Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection

Protect Tomorrow’s Sonoran Desert Today

You can protect tomorrow’s Sonoran Desert wildlife today by leaving a legacy (or planned) gift to the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. Your bequest will allow the Coalition to continue working for a protected and connected Sonoran Desert; endangered species protection; sustainable water resources; intact wildlife linkages; and development directed to appropriate, less biologically-rich lands. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your legacy giving options further, please give us a call at (520) 388-9925. We’d love to talk with you.

What is Legacy or Planned Giving?

A legacy or planned gift is a gift that a donor decides to give at some future date. There are various types of legacy gifts, including bequests in your will or trust, and being included as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, IRA, or life insurance. Legacy giving allows you to make a generous gift that you might never be able to give during your lifetime – and have a huge impact on the people and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert.

Who can give a legacy gift?

Anyone! You do not need to be wealthy, it does not cost a thing, and you can change your mind at any time by changing your will.

May I designate my gift to a specific purpose?

Yes. Your gift may be designated for one of our programs. We would be happy to review your designation options with you.

Is it possible to make a gift through my will, and can you accept a gift like this?

Yes. A bequest is the most common type of legacy gift, and is often the easiest way to make a significant contribution to the protection of the Sonoran Desert. Please discuss the appropriate bequest language with your financial advisors in order to include us in your will or other estate-planning documents.

Is it possible to name the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection as a beneficiary of my retirement plan?

Yes. Leaving a retirement plan or IRA (or a portion of it) is a tax-wise gift because you will avoid all estate and income taxes on the plan assets after your lifetime (or at the death of the survivor of you or your spouse). To make this gift, you simply notify your plan’s administrator of your wish to change the beneficiary. A “change of beneficiary” form will be required. The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection can be designated as a full or partial beneficiary of your plan.

Can I give the Coalition a Qualified Charitable Distribution from my retirement plan today?

Yes, we have several donors that have given the Coalition generous Qualified Charitable Distributions from their retirement plans. However, there are some very specific rules in place regarding who can do this. The first rule is that you must be 70 1/2 years old on the date of the distribution. The gift also has to come from an IRA, not other types of retirement plans. For more detailed information on this option, please read the information on this website and always consult with your financial advisor for the latest rules and regulations. 

Is it possible to name the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection as a beneficiary of my life insurance policy?

Yes. You can name the Coalition as a primary, partial, or alternate beneficiary of your life insurance policy by filling out a change of beneficiary form with your insurance company.

What is your Tax ID Number?

The Coalition is an independent, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The Coalition’s EIN # (or Tax ID #) is 82-2156664. (Note: Prior to March 1, 2018, the Coalition was a fiscally-sponsored project of the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Sky Island Alliance. If you included the Coalition in your will or other type of bequest and used Sky Island Alliance’s EIN # (86-0796748), please update your files!). If you have any questions, please give us a call at (520) 388-9925 or send us an email at admin@sonorandesert.org and we’d be happy to discuss it further with you.