Yes I Want to Help

Your financial support as a member allows Save Mount Diablo to carry out its ongoing efforts, which include:
Acquiring land and assisting land owners in preserving their properties as open space Monitoring development proposals Offering advice to agencies and neighborhood groups in efforts to secure open space	Restoration of habitat and preservation of rare species Educating the public about threats to the mountain Working in partnership with Mt. Diablo State Park, the East Bay Regional Park District, Contra Costa County and cities to increase protected open space
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES & BENEFITS

Friend   ¤ $35 or more
¤ Receive Diablo Watch, our newsletter with notice of
    special events, hikes and volunteer opportunities,
    including hiking and other events schedules in the spring
    and fall

Trail Blazer   ¤ $50 or more
¤ All of the above, plus
¤ Receive a pack of note cards with photographs of Scott
    Hein (offered only the first time of donations at this level)

Diablo Donor ¤    $100 or more
¤ All of the above, plus
¤   Invitations to special events

Click here to go to a printable Contribution Form
or call (925) 947-3535 and contribute with your credit card over the phone

Mountain Saver   ¤   $250 or more
¤   All of the above, plus
¤   Recognition in Diablo Watch
¤   Invitations to previews of new acquisitions and to walks
     of special interest on the mountain

Peak Guardian   ¤    $500 or more
¤   All of the above, plus
¤   An exclusive tour of Mount Diablo or a new acquisition
     with other Peak Guardians and Summit Club members

Summit Club   ¤   $1,000 or more
¤   All of the above, plus
¤   A photograph of the mountain by a noted photographer,
     signed and matted*

*   Photos are offered in the first year that you are a member in the indicated category. Alternate acknowledgement of your support will be awarded in subsequent years.

Back to the Top of this page Home

TRIBUTE & MEMORIAL GIVING

Have you been searching for a truly unique gift for someone special? Well, step right up. We have the answer for you and it is guaranteed there will be no refunds and no exchanges! You can honor that very special person by making a gift to Save Mount Diablo in his/her name. Consider a tribute gift for birthdays, anniversaries, remembrances, or just as a way of saying "I care about you". Your donation in honor of someone is a terrific way to express your admiration for that person while at the same time sharing your concern for the protection of our Contra Costa county and Mount Diablo environments.

If you would like to make a memorial or tribute gift, simply include with your check the name and address of the person you are honoring and to whom you would like us send a letter advising them of your gift. For more information about tribute and memorial gifts, please contact us at (925) 947-3535 or 1901 Olympic Blvd., Suite 220, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, or or by e-mail at smdinfo@savemountdiablo.org, or complete the Save Mount Diablo gift form at this web site.

Back to the Top of this page Home

MOUNTAIN HERITAGE PROGRAM

Photo by Stephen Joseph - North Peak from Chaparral Spring
As part of the Mountain Heritage Program, you can help support this remarkable place and dedicate a living tree or grove to the memory or honor of someone you care for. The trips to pick out a tree or grove serve several purposes. They’re an emotional time of closure and they’re fun, bringing together families from across the country to honor someone or something they love. A valley oak was chosen by a mother whose daughter had died seven years earlier, “Her birthday is coming up in June, and I always try to think of something to keep her memory alive.” A young couple wanted a place to bring their 2 1/2-year-old daughter and chose an oak with a branch that dips low to the ground, so she can sit on the limb. A large grove was adopted in honor of the work of the Boy Scouts.
Sometimes a tree or grove is chosen as a great place to picnic. Others are chosen for the view or because they’re visible from the road. A grove above Chaparral Spring’s interior pond and the largest tree on the property were adopted in honor of Contra Costa Times columnist Gary Bogue and his readers, the self-proclaimed “Diablo Nuts,” after he asked them to donate toward the property’s preservation.	Heritage Tree to 15 inch diameter - $ 250 to 24 inch diameter - $ 500 to 36 inch diameter - $ 750 over 36 inch diameter - $ 1,000 Commemorative Grove 1 acre grove - $ 2,500 2 acre grove - $ 5,000 5 acre grove - $ 10,000 10 acre grove - $ 20,000 Grassland and Chaparral 1/4 acre - $ 500 1/2 acre - $ 1,000 1 acre - $ 2,500 Pond Interior Pond - $ 25,000	There are several options should you wish to participate in the Mountain Heritage Program. You can visit the property with a Save Mount Diablo representative to choose your tree or grove. Or, Save Mount Diablo can make the selection for you. After the selection is made, a temporary marker is placed at the base of the tree. Your name and that of the individual, group, or business being commemorated, will be placed on a permanent plaque at the staging area. When you make your gift, you will receive information about the tree or grove that you have chosen, and a certificate of appreciation. Notification and appropriate information will be sent to those being honored. Please call (925) 947-3535 *for info*

Your investment conserves the lands, waters, wildlife and scenic views you love in your community. You may help conserve a creek, the oak-studded foothills, or build a trail for children to enjoy. Every level of investment is meaningful. And, your investment will be multiplied by the gifts of others. Act today to keep your corner of California the place you know and love.

