WAYS TO GIVE
Discover how you, your business, and your friends can make a meaningful contribution to the Teller mission.
Individual Giving
Make an investment in Teller’s programs supporting our mission to inspire, educate, and demonstrate conservation in action.
Planned Giving
Support Teller Wildlife Refuge for years to come with planned giving, which can be both meaningful for the Refuge and beneficial to donors. Planned gifts may include bequests in your will or trust, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, and other tools that help you support Teller’s mission while potentially providing tax and legacy advantages.
To discuss options that fit your goals, please contact us or your financial advisor.
Corporate Giving
From matches to campaigns — learn how your company can join in Teller’s conservation efforts.
Tax-Smart Ways to Give
As tax laws evolve, it’s essential to stay informed about how charitable contributions can impact your income tax situation. Below is a summary of key updates and strategies to maximize your tax benefits when supporting causes like Teller Wildlife Refuge.
1) Consider a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA (if age 70½ or older)
If you are at least age 70½, you may be able to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA directly to Teller Wildlife Refuge (a qualified 501(c)(3)).
Potential benefits:
The distribution is generally excluded from taxable income.
The QCD may count toward your required IRA distribution (RMD).
Because your taxable income/AGI may be lower, it can potentially help reduce taxes on items that depend on AGI (such as certain deduction calculations or Social Security taxation).
Important rules:
The donation must be made directly from your IRA custodian to Teller (not to you first).
There is an annual QCD limit that may be indexed each year. The limit for 2026 may differ from earlier years—confirm the current year’s limit with your custodian or tax professional.
2) Donate Appreciated Publicly Traded Securities
If you own publicly traded stock that has increased in value and you’ve held it for more than one year, donating the shares directly to Teller can be tax-efficient.
Why it may help:
It may allow you to avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation (when the shares are donated directly).
You may be able to claim a charitable deduction based on the fair market value at the time of transfer, subject to IRS limits.
Tip: Timing matters. Work with your brokerage and the charity to ensure the transfer date matches the year you intend to claim the deduction.
3) “Bunching” Donations to Potentially Maximize Deductions
If you expect to itemize deductions in a given year (for example due to other large deductible expenses), you may be able to increase the value of your charitable giving by concentrating (“bunching”) donations into that year rather than spreading them across multiple years.
Key point: Beginning in 2026, if you take the standard deduction, your cash contributions will increase that deduction by up to $1,000 ($2,000 for married filing jointly).
4) Montana State Tax Note
Montana tax rules may differ from federal rules. Teller’s development staff can provide donation documentation, but your Montana tax outcome depends on your residency, income, and whether you itemize on your state return.
Recommendation: If you’re making a larger gift or using a specialized strategy (QCDs, securities, or bunching), consider checking both your federal and Montana tax impacts with a qualified tax professional.
Important Disclaimer
This information is general guidance for donors and is not tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific situation, eligibility, and current year limits/rules.
We strongly recommend consulting with your tax advisor before implementing any of these strategies. They can help ensure you maximize the tax benefits of your charitable giving while staying compliant with federal and state tax laws. By planning strategically, you can make a meaningful impact while optimizing your tax situation.