we live, work, and play. Learn more about Corporate Support opportunities and contact our Development Director to learn more.
Birds Connect Seattle’s current Corporate Partners:
Special thanks to Zeiss, Dusted Valley Winery, and Aslan Brewing Company for supporting our programs and community.
Vehicle, RV, Boat, or Motorcycle Donation
Have an old vehicle taking up space in your driveway or garage? CARS makes donating your vehicle (working or not) to Birds Connect Seattle easy. Proceeds from your vehicle donation will help save local birds. Get started today in three easy steps:
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- Visit CarEasy.org or call 855-500-7433 to notify CARS and Birds Connect Seattle of your donation.
- CARS will tow your working or non-working vehicle at no cost to you.
- You will receive a donation receipt and Birds Connect Seattle will receive the proceeds to immediately put to work to save birds.
Tangible Goods
Birds Connect Seattle accepts some items in good, working condition.
- Binoculars / Scopes: Yes! These can be used in our Nature Shop, or for our outreach and education programs.
- Vehicles / Boats / RVs: Yes! These can be donated through our partner, CARS.
- Books: Sometimes. We do accept bird and conservation-related books in good condition. We especially appreciate recently printed guide books. We do not accept encyclopedias, off-topic volumes, or books in disrepair.
- Art: No. Unfortunately, we do not have space, or a method such as an auction to rehome artwork or sculptures.
For other items, such as property donations, please contact the Development Director to see if you donation falls within our gift acceptance guidelines.
