Donation Options

Usually in the form of a check or credit card, a cash gift is the most common form for charitable gifts. Checks can be made payable to ISEA and mailed to PO Box 218, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. Credit card donations can be made online through the link below. Phone donations can be made by calling 231.271.3077.

If you donate through the PayPal Giving Fund site, PayPal covers all processing fees so 100% of your donation goes to Inland Seas!

What if the amount you wish to give exceeds the amount you feel you can give from your cash resources? Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, and other resources can make excellent gifts to ISEA. A gift of such an asset may allow you to give with little or no effect on your current spendable income, and you may enjoy various tax incentives. Please contact us at 231.271.3077 or isea@schoolship.org if you would like to donate to ISEA through one of the following methods.

Closely Held Stock: Publicly traded securities, shares of stock in closely held companies, bonds, and government issues may be given to Inland Seas Education Association. Call the office for stock transfer and delivery directions.

Savings Bonds: Turn your savings bonds into a generous ISEA gift while reducing the tax liability generated by these investments.

Real Estate: Inland Seas Education Association may accept gifts of real estate, including homes, condominiums, commercial properties, farmland, rental properties, and undeveloped land after a thorough review of several factors, including an environmental assessment.

Gifts of Life Insurance: When you own a life insurance policy with accumulated cash value, you’re essentially sitting on a pile of money. When the original purpose for the protection no longer applies—such as to educate children now grown or to provide financial security for a spouse now deceased—your life insurance can be redirected to help support Inland Seas Education Association. You can name ISEA as the beneficiary and also assign us ownership of the policy as a current charitable gift. Another option is to name ISEA as the primary beneficiary, making this a legacy gift (naming ISEA as beneficiary while you retain ownership of the policy does not qualify you for an income tax deduction).

Qualified Charitable Deductions: Qualified Charitable Deductions (QCDs) are available to owners of traditional IRAs and who are of age 70½ or older. A QCD is a distribution from your traditional IRA that can go directly to a qualified non-profit such as ISEA, and is NOT included in your taxable income thus does not increase your adjusted gross income (AGI). Click here for more information.

Donor Advised Fund: If you have a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) with Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or BNY MELLON Charitable Gift Fund, you can donate directly using this tool. You will be directed to log into your DAF account after clicking next.

Amazon Smile: Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases every time you shop with Amazon Smile.

Great Lakes Tea and Spice of Glen Arbor, MI will donate $1 for every 3.0 oz. tin or $.50 for every 1.4 oz. pouch of Mackinaw Breeze or Sweetwater Vanilla tea to Inland Seas.

Eat dessert first! FireFly of Traverse City will donate $1 for every dessert sold to Inland Seas.

Remember the special people in your life during a time of loss with a memorial gift to Inland Seas Education Association. These gifts allow you to thoughtfully remember family members and friends who have been a vital part of your life while continuing to keep the Great Lakes preserved for the next generations.

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Honor the special people in your life on a birthday, anniversary, or for a special occasion or achievement with a tribute gift to Inland Seas Education Association. These gifts allow you to thoughtfully remember family members and friends who have been a vital part of your life while continuing to keep the Great Lakes preserved for the next generations.

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