It is said that awareness of a problem is the first and most important step to solving it. There is a lot each of us can do both as individuals and as a group. Beginning with becoming aware of the impact each of us has on our environment, and then taking responsibility for that impact.

Thanks to your past support, hundreds of miles of Florida’s Gulf Coast remains in pristine condition...and our children and grandchildren are on their way to becoming tomorrow’s environmental leaders! Today, as we look towards the future, we have even greater challenges to fulfill. It's a new era we live in—one of increasing policy, science, education, wildlife, and marine habitat care responsibilities that must be fulfilled through our annual fundraising.

We are asking every past and present Society sponsor and member to take the next step and help us reach our goal this year to keep our critical programs going strong over the next decade. Your tax-deductible gift will help us take on all the challenges at our doorstep.

This is a game-changing year for us. New legislation has pushed environmental decisions down to the local level, so we need to reach and influence decision makers within our states, counties and in each local community.

Ways to Support Us

Scientific research, testing, and film making are expensive, but are all necessary to finding and communicating effective solutions to the man made pollutants threatening the survival of marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. Through the generous support of our members and friends, the Society works to educate people through the major media about the ways to maintain a healthy marine habitat in the Gulf of Mexico.

Whether you’re an individual, a foundation or a corporation, there are a number of ways to support our work. Select one of the options listed below (and click on the underlined link) to find the one that best suits you or your organization. Gulf Coast Preservation Society pays for scientific research, educational programs, as well as lawyers and engineers. Your financial support is vital to helping this work continue.

Clean Oceans Campaign

The Society has embarked on a multi-year $20 million endowment campaign, entitled Clean Oceans. For more information contact our Endowment Office by telephone at 941-554-7606 or by sending an email to endowment@gulfpreserve.org

Unrestricted Gifts

Unrestricted gifts are particularly helpful for the Society and are used to support myriad operational and programmatic costs. Unrestricted gifts can be made by cash, credit card, check, or through donation of stock or other means. Contact info@gulfpreserve.org by email or call 941-554-7606 for answers to questions about unrestricted gifts.

Restricted Gifts

These gifts support specific programs or efforts specified by the donor. Choices can include exhibitions or education programs, special events, or specific departments such as the library or archives. Restricted gifts can be made by cash, credit card, check, or through donation of stock. Contact info@gulfpreserve.org by email or call 941-554-7606 for answers to questions about restricted gifts.

Donor Advised Funds

Donor advised funds enable people to claim a charitable tax deduction on donated cash, stock, and other assets to these special accounts offered primarily by financial companies and community foundations while also allowing them to recommend how, when, and to which charities their money should be distributed. Donor advised funds have been growing faster than other forms of charitable giving. Email us at info@gulfpreserve.org or call 941-554-7606 to establish a Donor Advised Fund in your name with GCPS.

Employer Matching Gifts

Matching gifts are a wonderful way to significantly increase the benefit your contribution has for the Society and be recognized for both your support and your company’s. A partial list of some matching gift companies can be found by selecting the PDF icon below. More than 7,500 companies in the United State alone match gifts, so for more information, send an email to info@gulfpreserve.org, or telephone the Society's Membership Office at 941-554-7606.

Partial List of Matching Gift Companies

Partial List of Matching Gift Companies PDF Icon Download List

Grants and Gifts

If you are involved in a private or family foundation, corporate foundation, or public entity that grants funds or makes gifts to charitable and educational institutions such as the Society, we would be pleased to speak with you and provide you with information about what we do. For more information, please contact lbestor@gulfpreserve.org by email or call 941-554-7606.

Stock Gifts

Gifts of stocks can be made to the Society through Regions Bank. The Society is notified of the stock gift by the donor, then directs their representative at Regions Bank to sell the stock. The day on which the donor's gift is given to the Society via Regions Bank determines the value of your donation, the proceeds of which can fund membership(s), a restricted gift, or a gift to the Clean Oceans Campaign. If you have interest in making a gift of stock to the Gulf Coast Preservation Society, please contact us at 941-554-7606.

Sponsorship

The Gulf Coast Preservation Society is pleased to offer exciting opportunities for sponsorship of special events. The Society recognizes that mutually beneficial partnerships provide community outreach and offer the sponsor maximum visibility among key constituents. For more information about sponsoring one of the Society's annual fundraising events, contact Melissa Vanderbilt at melissavanderbilt@gulfpreserve.org. For information about sponsoring other Society special events, contact events@gulfpreserve.org.

Planned Gifts

These gifts involve the expertise of a professional (CPA, financial planner, attorney, etc.) with the donor’s direction, and are a promise by a donor (during his lifetime or as the result of a bequest) to contribute a specified amount of money, and/or certain types of tangible personal property or art, to a charity or public institution such as the Society. For more information about different kinds of planned gifts, contact the Endowment Office at endowment@gulfpreserve.org or call 941-554-7606.

Gifts In Kind

There are many examples of what can be considered a gift in kind, which are gifts of products and/or objects, and we have outlined the most popular types below. Gifts that are made to the Society for sale in its annual fundraising auctions requires special attention. If you are considering donating a work of art, jewelry, or a vehicle to the Society, you should first contact the curator of the appropriate department. The Society has specialists for art, autos, stock, and other items donated. Contact information for each of these items is outlined below.

Art, Antiques, Artifacts, Jewelry, and Real Estate

Your generous contributions of art, jewelry, and other collectibles provides items for sale at our annual fundraising events and auctions. The Society funds its documentary films and television productions with proceeds from these sales. Melissa Vanderbilt info@gulfpreserve.org

Aircraft, Boats, Archival Materials, Historical Objects, Sea Vessels, Vehicles

Larry Bestor lbestor@gulfpreserve.org

Gulf Oil Platforms

There are currently over 25,000 abandoned oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, some of which could be used and converted to clean, sustainable commercial businesses. We hope you will contact us for more information about how you can begin to participate in this exciting new oceaneering opportunity. Read More For more information contact Larry Bestor lbestor@gulfpreserve.org.

Tangible personal property

Tangible personal property, such as jewelry, antiques, stamps, coins, vehicles, and the like, may be donated to the Society during your lifetime or by bequest. Gifts of real property also can be donated. The Society must give special consideration to such gifts before it can accept them. If you are contemplating donating tangible personal property, stock, bonds, or real property to the Society please email our endowment office at lbestor@gulfpreserve.org or call 941-554-7606.