Legacy Fund

HELP US CHANGE THE WORLD

As we celebrate our 25-year herstory of women’s activism for a just, healthy and peaceful planet, we are excited to share with you the launch of WEDO’s Legacy Fund: Herstory, Voice, Leadership

A 25-year milestone is no small feat, particularly given that our fight for women’s human rights and environmental sustainability often struggles for recognition and funding. But, throughout our rich herstory, we, alongside countless allies have surpassed obstacles and we are looking to towards a more hopeful and just future. Through the Legacy Fund, we call you to join us in this effort.

WHAT IS THE LEGACY FUND?

Our Legacy Fund honors our 25-year herstory and allows us to build on our illustrious past and create an organization with a sustainable future. We are asking you to act as one of our initial champions of the Legacy Fund by donating to our mission.

We are still here, 25 years later, with the dream that our Legacy Fund will indefinitely provide a space for the voices of women activists worldwide for the next 25 years to come.

Invest in women’s rights and advocacy by supporting our Legacy Fund. Make a tax-deductible donation today.

OUR STORY & IMPACT

HERSTORY. It began simply: a group of friends determined to be the change they wanted to see. International in character – core founding members included US congresswoman Bella Abzug, Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai of Kenya, Thais Corral of Brazil and Vandana Shiva of India. WEDO set out to open the doors to women’s participation in the enormous environmental issues facing the planet.

VOICE. WEDO’s strength lies in our ability to facilitate and link social movements to international policy-making processes, ensuring that women’s voices are heard and included. We are a trailblazer that provides spaces for women to share their perspectives and organize for change.

LEADERSHIP. WEDO has always been an innovative leader, demonstrating the existing linkages among environmental resources, social and economic justice, political participation and women’s rights. With a small but mighty staff, and partners and allies around the world, we create initiatives that impact policies at the international level, increase participation of women at the decision-making table, and mentor the next generation of activists and leaders.

INVEST IN WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP

Your donation guarantees the creation of the next generation of women leaders, including an investment in young feminist leadership. It will expand leadership development and advocacy skills training for hundreds of women to ensure they are empowered as decision-makers. The fund will also broaden our communications platform so we can tell even more stories that amplify the actions of women worldwide, as well as engage and develop the next generation of leaders who will carry on our legacy.

OTHER WAYS TO GIVE

Donate by Phone or Mail

Donate by Phone or Mail
To donate to WEDO by phone, call Ashley Edokpayi at 212-973-0325.

To donate by mail, contact ashley@wedo.org and make check out to WEDO to our address below.

Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO)
147 Prince Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
212-973-0325

Matching Gifts

You may be able to double or even triple the impact of your gift to WEDO if your employer offers a matching gift program. Retired employees, spouses of employees and even widows/widowers of employees may be eligible for matching gift programs. Contact your company’s human resources department to find out if it offers a matching gift program or to obtain a matching gift application. Just fill out your company’s matching gift form and send it to us with the contribution. We’ll take care of the rest.

Mail the matching gift application, together with your contribution to: WEDO, 147 Prince Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11201.

Wills and Planned Gifts

By making one of the gifts below you can help ensure that WEDO continue to advocate on behalf of women throughout the world. At the same time you and your estate may enjoy tax benefits – do good and do well at the same time! Often the planned gifts won’t affect your current income, but come out of your estate.

Bequests
The most useful bequest is an unrestricted bequest for the general purposes of WEDO. This permits us to use your gift wherever it is most needed at the time. However, some donors prefer to direct their gifts towards as specific purpose or use.

Sample language for making an unrestricted bequest:
“I give [the sum of ____ dollars] [all / ____ percent of my residuary estate] to Women’s Environment and Development Organization, 147 Prince Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, for its general purposes.”

Sample language for making a bequest for a specific purpose:
“I give [the sum of ____ dollars] [all / ____ percent of my residuary estate] to Women’s Environment and Development Organization, 147 Prince Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11201. (IRS Tax ID Number: 52-1238773), for the following purpose(s): [state the purpose or purposes].”

If you do choose to specify a use for your bequest, you may want to ensure that your gift will always remain productive by including language similar to the following: “If at any time in the judgment of the Board of Directors of WEDO the designated use of this bequest is no longer practicable or appropriate, then the organization may use the bequest to further the general purposes of WEDO, giving consideration, where possible, to my special interest as described above.”

Life Insurance
You may have a paid-up policy that is no longer needed to protect the original beneficiary. You can name WEDO as either the sole beneficiary or one of several beneficiaries, and your estate will be eligible for a charitable tax deduction. Another possibility would be for you to take out a policy with WEDO as the beneficiary. Payments can be fully tax deductible. This kind of policy enables you to make a much larger gift to WEDO than might otherwise be possible. At the same time you enjoy current tax benefits.

Retirement Accounts (IRAs, 401(k), and others)
If you leave a tax-deferred account to an heir, they will have to pay income taxes on the funds when they inherit them. If your estate owes estate taxes, estate taxes will also be levied on the retirement proceeds. Thus, the total impact of taxes on tax-deferred retirement accounts can reduce the money your heirs receive by up to 75%. If you name a charity like WEDO as beneficiary, no taxes are levied on the proceeds of the account. You can leave your heirs other assets that will be taxed more lightly and, because of the favorable tax treatment, give more money to WEDO than might otherwise be possible. You can also name other heirs or beneficiaries along with WEDO.

Appreciated Securities
We would be happy to accept donations of appreciated securities as a current contribution or a planned gift. You will receive a tax deduction for the full current value of the securities, thereby reducing current income taxes and also avoiding the capital gains tax on the appreciation.

We would be happy to work with you and/or your advisor on making a planned gift to WEDO. If you have questions or are interested in making a gift please contact Ashley Edokpayi (ashley [at] wedo.org) at 212-973-0325.

Government Campaigns

If you are a Federal, New York State or New York City employee, you have the opportunity through these campaigns to designate an organization as the focus of your charitable giving during the year. Contact your company’s human resources department to find out how.