How You Can Help
Pileated Woodpeckers. Photo: Sylvia Hunt/Audubon Photography Awards
Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (NVBA) protects birds and the places they need using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation - and we can’t do it without YOU!
Our mission is to engage all northern Virginia communities in enjoying, conserving, and restoring nature for the benefit of birds, other wildlife, and people. We advance our mission through educational programs, citizen science, conservation initiatives, and advocacy initiatives. We envision a world where people, wildlife, and their habitats thrive.
But we need your help.
Our members, supporters and volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Support NVBA’s conservation work in northern Virginia by making a tax-deductible donation, volunteering your time or becoming a member. Every dollar and every volunteer hour make a real difference in the work we do together to protect birds and habitat.
Prefer to donate with a check instead of online? You can also mail your donation using this form.
Northern Virginia Bird Alliance is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Our federal tax ID number is 51-0246325.
What Your Donation Can Do:
When we say every dollar matters, we mean it. Here are just a few ways we put donations to use for education and conservation work in our community:
$1,000: A scholarship for a local public school teacher to attend Educator Week at National Audubon’s Hog Island, Maine.
$2,000: Binoculars and youth education materials in English and Spanish for local nature centers.
$5,000: Stipend for a local university student’s summer conservation project on Virginia birds, wildlife and habitat.
$10,000: Many months of support for our small but mighty staff to mobilize volunteers, plan educational bird outings and workshops and keep NVBA moving forward.
$25: Two months of birdseed to fill a feeder at a Stretch Our Parks site so children can see birds up-close.
$75: One month Zoom subscription for presenting online lectures and classes on birds and conservation that reach hundreds of people every year.
$150: Fee for an instructor, author, professor or other expert on a conservation topic for a one-hour presentation.
$500: Dozens of native trees and shrubs for restoring bird-friendly habitat at local parks.
Help us Grow our Nest Egg: Planned Giving
Whether you would like your donation to make an impact today or go into effect after your lifetime, there is a charitable plan that lets you provide for your family and support Northern Virginia Bird Alliance and its work.
This page is intended to help give you an idea of all of the giving options out there, but your estate advisor can advise you on the best way forward for your unique situation.
Green Heron with “nest egg.” Photo: Jay Stout/Audubon Photography Awards
You can contribute to NVBA through any of several planned giving options. You can choose to make contributions on a one-time basis or a continuing basis during your lifetime or have the gift become effective after your death. Several dozen members already make yearly donations to NVBA through their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), and two generous donors have made bequests to NVBA of more than $70,000 each in the past five years. These gifts have enabled us to launch our new Stretch Our Parks initiative, increase our outreach and volunteer engagement, and strengthen our organization's overall ability to protect birds and the environment.
Make a Tax-free Qualified Charitable Distribution from Your IRA Required Minimum Distribution
If you receive Required Minimum Distribution payments from your traditional IRA, you can make a donation directly from your IRA to NVBA. This donation, which is known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution, is excluded from Federal income tax. This can be a preferred way to make a contribution if you cannot claim a Federal income tax deduction for a charitable contribution.
Make Contributions from a Donor Advised Fund
A donor advised fund (DAF) allows you to make a charitable contribution to the fund, and then recommend grants from the fund to specific charitable organizations over time. A donor establishes a DAF by transferring cash or other assets to a sponsoring organization like a community foundation or financial services firm. Donors can contribute to the fund as frequently as they like, and then have the flexibility to recommend grants to charitable organizations from the fund whenever they wish. Whether the contributions to the fund are tax deductible depends on whether you are eligible to deduct charitable contributions on your income tax form.
Make a Gift through Your Will or Revocable Living Trust
A gift to NVBA in your will or revocable trust enables you to support our mission and work in the future. A bequest is easy to arrange, will not alter your current lifestyle, and can be modified easily to address your changing needs. There are three ways to make NVBA a beneficiary in your will: as a beneficiary of a specific amount from your estate, as a recipient of a residual gift, or as a contingent beneficiary.
Name NVBA as a Beneficiary on Any Beneficiary Designation Form
It’s easy to make NVBA a beneficiary of any funds that will be received in the future. For instance, you can make NVBA a beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of your life insurance policy, IRA or 401k. These designations do not take effect during your lifetime so they have no impact on your lifestyle and can be modified if your circumstances change.
Please note that this web page does not constitute legal or financial advice. If you are considering any of these vehicles for providing a gift to the NVBA, please consult with your investment fund, financial advisor, retirement plan administrator, or estate lawyer.
NVBA Legal Information
Legal Name: Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, Inc.
Address: 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Suite 100
Reston, VA 20190
Federal Tax ID Number: 51-0246325
More Ways to Get Involved with NVBA
Volunteer with Us
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. Your time and enthusiasm power our conservation and educational outreach efforts, both in the field and behind the scenes, helping us do more for birds, wildlife and habitat in northern Virginia.
Want to join us?
Check out our volunteer page for all the different ways you can lend a hand! From pulling invasive plants at habitat restoration sites to citizen science efforts like counting birds and insects, there’s something for everyone.
Become a Member
Join our roost! NVBA members are eligible for perks like discounted ticket prices on classes, members-only events and bird outings. Plus access to our wonderfully supportive community of birders, conservation advocates and nature lovers.
We have two local membership options: one for individuals and one for families. Check out our membership page for more information. We hope you’ll join us!