How to Donate

Give a gift for the Yuba

Many Ways to Donate

There are lots of ways you can contribute to SYRCL’s mission. All gifts are welcome!

Membership

As one of the largest grassroots river organizations in the country, SYRCL’s continued effectiveness as an advocate and change agent depends on having a membership base that is thriving and engaged.

View Membership Information

Event Sponsorship

SYRCL is a 501(c)3 organization with deep roots in our community and a strong record of protecting and restoring the Yuba watershed for over 30 years. Our advocacy, science and education programs have been generously supported by foundation and corporate partners at local, regional and national levels.

We have many attractive sponsorship opportunities for both small and large businesses, including these annual events:

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival, the largest environmental film festival in the United States, and Yuba River Cleanup Day, which now mobilizes nearly 700 volunteers of all ages to pick up over 15,000 pounds of trash and recycling from 33 sites in the Yuba and Bear River watersheds.

SYRCL is also supported by over 100 business members from Nevada County and beyond.

Contact us to learn more about Event Sponsorship.

Planned Giving

Create a legacy for the Yuba Watershed

Your legacy matters. By including SYRCL in your estate plans, you’re making a powerful statement of support for the Yuba River. This enduring commitment ensures that the watershed is protected for generations to come. In the sections below, we’ve included links to educational resources to help you start the process.

Legacy gifts are extraordinary contributions made through wills, trusts, IRAs, retirement plans, and life insurance. Depending on your unique circumstances, they may also offer tax advantages. We recommend that you explore your options with a financial adviser or legal counsel.

Planned Giving doesn’t have to be daunting. It’s a beautiful way to care for your family and leave a positive impact for the rivers, forests, meadows, and streams that you love.

If you have any questions, please contact Julie Pokrandt, Development Director at (530) 265-5961 x 214 or julie [at] yubariver.org.

For more information about planned giving, download our Yuba Legacy Circle brochure.

Download Brochure

Bequests, Wills & Trusts

To help you get started on your plans and legacy, you can use FreeWill, an online tool that guides you through the process of creating your will or trust. It’s easy to use, accessible online, and can be completed in 20 minutes. You can use this resource on its own, or use it to document your wishes before finalizing your plans with an attorney.

There are a few ways you can leave a gift to SYRCL through bequests, wills and trusts:

Leave a specific dollar amount.
Designate a percentage of your estate to be given through your will or living trust.
Give only the remainder, or residue, of your estate after bequests to loved ones have been made.
Provide a gift of specific property such as real estate or stocks.

To include SYRCL in your will, you can add the following example text:

“I hereby give __* to the South Yuba River Citizens League, Tax ID #68-0171371, a river conservation organization, to support their mission.” *Fill in the blank with the dollar amount, percentage of estate, or specific property you intend to give SYRCL.

If you would like to include SYRCL in your estate plans, we recommend contacting your attorney or estate planner. If you have included SYRCL in your will or trust, please let us know so we may thank you.

Questions: Contact Julie Pokrandt, Development Director, julie[at]yubariver.org. (530) 265-5961 x 214

Retirement Plans

Do you have an IRA, 401(k), life-insurance policy, or any other assets not included in your will? If so, these are called non-probate assets and you must plan your beneficiaries for them separately. Use this online tool to make your plans and designate the South Yuba River Citizens League as a beneficiary of one or more of these assets.

You can create a legacy by naming the South Yuba River Citizens League as a beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), Keogh account, or other qualified retirement plan. Upon your passing, all or a portion of the unused balance in your account will be transferred to SYRCL as a charitable gift.

Questions: Contact Julie Pokrandt, Development Director, julie[at]yubariver.org. (530) 265-5961 x 214

IRA Distribution Gifts – QCDs

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) are a way for you to contribute to SYRCL directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). If you are 70½ years or older, you can donate up to $105,000 annually from your IRA without having to include the distribution in your taxable income. It’s a powerful tool for giving that benefits both you and our organization.

Benefits include:

Satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution.
Exclude donation from taxable income.
Make an immediate impact for the Yuba Watershed.
Save post-tax money for personal use.

Your IRA custodian (e.g. Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, etc.) will have instructions for you to follow. Please have your institution include your name and address on the distribution check to SYRCL so we may acknowledge your donation.

South Yuba River Citizens League
313 Railroad Ave, Suite 101
Nevada City, CA 95959
Our TAX ID# is 68-0171371

Questions: Contact Julie Pokrandt, Development Director, julie[at]yubariver.org. (530) 265-5961 x 214

Please consult your tax advisor to learn more about the benefits and advantages of making a QCD through your IRA.

Life Insurance Gifts

Life insurance policies are a meaningful and often overlooked method of making a charitable gift. One way to do this is to name SYRCL as a beneficiary on your life insurance policy. Another is to transfer ownership of a paid-up policy to SYRCL, thus receiving an immediate tax deduction. You can also take out a policy and make SYRCL the owner and beneficiary. In this case, your annual premiums will be tax-deductible.

Gifts of Securities

SYRCL accepts gifts of appreciated Stocks, Bonds & Mutual Funds

How to Gift Securities

In addition to cash donations, SYRCL also accepts gifts of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds (“securities”). A gift of appreciated securities could offer significant benefits to donors, such as an immediate charitable deduction for the full market value of the stock and avoidance of capital gains taxes that would normally be due upon sale.

View Instructions

1) Instruct your broker to transfer shares to the South Yuba River Citizens League (our federal tax id number is 68-0171371)

2) Provide your broker with this transfer information:
Registration: South Yuba River Citizens League
Account No.: 76188968
DTC: 0547
Firm: RW Baird
Phone: 530-271-3000
Contact: Janice Dunn, RW Baird

3) Contact Julie Pokrandt, Development Director at SYRCL, julie@yubariver.org, (530) 265-5961 x214 to notify us about the number and type of shares you are donating.

Donation Benefits

It’s possible to receive an income tax deduction for the fair market value of the stock gift on the date transferred to SYRCL (there could be limitations for securities held less than one year).
You could potentially pay no capital gains tax on the appreciated stock.
If you own stock that is now worth less than when you purchased it, consult your tax advisor about the possible advantages of selling the stock yourself, donating the proceeds to SYRCL, and claiming a capital loss on your tax return.
Making a big impact for SYRCL without reducing your on-hand cash.

Please consult your tax advisor to learn more about the benefits and advantages of donating stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

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