Q: Is the National Geographic Society a nonprofit organization?
A: Yes, the Society is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. The Society's EIN number is 53-0193519.
If you are interested in viewing the Society's IRS form 990, please call Ellie Maletra at +1 202 857 7688 to request a copy.
The Society maintains taxable subsidiaries for the purposes of entering into business ventures that support the organization's mission. These ventures include our domestic and international television channels. Any profit realized from these taxable subsidiaries is directed back to the Society to help support its nonprofit activities.
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Q. Is my gift tax deductible?
A. Gifts to the National Geographic Society are tax-deductible under section 170(c) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, in accordance with IRS regulations. The Society will provide written acknowledgment for all charitable donations.
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Q. I want to specify what my donation goes toward. What are my options for doing so?
A. Donors can designate their gifts to one or more of the five major areas of the National Geographic Society's Mission Programs:
education,
research and exploration,
conservation,
cultures, and
public outreach. This Web site describes each of these five areas as well as additional designation opportunities ranging from purpose-specific funds to special initiatives.
If you are making a gift online, these options will also appear in the drop-down menu for gift designation on the
online-donation page.
Gifts to the fund for National Geographic support all disciplines and allow the Society to use your donation where it is needed most.
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Q. How does donating differ from purchasing a National Geographic Society membership or National Geographic magazine subscription?
A. Annual Society membership dues provide for the high level of journalistic integrity and excellence in
National Geographic and the other magazines of the Society. A portion of the net proceeds from membership is directed back to core Society activities, including Mission Programs.
Charitable gifts above and beyond membership can be allocated directly to the work of Mission Programs: getting scientists and conservationists into the field, providing key educational resources for kids, and leading major explorations to the last unknown areas of the globe.
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Q. I have a question about my magazine membership. Whom should I call?
A. In the U.S. and Canada call toll-free 800 647 5463 or 800 548 9797 (TDD). Or view the
Society-wide contact information. The National Geographic Society Development Office does not handle magazine subscriptions, book queries, or catalog orders.
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Q. How can I learn more about how charitable gifts have helped National Geographic fulfill its mission?
A. Beginning in 2004 National Geographic Mission Programs began issuing an annual report of activities. This report is mailed to leadership donors. Highlights from fiscal year 2004 will appear on this site beginning in 2005. A copy of the most recent report can be obtained by calling 800 373 1717 (U.S. and Canada only) or sending an Email to
givinginfo@ngs.org.
In addition, the National Geographic Development Office will begin to publish a series of stewardship reports. Please check for updates at
nationalgeographic.com/donate.
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Q. What is Mission Programs?
A. Mission Programs undertakes expeditions and scientific investigations; encourages geography education for young people; promotes natural, historical, and cultural conservation; and inspires the public through vibrant exhibits and live events. The individual programs within Mission Programs are described on this site, with links to program-specific sites that give further detail on activities like grantmaking in support of field science and geography education.
Some programs are new, while others, like the Society's
Committee for Research and Exploration, have been in existence almost since our founding.
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Q. Doesn't National Geographic have an endowment that supports all of its activities?
A. No, the National Geographic Society does not maintain an endowment that supports all of its programs. Despite the presence of the word "National" in our name, we are not a federally chartered organization.
National Geographic does maintain an endowment for its Education Foundation, which makes approximately five million U.S. dollars in grants to promote classroom geography education each year. The Society is also establishing an endowment for research, conservation, and exploration, to ensure stability and growth for these core mission disciplines.
For information about contributing to the endowment, please contact the National Geographic
Development Office.
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Q. Can I make my gift anonymously?
A. Yes, the National Geographic Society respects all requests for anonymity. Please indicate your desire to remain anonymous in written correspondence accompanying your gift. If you are
giving online, you will have the opportunity to check the box marked "I prefer to make my donations anonymously."
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Q. How will my personal information be used?
A. Your personal information will remain confidential and will never be sold by the National Geographic Society Development Office or traded with another organization.
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Q. I want to request a donation from National Geographic for a specific project or cause. Does the Development Office handle this type of request?
A. No, the Development Office is focused on seeking outside funding for Society-wide programs. All philanthropic or in-kind requests made to the Society are handled by our Public Service Committee.
Please contact Robert Dulli, Director of Public Service, in the chairman's office, at +1 202 857 7134 or via Email at
bdulli@ngs.org.
For information about receiving a grant from the Society for hypothesis-based scientific fieldwork, conservation research, expeditions, geography education projects, or indigenous filmmaking, please visit our grant-making program sites listed below:
Committee for Research and Exploration
Conservation Trust
Expeditions Council
All Roads Film Project
Education Foundation
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Q. I have a collection of old National Geographic magazines that I would like to donate to charity. Where should I donate them?
A. You are not the first to ask us for advice about giving away old
National Geographic magazines. It seems that no one likes to throw them out, and we are gratified that this is so. But eventually people do run out of room.
A few people have written to us to request hand-me-down collections of
National Geographic for various book-distribution charities. A list of these groups appears below. You might also check with nearby nursing and retirement homes, prisons, hospitals, or schools to see if they would welcome your donation.
The organizations below distribute primarily outside the U.S. Most of them can pay to send books and magazines overseas, but not for postage to their offices or warehouses. However, the cost of shipping and the estimated value of the donations are usually tax deductible.
Each organization has different policies on donations and procedures for packing. Call or write these organizations for specific instructions. The addresses below are not necessarily the addresses to which you should send your magazines.
The Asia Foundation
Books for Asia Program
80 Elmira Street
San Francisco, CA 94124
U.S.A..
Telephone: +1 415 656 8990
Fax: +1 415 468 8379
Web site:
www.asiafoundation.org/Books/overview.html
Email:
booksforasia@asiafound.org
Books for Africa
253 East Fourth Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
U.S.A..
Telephone: +1 651 602 9844
Fax: +1 651 602 9848
Web site:
www.booksforafrica.org
Email:
info@booksforafrica.org
Books for the Barrios
2350 Whitman Road
Suite D
Concord, CA 94518-2355
U.S.A..
Telephone: +1 925 687 7701
Fax: +1 925 687 8298
Web site:
www.booksforthebarrios.com
Email:
joinus@booksforthebarrios.com
Bridge to Asia
665 Grant Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94108
U.S.A..
Telephone: +1 415 678 2990
Fax: +1 415 678 2996
Web site:
www.bridge.org
Email:
asianet@bridge.org
