Give to the UEC

Donor Advised Funds (DAF)

Through a Donor Advised Fund, you can make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then continue to recommend grants from the fund over time. Giving through a Donor Advised Fund streamlines your giving to maximize your impact!  Ask your financial advisor or fund manager for more information.  

Gifts of Stock

Increase your impact by donating long-term appreciated securities, including stock, bonds, and mutual funds directly to the Urban Ecology Center. 

When you contribute securities directly to the Urban Ecology Center, we gain the full proceeds from the sale, and you can potentially eliminate capital gains exposure. It’s a win-win! You generate more support for our environmental education programming and receive a tax deduction for the fair market value of your donated shares.

In-kind Donations 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — The UEC is in need of some specific items to assist in our programs.  Click here to see the Wish List items from each branch. If you don’t see an item listed, please call for more information so we can determine together if your donation is best for the UEC or another local organization!

Planned Giving

Gifts of the future come in many forms - bequests, stocks, insurance, real estate, charitable trusts and more! Learn more about how you can plan now to give later here: UEC’s Legacy Society.

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)

If you are over age 70½, you may give a gift from your IRA as a tax-free distribution to the Urban Ecology Center. An annual gift up to $105,000 (index adjusted annually) transferred from your IRA directly to the Urban Ecology Center counts toward your required minimum distribution without being considered taxable income. The distribution is known as an IRA Charitable Rollover. Contact your IRA custodian to request a gift from your QCD be made to the Urban Ecology Center as an IRA Charitable Rollover. You may find this form helpful when making your request.

Workplace Giving

Did you know many employers match gifts made by their employees? Matching gifts are an easy and wonderful way to double your impact! Ask your employer (check with HR!) about their matching gift program. 

Here are some of the organizations that already provide generous support to the UEC through their matching gift programs:

• Artisan Partners
• Baird Foundation
• Caterpillar Foundation
• Eaton Corporation
• GE Foundation
• IBM
• Reader’s Digest
• Rockwell Automation
• U.S. Bank

Wish List

We accept items that are in good condition and that can be used by our program teams to support our mission. Check out our wish list to see items that we are seeking for each branch.