Annual Giving
Thank you for your interest in supporting the UC Marin Master Gardeners Opportunity Fund.
Founded in 1986, UC Marin Master Gardeners (UC MMG) are trained volunteers who share knowledge and skills with the public. As non-paid members of the University of California Cooperative extension (UCCE), we answer inquiries and provide research-based information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices.
UC MMG volunteers provided 25,275 volunteer hours in 2016. Our income comes from the annual Tomato Market fundraiser and from fees for special classes.
Ways of giving
For additional information on making an outright or deferred tax-deductible charitable contribution to the UC MMG Opportunity Fund, please contact UCCE County Director David Lewis at (415) 473-4204 or djllewis@ucanr.edu.
Outright Gifts
Cash: You may claim an income tax charitable deduction for the full value of your gift (cash or check). Please do not send cash through the mail.
Securities: Securities may be transferred from your brokerage account to the Regents of the University of California. The value of your gift of securities is determined by the mean market value of the stock on the date of your gift.
Real estate/personal property: You may transfer real estate or other personal property to UC MMG for the purpose of enhancing UC MMG programs. Depending upon the circumstances, UC MMG will either manage or liquidate the assets. If you donate an appreciated asset, you may avoid capital gains taxes.
Deferred Gifts
Bequests: Bequests are gifts made through one's will or living trust in which a charity, such as UC MMG, is named as the beneficiary of a percentage of the estate, the residual of the estate, or a specific amount. Historically, some of the largest gifts received by UC MMG have been through bequests.
Life income gifts: If your estate and tax-planning objectives include making a charitable gift, receiving an income for life, reducing taxes, and possibly increasing income, you may wish to consider one of the life income gift opportunities offered by the University of California. Life income gifts - such as pooled income funds, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts - may be funded through a transfer of cash, stock, or other assets. Following the lifetime of the last beneficiary, the assets are transferred to UC MMG for use as you have specified.
Pooled income funds: Pooled income funds function like mutual funds and provide the donor with a proportionate share of the income earned by the fund.
Charitable gift annuities: Charitable gift annuities offer fixed payments to the annuitant. The rate of payment is based upon the annuitant's age.
Charitable remainder trust: A charitable remainder trust typically pays its beneficiary a fixed percentage of its net asset value each year.
Charitable lead trust: A charitable lead trust provides UC MMG an income stream for a term of years while the assets are passed on to heirs at reduced tax costs.
Retained life estate: You may transfer a personal residence or farm to UC MMG while retaining the right to live there for life.
Life insurance: Gifts may be made by naming UC MMG as a beneficiary or successor beneficiary of a retirement account. There are, however, no current tax advantages for transferring a retirement account during one's lifetime.
We thank you for your support and pledge to use your gift to continue making a difference.
If you have questions about making a contribution, please contact UCCE County Director David Lewis at (415) 473-4204 or djllewis@ucanr.edu. Alternatively, you may enter your contact information and a UC MMG member will contact you about opportunities for giving: