Your support will help Trees Forever fulfill our mission to plant and care for trees and the environment by empowering people, building community, and promoting stewardship. Thank you for being a special part of the Trees Forever family!
To mail a donation, send to: Trees Forever, 80 W 8th Avenue, Marion, IA 52302
See below for more ways to help out!
Sponsorships
We couldn’t do our work without the generous support of our sponsors!
If you are interested in a sponsorship or partnership opportunity, please contact our Director of Development, Heather Croskrey at hcroskrey@treesforever.org or 319-373-0650, Ext. 120.
Event Sponsorships
Legacy Society and Memorial Planting
You can now sponsor one of Trees Forever’s most touching events. This annual planting serves as a celebration of those who have been honored or memorialized through a donation to Trees Forever.
Memorial Planting Sponsor: $5,000
- Recognition in program
- Logo with link and company description on website
- Focused social media post with acknowledgement
- Signage at event indicating sponsorship
Consider honoring your employees! Give a gift in honor of employee milestones, birthdays, and anniversaries are becoming increasingly popular in lieu of gifts.
Program Sponsorships
ReLeaf Cedar Rapids Opportunities
Become part of this historic effort to re-tree Cedar Rapids after the devastating 2020 derecho. One-year sponsorships are available for a variety of programs, below are a few examples. Contact us today for more information!
- Community Tree Distributions
- Neighborhood Tree Captains Program
- Tree Voucher Program
- Campus Canopy 10+
Growing Futures Opportunities
Trees Forever’s Growing Futures teen employment program takes a unique approach to caring for our community’s trees. Through sponsoring the Growing Futures program, you will enable teams of high schoolers to be employed to help grow and care for our tree canopy while also learning about the world around them and the potential within themselves.
- Lunch sponsor – $500
- Equipment Sponsor – $5,000
- Team Sponsor – $10,000
Tree Planting Sponsorships
Plantings Available
Interested in tree planting in your community? Click here for volunteer opportunities near you or contact us for more information.
Memorials and Tributes
Memorialize or honor a cherished one through a donation made to Trees Forever here. Whether a memorial, birthday, or special occasion, you will create a lasting tribute that will positively impact generations to come. The honoree or designee will receive a card from us letting them know the donation was made in their name. Everyone will also receive an invitation to the May Memorial Tree Planting annual event where we will dedicate and plant a new tree in tribute to those individuals at our Memorial Grove in Wanatee Park, located in Marion, Iowa. You will be able to visit the tree year after year and know that your gift grows in tribute to them.
Tax Smart Gifts
Many people choose to give stocks, securities, or mutual funds instead of gifts of cash. Giving appreciated assets like these help you avoid paying capital gains taxes, and can give you an income tax deduction for the full value of the gift, if you’ve had the assets for more than one year.
Give appreciated assets now and enjoy the benefits, or add us as a beneficiary of these assets and eliminate estate and inheritance tax, making the most of your gift.
Stocks, Securities, & Mutual Funds
Many people choose to give stocks, securities, or mutual funds instead of gifts of cash. Giving appreciated assets like these help you avoid paying capital gains taxes, and can give you an income tax deduction for the full value of the gift, if you’ve had the assets for more than one year.
Give appreciated assets now and enjoy the benefits, or add us as a beneficiary of these assets and eliminate estate and inheritance tax, making the most of your gift.
Benefits
- Gifts of assets can often save you far more on taxes than gifts of cash
- Avoid all capital gains taxes
- Receive an income tax deduction for the value of the assets (if you’ve had them for more than a year)
- Make an immediate impact on our mission
How it Works
- Transfer appreciated securities directly to us (and avoid all capital gains taxes).
- Receive a tax receipt for the value of the assets.
- The securities are sold and the funds put directly to use for greatest impact.
Ask your broker to donate through:
- Need a firm
- DTC number
- ACCT name:
- Tax ID#: 42-1419181
- ACCT Number:
Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a tax-efficient way for individuals who are age 70 ½ or older to make gifts directly from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA). QCDs can count towards satisfying an individual’s Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for the year, which is the minimum amount that an individual must withdraw from their IRA each year once they reach age 73.
