Georgia ForestWatch is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization based in North Georgia. All donations are tax deductible.
Membership:
Would you like to become a member or renew your membership?
Your membership helps support our ongoing public education, ecological monitoring, and proactive involvement in the management of Georgia’s National Forests. These 867,510 acres protect critical clean water supplies, rare animal habitat and offer unparalleled recreation opportunities for all Georgians.
Benefits:
Members receive Forest News, our quarterly newsletter; Action Alerts regarding time-sensitive environmental issues; Outings and Event notifications to find out about exciting hikes, outings & events; and early-bird priority on hikes.
➜ Membership Levels:
Choose a membership level below:
- $20 – Student Member
- $35 – Member
- $50 – Family
- $100 – Friend or Small Business
- $250 – Supporter
- $500 – Forest Guardian
- $1000 – Benefactor
- $2500 – President’s Circle
Ways to Donate
Georgia ForestWatch accepts checks, credit card donations, stock, and life insurance. You may give securely on-line OR mail checks to Georgia ForestWatch, 81 Crown Mountain Place, Bldg. C, Suite 200, Dahlonega, GA 30533. Call us if you have any questions: 706-867-0051. All donations are fully tax deductible and help us with all aspects of protecting your forests. These general funds are applied where most urgently needed.
Memorial/Honorary donations allow you to pay tribute to someone special and help create a lasting forest legacy. Please submit your donation to 81 Crown Mountain Pl, Bldg C, Suite 200, Dahlonega, GA 30533. Be sure to indicate whether your donation is “In Honor” or “In Memory” and the contact information of the individual if you would like acknowledgement sent to them. Please feel free to send any other information you would like to share. Click here for our online form.
Workplace Giving: You can also make your contribution through workplace giving if your company has an EarthShare program. If it doesn’t have an EarthShare program, contact us to find out how to make that happen!
Retirement Funds: Retirement funds are taxed as income to your heirs and may be subject to estate tax. If you would like to name Georgia ForestWatch as the beneficiary of some or all of your 401k, Keogh, or other IRA, these funds would pass to ForestWatch tax-free, with no estate tax for your heirs. Your attorney or your employer’s human resource department can provide the necessary form to designate Georgia ForestWatch as a beneficiary.
If you are 70½ years old and have a traditional, tax-deferred IRA, the government requires that you take “Required Minimum Distributions” (RMDs) every year. The RMDs are payouts from your IRA that increase each year beyond your 70½ th birthday. If you would like to save on taxes and give the money to Georgia ForestWatch, click here to learn more.
Stock Gifts: If you would like to donate stocks, bonds, or other securities, please contact our office manager at 706-867-0051. Transferring stock is an excellent way for you to make a donation to ForestWatch because neither you nor ForestWatch pays a capital gains tax on the appreciated value. We sell the stock immediately and you receive notification of the sale price so that you may record the full market value as a charitable deduction.
Life Insurance: You may want to make Georgia ForestWatch the beneficiary of some or all of your life insurance policy if you have grown children and other loved one who are provided for in other ways in your estate plan. Contact your attorney or your life insurance agent to obtain the necessary forms to make Georgia ForestWatch, Inc., a beneficiary (Federal Tax ID 58-2188475).
Bequests: The simplest type of planned gift is a bequest in your will. Bequests may reduce estate taxes and allow you to make a larger gift than you are able to make during your lifetime. Bequests may be:
- A percentage of your total estate;
- A specific amount of cash, stock or real estate;
- A percentage of the remainder of your estate after other distributions are made; or
- A percentage or amount contingent on other conditions being met, such as having a loved one predecease you.
If you already have a will, your lawyer may simply add a codicil stating: “I give and bequeath to Georgia ForestWatch, Inc, 81 Crown Mountain Place, Building C Suite 200, Dahlonega, GA 30533, Federal Tax ID 58-2188475.”
Online shopper: Planning on doing some online shopping? Use this Amazon Smile link or Giving Assistant link so all your eligible shopping will benefit Georgia ForestWatch!
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*We use PayPal to accept either Gifts or Membership Dues. No PayPal account is required to use this service.