By Lisa Horsch Clark, Friends of Acadia Director of Development and Donor Relations

Many of Friends of Acadia’s members and volunteers will make a donation to FOA at year’s end—and for many different reasons. Some want to give back to Acadia for all that it has given to them throughout the year. Others want to be a part of celebrating Friends of Acadia’s 30-year history as a good steward of the park. Yet others are motivated by the tax benefits of giving. Whatever the reason, we thank them and we thank you for considering a year-end gift to Friends of Acadia.

Here are the top six ways to give before the end of the year and qualify for 2016 tax deductions.

#1: Donate online. An online donation is the simplest way to give to FOA. Visit https://friendsofacadia.org/giving-membership/donate-to-the-annual-fund/. Gifts made until 11:59 p.m. EST on December 31 will be eligible for 2016 tax deductions. Contribute a one-time gift, or select the option for your gift to automatically recur monthly.

#2: Give us a call. Our offices are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST throughout the holiday season (except for December 26). Call 800-625-0321 or 207-288-3340 to speak with a member of our friendly development team. No one there? Leave a message and we’ll return your call promptly.

#3: Mail a check or credit card information. To receive 2016 tax credit, checks sent via US Postal Service must be postmarked on or before December 31. If postmarked by that date, checks will be counted for 2016 even if received at FOA early in 2017. Credit card gifts mailed to FOA are eligible for tax deductions on the date that they are processed. You may prefer to call your credit card in via telephone or enter it online to avoid delays and ensure that your gift is processed in time to count for charitable gift deductions for 2016.

#4: Give a distribution from your IRA. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 made permanent qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from individual retirement accounts. Instruct your IRA custodian to make a transfer from the IRA directly to FOA. Many, if not all, have forms and procedures in place to make this transfer.

#5: Make a gift of appreciated stock. Electronic transfer of securities from a brokerage account is eligible for 2016 tax deductions if the securities have been received in FOA’s account on or before 11:59 p.m. EST on December 31. Please instruct your broker to include your name and phone number with all communications.

#6: Wire funds to FOA. We accept both domestic and international wire transfers. Funds must be received by FOA on or before 11:59 p.m. EST, December 31, to be eligible for 2016 tax deductions.

Please visit https://friendsofacadia.org/giving-membership/contribute-stock-and-appreciated-assets/ for detailed instructions for both transferring securities and wiring cash to Friends of Acadia. Or call Lisa Horsch Clark or Diana McDowell at Friends of Acadia at 800-625-0321.

Thank you for helping us to care for Acadia!