Who it’s for
- Individuals 70 1/2 or older
- Those who have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) that is a traditional IRA, not a Roth IRA
- Those who want to make a charitable gift that counts towards their Required Minimum Distribution
- Those who want to reduce their taxable income
Benefits
- Reduce taxable income
- Counts towards your Required Minimum Distribution for the year
- Make an immediate impact on our mission
How It Works
- Instruct your IRA custodian to distribute up to $105,000 directly to one or more eligible charities.
- The QCD counts towards your Required Minimum Distribution.
- The QCD is not included in your taxable income, which can reduce your overall tax liability. You will not receive a charitable income tax deduction for the QCD.
If you wish to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution, contact your IRA custodian to get started.
Donor Advised Funds
A donor-advised fund (DAF) allows individuals to make charitable contributions and receive an immediate tax deduction. The funds are managed by a DAF custodian, and the donor can recommend grants to their preferred nonprofit organizations. Donors can contribute to the fund over time and recommend grants to charities at their discretion, providing flexibility in their giving strategy.
Benefits
- Retain the flexibility to make grant recommendations over time
- Receive an immediate tax deduction when contributing to your fund
- Make an immediate impact on our mission
Log in to your donor-advised fund account or contact your fund administrator to submit a grant request.
Submit your request to:
Trees Forever
Tax ID#: 42-1419181
If you choose to support our organization, please contact us to let us know to ensure that you are properly acknowledged and that your grant gets put to use as you intend.
Real Estate
Who it’s for:
- Those who own property that has appreciated in value and would result in a significant capital gains tax liability if sold
- Individuals wanting to simplify their estate planning and reduce their estate tax liability
- Those no longer using the property and want to avoid the expenses and hassles of owning and maintaining it
Benefits
- Reduce estate tax liability
- Eliminate ownership and maintenance expenses
- Make a significant charitable gift in support of our mission
How It Works
- Contact us to let us know about your interest in donating real estate.
- Obtain an appraisal of the property to determine its fair market value. This will help you determine the amount of your charitable deduction for tax purposes.
- Work with us and your attorney to transfer the property ownership. This may involve executing a deed, transferring title, and completing any necessary legal or regulatory requirements.
- Claim your charitable deduction on your tax return for the year in which the donation is made.
Consult with a qualified estate planning attorney and tax professional to determine if this is the right option for you. Additionally, there are some restrictions on the types of property we can accept, so please contact us before you donate!
Legacy Planning
Why do people like making planned gifts?
Planned gifts (most commonly a donation made in your will or trust) cost nothing today and allow you to make an incredible impact, which is why so many people choose to make them.
Gifts in a Will or Trust:
Whether you’re 18 or 108, everyone should have a will in place. People use wills to choose who gets their property, name guardians for minor children, provide a plan for pets, and more.
Through a will, many people also choose to leave a part of their estate to Trees Forever and make an impact on the causes they love, for years to come.
Why give in your will?
- Continue to use assets or property during your lifetime
- Potentially reduce your estate tax burden
- Leave a lasting legacy to Trees Forever
Commonly gifted assets in wills and trusts
- Financial accounts
- Real estate
- Vehicles
- Brokerage accounts
- Crypto and NFTs
- Personal property
List Trees Forever as a beneficiary
Beneficiary designations are so powerful.
Assets not included in your will are called non-probate assets. Examples are 401(k)s, IRAs, life insurance policies, and other accounts. Designating Trees Forever as a beneficiary can have a big impact and may avoid unwanted taxes for your heirs.
Charitable Benefits
- Receive an estate tax charitable deduction
- Reduce the burden of taxes on your family
- Continue to use assets or property during your lifetime
- Leave a lasting legacy to the National Museum of Wildlife Art
Commonly Gifted Assets for Beneficiaries
- IRA
- 401(k)
- Life insurance
- Joint real estate
- Joint bank accounts
- Joint property ownership
Donate a vehicle or boat
That old car or boat can make a big impact! It is fast and easy and it is tax deductible.
Volunteer
Time is one of the most precious resources. Donating your time to Trees Forever is a valuable way that you can help! With 7,000 volunteers a year, there is always some way you can get involved. Click here to learn more!
Amazon Wish List
Check out our Growing Futures Amazon Wish Lists to provide much needed supplies for our planting teams. Just add an item from our wish list to your cart and it will ship directly to us!
For giving help, please contact Heather Croskrey, hcroskrey@treesforever.org
or 319-373-0650, ext. 124
