Your Heart Can Make a Difference
Imagine a world where your grandchildren can experience the wonder of wildlife. At Sunset Zoo, we are providing a lifeline to endangered species and preserving nature for generations to come.
When you donate to the Sunset Zoo Wildlife Conservation Trust, you join a community dedicated to conserving and improving Sunset Zoo. Your support helps us provide:
- New and improved habitats for our animal residents.
- Conservation efforts such as breeding of endangered species.
- Educational programs for children to foster a love for wildlife.
- Rescue and rehabilitation for injured and orphaned animals.
How To Make a Gift?
There are many ways to contribute to the Sunset Zoo Wildlife Conservation Trust. Below is a list of the most popular.
This list is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice, Please consult your professional advisor for legal and tax guidance specific to you.
To donate, please contact Heather Brown, Marketing and Development Officer at the Sunset Zoo, heather.brown@cityofmhk.com or 785-587-2737.
Ways to Give
Cash Gifts
You may generally deduct cash gifts to the Zoo Trust of up to 60 percent of your adjusted gross income. On a $10,000 cash gift in a 32 percent tax bracket, you could potentially save $3,200 in taxes. You can also deduct cash pledged over a period of years.
Appreciated Stock, Bonds, and/or Mutual Funds
Appreciated stock, bonds, and/or mutual funds that are held for more than one year can make an excellent gift to the Zoo Trust. You avoid all capital gain taxes that would otherwise be due on the sale of such assets and may generally deduct the amount of the gift up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income.
Retirement Accounts
Retirement Accounts (IRAs or plans such as 401(k)s or 403(b)s) may be given to the Zoo Trust at death by updating the beneficiary designation for the account. Additionally, and alternatively, you may take advantage of qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) during your life if you are taking required minimum distributions from your retirement account. The use of non-Roth retirement accounts to make charitable gifting at death and during life is among the most tax-efficient strategies available.
Gift Annuities
In exchange for a gift of cash, stock or securities, the Zoo Trust will pay you, you and your survivor, or another person you name, a guaranteed income for life. You receive a substantial tax deduction in the year of the gift and part of the income is tax-free. Upon your death, the gift remainder supports the Zoo Trust. Such a gift may also be structured as a deferred gift annuity such that payments to you begin at a future date, such as your retirement.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
Charitable remainder trusts allow you to select the rate of return from these income arrangements and also choose a fixed or fluctuating annual payment. Capital gain tax may generally be avoided and you may receive an income tax deduction based on the age of the income beneficiary and rate of return. May also structure as a “lead” trust.
Charitable Bequests
One of the simplest ways to benefit the Zoo Trust is to make a gift from your estate or trust to take effect at your death. You may make a gift to the Zoo Trust of a dollar amount, specific property, or as a percentage of your estate or trust.
Gift of Life Insurance
A simple way to make a significant future gift is to name the Zoo Trust to receive all, or a portion of the proceeds of a life insurance policy. If the life insurance policy exists when you make the gift, you will generally receive a tax deduction for the interpolated reserve value, thus reducing your tax liability in the year of the gift.
Real Estate
One of the most overlooked gift forms is an outright gift of real estate, such as land, commercial real estate, or a vacation home. You will receive a tax deduction for the full fair market value, as well as avoid capital gain taxes, similar to a gift of stock or mutual funds.
In-kind gifts
Gifts of goods or services are gratefully accepted by the organization but require special instructions prior to gifting. Ordinarily these gifts will be credited at their full fair market values as determined by appraisal or other appropriate valuation techniques when given to the Sunset Zoo Trust.
