Ways to Give

Donate Now

There are many ways to support NHSM!

Monthly Giving Program

Each month your credit card is charged the amount you designate. Sign up for recurring donations on our Donate page.

Donate Appreciated Stock/Mutual Fund

Get a tax deduction equal to the fair market of the security (if owned  longer than one year) at the time of transfer and never pay capital gains on the appreciated value of the stock. List the Ameritrade account info which would include the firm’s name, Ameritrade, DTC #, account name, Natural History Society of Maryland and our account number. Please contact your financial advisor to obtain the necessary form and advise our office if you are transferring securities into this account.

Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

Donate through a Donor Advised Fund, a charitable giving account offered by sponsoring financial institutions. Simple, less expensive alternative to setting up a private foundation. You deposit securities or cash, the sponsoring institution manages the account and you make a tax deductible donation to the cause of your choice. No capital gains tax if you contribute long term appreciated securities (owned longer than one year) to the fund account. Contact your financial advisor for more information. 

United Way

Donate a minimum annual pledge totaling $100 through United Way via payroll deductions through a workplace annual giving campaign.  An account has been set up at United Way Central Maryland (UWCM) for The Natural History Society of Maryland. Our designation code is 7643. You can also make a direct donation to UWCM.  Visit www.uwcm.org, search Resources under the Menu and select the Donation form. Choose your payment method and check “I want to support another nonprofit through United Way by designating my gift.” Enter Natural History Society of Maryland and the designation code 7643 on the “Agency Name” line and our address. Annual pledges under $100 would not be directed to our organization.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD)

IRA holders that are currently age 70 ½ and older are required to take annual RMD (required minimum distributions) from their IRA. An IRA holder can request a QCD to a qualified non-profit organization which is considered a non- taxable distribution. Contact your financial advisor to obtain the necessary QCD form.

Memorial/Tribute Gift

Express your love, admiration, and gratitude by making a memorial gift to NHSM to honor the memory of someone special.

Name NHSM as a beneficiary

An IRA holder of any age can designate a charitableorganization as the beneficiary of their IRA. You can also make the gift of a life insurance policy.  Contact the investment firm, bank, or insurance company that holds your IRA or insurance policy for a Beneficiary Designation form.  Consider donating appreciated real estate (a home, vacation home, land, commercial property). You can also designate NHSM as the beneficiary of your bank accounts (checking, savings, CD’s).  Contact your bank for details.

Employee Matching Gifts

Check with your employer’s human resources department to inquire if they match personal donations you make to a qualified non-profit organization.

Employer Grant/Giving Back Program

Contact your employer’s Community Relations Department to inquire if they offer a community giving program. Many firms offer grants/make donations to non-profit charitable organizations and advertise the organizations they support in an effort to show they give back to the community.

Planned Giving/Legacy Giving

Include the NHSM in your Will or Living Trust.You can make a general unrestricted use and purpose gift in your will or trust for a specific dollar amount; a specific gift (percentage of the estate or specific items such as property, collections, art, books, jewelry, etc.) or the residue of your estate.

Charitable Gift Annuities

Charitable Gift Annuities can provide you with income now when you make a sizable gift of cash and/or securities in return for a partial charitable tax deduction.

  • Monthly Giving Program – Each month your credit card is charged the amount you designate. Sign up for recurring donations on our Donate page.
  • NHSM is a charitable organization listed on AmazonSmile. When you sign up and shop on AmazonSmile you can select Natural History Society of Maryland and the Amazon Smile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of your eligible purchases to our organization. AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices and features on Amazon.com.
  • Donate Appreciated Stock/Mutual Fund –  Get a tax deduction equal to the fair market of the security (if owned  longer than one year) at the time of transfer and never pay capital gains on the appreciated value of the stock. List the Ameritrade account info which would include the firm’s name, Ameritrade, DTC #, account name, Natural History Society of Maryland and our account number. Please contact your financial advisor to obtain the necessary form and advise our office if you are transferring securities into this account.
  • Donate through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), a charitable giving account offered by sponsoring financial institutions. Simple, less expensive alternative to setting up a private foundation. You deposit securities or cash, the sponsoring institution manages the account and you make a tax deductible donation to the cause of your choice. No capital gains tax if you contribute long term appreciated securities (owned longer than one year) to the fund account. Contact your financial advisor for more information. 
  • Donate a minimum annual pledge totaling $100 through United Way via payroll deductions through a workplace annual giving campaign.  An account has been set up at United Way Central Maryland (UWCM) for The Natural History Society of Maryland. Our designation code is 7643. You can also make a direct donation to UWCM.  Visit www.uwcm.org, search Resources under the Menu and select the Donation form. Choose your payment method and check “I want to support another nonprofit through United Way by designating my gift.” Enter Natural History Society of Maryland and the designation code 7643 on the “Agency Name” line and our address. Annual pledges under $100 would not be directed to our organization. 
  • Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) – IRA holders that are currently age 70 ½ and older are required to take annual RMD (required minimum distributions) from their IRA. An IRA holder can request a QCD to a qualified non-profit organization which is considered a non- taxable distribution. Contact your financial advisor to obtain the necessary QCD form. 
  • Memorial/Tribute Gift – Express your love, admiration, and gratitude by making a memorial gift to NHSM to honor the memory of someone special. 
  • Name NHSM as a beneficiary – An IRA holder of any age can designate a charitable organization as the beneficiary of their IRA. You can also make the gift of a life insurance policy.  Contact the investment firm, bank, or insurance company that holds your IRA or insurance policy for a Beneficiary Designation form.  Consider donating appreciated real estate (a home, vacation home, land, commercial property). You can also designate NHSM as the beneficiary of your bank accounts (checking, savings, CD’s).  Contact your bank for details.
  • Employee Matching Gifts – Check with your employer’s human resources department to inquire if they match personal donations you make to a qualified non-profit organization.
  • Employer Grant/Giving Back Program – Contact your employer’s Community Relations Department to inquire if they offer a community giving program. Many firms offer grants/make donations to non-profit charitable organizations and advertise the organizations they support in an effort to show they give back to the community.  
  • Planned Giving/Legacy Giving – Include the NHSM in your Will or Living Trust. You can make a general unrestricted use and purpose gift in your will or trust for a specific dollar amount; a specific gift (percentage of the estate or specific items such as property, collections, art, books, jewelry, etc.) or the residue of your estate. 
  • Charitable Gift Annuities can provide you with income now when you make a sizable gift of cash and/or securities in return for a partial charitable tax deduction.   

The information and suggestions contained on this page is for informational purposes only and not intended as legal, accounting or professional advice.  For assistance and guidance in planning your charitable giving and the tax benefits to your particular situation please consult a lawyer, accountant and/or financial planning advisor for professional advice.