Donate IRA Distributions - Tax Free in 2009 only!
Seniors at least age 70-1/2 may make direct charitable disbursements from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to a land trust in 2009 and pay no tax on the distribution. There is a limit of $100,000 per taxpayer per year. This tax-benefit is only available through the end of 2007 unless extended by Congress. Please contact Save Mount Diablo if you would like more information about donating your mandatory IRA disbursements.

Stock Gifts
You can invest in our work to protect the open space in Contra Costa county by giving stocks, bonds, and/or mutual fund shares to Save Mount Diablo. Your gifts of appreciated securities can support our programs while at the same time providing you with the opportunity to achieve financial benefits. If you own securities (stocks, bonds or mutual fund shares) that have appreciated in value since the date you acquired them (at least 12 months ago) it may make more sense for you to contribute the securities to Save Mount Diablo rather than making a cash gift to us. By gifting us the securities, you can receive an income tax deduction for the full market value of your gift and avoid the capital gains tax that you would incur if you had sold them. Of course we recommend that you consult with your tax advisor before making such a gift.

Real Estate Gifts
Have a spare acre or two? Have a house you no longer need? Have a ranch you’ve grown tired of? Consider donating them to Save Mount Diablo. Whether the land is on or adjacent to Mount Diablo or located somewhere else, Save Mount Diablo would be interested in discussing with you the opportunity of your donating your property interests to us.

Back to the Top of this page Home

Under federal tax law a donor is allowed to claim an income tax charitable contribution deduction for transfers of real property interests for conservation purposes. The contribution does not have to be the land itself but may consist of an easement or restrictive covenant that prevents the development of land, thereby safeguarding its natural characteristics.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 offers numerous incentives for land owners, but these incentives are only available for the years of 2006 and 2007. Tax deduction for the donation of a conservation easement is increased from 30% to 50% of the donor's adjusted gross income. Qualifying farmers and ranchers can deduct 100% of adjusted gross income if the land remains available for agriculture. A donor may carry forward the deduction from donating an easement for 15 years (increased from 5 years). A partial sale/donation of an easement can also qualify for the expanded incentives. Qualifying farmers and ranchers must receive more than 50% of income from "the trade or business of farming". Further information can be found in Internal Revenue Code section 2032A(e)(5).

For more information on how to transfer your appreciated securities, real estate of conservation easements to Save Mount Diablo please contact us at (925) 947-3535, or 1901 Olympic Blvd., Suite 220, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, or by e-mail at smdinfo@savemountdiablo.org.

Back to the Top of this page Home

Bequests
By including Save Mount Diablo as a beneficiary in your will or trust or life insurance policy, you can support our work even after you are no longer with us. No matter how you choose to do it, your bequest gift will help insure that Save Mount Diablo has the resources needed to continue our work to protect and preserve the natural resources of our community in the years to come. For more information on how to bequeath a gift to Save Mount Diablo please contact us at (925) 947-3535, or 1901 Olympic Blvd., Suite 220, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 or by e-mail at smdinfo@savemountdiablo.org.

Charitable Gift Annuity
It may sound too good to be true, but it is true! Our Charitable Gift Annuity program is a way for you to support Save Mount Diablo and at the same time receive generous fixed income---guaranteed for life. Here's how it works:

You make an irrevocable donation of cash or appreciated securities. Save Mount Diablo's trustee then guarantees payment of a fixed amount for life to you or other named beneficiaries. After the death of the donor or beneficiaries, 75% of the remainder of the gift is distributed to Save Mount Diablo.

The benefits to you are:

If you itemize, an immediate deduction from current income taxes for a portion of the gift.
Fixed income, guaranteed for life, which is partially tax free.
If donating appreciated assets, the possibility of avoidance of capital gains taxes.
Reduction of potential estate taxes.

And the Charitable Gift Annuity is extremely simple to set up. To learn more, please contact SMD board member: Burt Bassler at (925)820-5816 or lebassler@yahoo.com

Back to the Top of this page Home

DONATE YOUR CAR

Save Mount Diablo has teamed up with Car Donations Services, Inc. to provide you with the easiest way possible to donate your vehicle. Car Donations Services has been helping local charities for over fifteen years and will take care of every aspect of your car donation, allowing you peace of mind that the transaction will be completed efficiently and properly. CDS is a licensed Commercial Fundraiser as recognized by the California State Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts. Visit them online at www.cardonationservices.com or call 1-888-6TO-GIVE (1-888-686-4483)

WISH LIST

Every non-profit organization has needs for the office and events. Our needs may include items that you may want to donate. At present we need:

good quality office (desk) chairs
Phone system capable of hosting 10 lines
4-wheel drive, crew cab pick up truck (stewardship projects)
500 gallon water tank on trailer (restoration projects)
Council Pulaski Axe (trail building)
McLeod Fire Tool (trail building)
Large flat panel computer screens
Auction items for Moonlight On The Mountain fundraiser

Back to the Top of this page Home


Photo by Stephen Joseph
YES! I WANT TO HELP! Donate online Now Gift Membership Form	Membership Tribute and Memorial Giving Mountain Heritage Program - adopt a Tree or Grove Gifts of Appreciated Securities - IRA disbursement, Stock Donate Conservation Easements Leaving a Legacy Donate your Car Volunteer
MEMBERSHIP COUNTS