Gifts and Donations
MRT has been entrusted to preserve, protect and enhance the critical lands in the Santa Monica Mountains. Gifts to MRT help protect, restore and preserve lands in and surrounding beautiful Santa Monica Mountains.
MRT is a non-profit, public benefit organization incorporated in the State of California. MRT has been granted 501(c)(3) status by the IRS; making most donations and other gifts deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Below, find a summary of tax-saving gift arrangements and ideas you may wish to consider in your financial and estate plans. Your attorney, accountant, and/or financial planner can furnish you with more complete details relevant to your own circumstances.
There are many ways for MRT to work with you and your financial planners to develop a program, which benefits the preservation of the Santa Monica Mountains and assists you to achieve your goals for your estate.
We have the personnel, expertise, and experience to work with your advisors on developing a program of mutual benefit.
Your gift may be tax deductible.
Your support…
- works to acquire ecologically valuable land to maintain core habitat and wildlife corridors
- restores the area creeks and parklands to healthy and sustainable ecosystems
- conducts youth programs to promote appreciation and stewardship of the natural world for the present and future generations
- provides recreational and educational opportunities for people of all ages to experience and learn about the history, culture and beauty of the Santa Monica Mountains
- works in partnership with schools, governmental agencies and other organizations to accomplish shared conservation goals.
- Ways to Donate:
- Give back when you shop online
AmazonSmile is Amazon’s charitable giving program. To donate, all you need to do is shop through AmazonSmile with your regular Amazon account and 0.5% of your purchase will be donated by the AmazonSmile Foundation to MRT. To get started click here, sign in and MRT will automatically be the organization you are supporting. You can also visit smile.amazon.com and search for MRT after you sign in. - Gifts and Supporters
Our most valuable resource is our group of supporters. Coming together from all walks of life, our supporters represent a dedicated, growing circle of people who understand the value of preserving our nation’s natural places.
Being able to act efficiently and effectively to preserve, protect and enhance the mountain experience for everyone, land trusts reflect a new direction in land conservation. Your support helps keep alive numerous activities and helps keep you up-to-date on our educational experiences, accomplishments, volunteer opportunities and recreational activities.
Where does your money go? It helps:
* Purchase habitat-rich land
* Restore land to its optimum natural state for wildlife and vegetation
* Fund research programs to study preservation, conservation, population impact and wildlife
* Sponsor activities, workshops and seminars
* Provide educational programs
Supporters receive the MRT email newsletter, MRT activity and news updates, and invitations to MRT supporters-only events and activities held throughout the year.
To receive our Email Newsletter, please click here to subscribe.
Help us rebuild our nursery after the Woolsey Fire. Payable through Donorbox – safe and secure.
Make a gift in honor of someone or send a memorial tribute.
Wish to donate with a check? – you can mail a check to:
Mountains Restoration Trust
23075 Mulholland Hwy,
Calabasas, CA 91302
Real Estate and Conservation Easements
Real estate donations that meet the Trust’s natural resource value “acquisition criteria” would be protected in a natural state. Other donated real estate, including homes, vacant lots, or commercial and industrial properties, may be sold (with development restrictions, if appropriate), and the proceeds used to further the preservation goals of MRT. Gifts to MRT of appreciated real estate may entitle you to an income tax deduction equal to its full fair market value, subject to certain limitations.
Conservation easements can be gifted to MRT. Conservation easements protect open space and enhance the quality of life in rapidly growing urban and suburban areas and provide protected buffers around wildlife corridors. A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and MRT that provides a permanent guarantee that the land will not be developed in order to protect its conservation values. An easement may apply only to a portion of the property, and need not require public access.
A donated easement can qualify as a tax-deductible charitable donation when the donation benefits the public by permanently protecting important conservation resources and meets other federal tax code requirements. The amount of the donation is generally the difference between the land’s value with the easement and its value without the easement.
A conservation easement can be essential for passing land on to the next generation. By removing the land’s development potential, the easement lowers its market value, which in turn lowers estate tax. Whether the easement is donated during life or by will, it can make a critical difference in the heirs’ ability to keep the land intact. If you are interested in donating real estate or creating a conservation easement, please contact MRT’s Executive Director, Ezekiel Schlais at (818) 591-1701 x205 or ezekiel@treepeoplelandtrust.org.
Mountains Restoration Trust is a California Public Benefit Nonprofit organization and recognized as a 501(c)(3), 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) organization by the IRS. Tax ID number: 95-3677444
