Leave a legacy for ocean conservation.
Join the Oceanic Legacy Society and help the ocean you love thrive for decades to come.
For more than 55 years, Oceanic Society has connected people and the ocean through science, travel, and community action. By including Oceanic Society in your estate plans, you can help ensure that the oceans you love today remain vibrant and full of life for generations to come.
A legacy gift is a meaningful way to translate your lifelong passion for the ocean into lasting impact. It costs nothing now, you retain full control of your assets, and you can update your plans at any time. Most importantly, your gift becomes a reflection of your values, protecting the ocean’s future while caring for your loved ones.
Why Legacy Giving Matters
Every great movement depends on visionaries who think beyond their lifetime. Legacy gifts are vital to Oceanic Society’s ability to plan boldly for the future: protecting endangered wildlife, empowering coastal communities, and inspiring new generations of ocean stewards.
Your gift, large or small, strengthens a legacy of ocean conservation that began in 1969 and continues to grow worldwide. Together, we can ensure a future where coral reefs, whales, sea turtles, and coastal ecosystems thrive.
Real Impact, Real Legacy
Legacy gifts from people like you have helped Oceanic Society:
- Protect sea turtles in more than 50 countries through the SWOT grants program.
- Mobilize volunteers in 23+ countries to remove plastic pollution from oceans and coasts.
- Provide free educational boat trips for thousands of underserved students in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Help establish marine protected areas, including Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve in Belize.
- Support sustainable ocean economies through responsible nature tourism.
- Develop behavior-change programs that inspire global pro-ocean action.
Ways to Leave a Legacy
A legacy gift can take many forms, each one simple, flexible, and deeply impactful. The following information is provided to help you in your estate planning, though it is not intended as legal, financial, or other professional advice. Every situation is unique, and it is important that you speak with your financial advisor or attorney to determine the best course of action for your legacy.
Quick Tip: Beneficiary designations are often the simplest way to make a legacy gift and can be updated anytime, without revising your will.
Will or Living Trust
Designate a specific amount, asset, or percentage of your estate. Easy to set up, and you can update it anytime if your circumstances change. Your personal attorney or financial advisor can help you include the correct language.
Retirement or Life Insurance Beneficiary
Name Oceanic Society as a beneficiary on your IRA, retirement plan, or life insurance policy. These gifts are easy to set up, can reduce taxes for your heirs, and can often be completed online.
Gift Stock or Securities
One of the most tax-efficient ways to give. If you have securities that have increased in value, you not only receive a deduction based on the full appreciated value, but you can also avoid the capital gains tax that would have been due had you sold the shares. Download our stock donation form for more details.
Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Remainder
Join our Legacy Society
Your decision to include Oceanic Society in your legacy plans is a powerful testament to our shared hope for the future, where collective efforts create lasting, positive impact on our oceans.
As a member of the Oceanic Legacy Society, you join an inspiring circle of ocean-champions whose vision reaches far beyond the present moment.
- Honored Intentions: We are dedicated to carefully stewarding the legacy you entrust to us.
- Your Choice of Recognition: Choose public acknowledgment, a memorial tribute, or a private expression of our gratitude.
- Connection and Updates: Regular updates on your gift's long-term impact and invitations to special gatherings with conservation leaders.
You may also contact our team today at donations@oceanicsociety.org, by mail to P.O. Box 844, Ross, CA 94957, or call us directly for a confidential conversation about your legacy.
Legacy Giving Resources
Create a Legacy for the Ocean This October
Each October, National Estate Planning Awareness Month reminds us to plan wisely for the future, both for the people we…
Read More
Make-A-Will Month: Leave a Legacy for the Ocean
Each August, Make-A-Will Month reminds us to take an important and empowering step: putting our wishes in writing. Creating a…
Read More
Nancy Wotkyns (1942-2023) Legacy Gift Honors Oceanic Society and Global Sea Turtle Conservation
Oceanic Society staff and board were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our friend Nancy Wotkyns of Eaton…
Read More
It’s A Great Time to Donate Stock to Charity
With the recent appreciation in the stock market, now would be a great time to consider making a charitable donation…
Read More
Extending Your Generosity Now and into the Future: Donating During Retirement
If you are like me—deeply committed to a cause—but retired on a fixed income, then a major gift to support…
Read MoreOceanic Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with headquarters in Ross, CA, USA (tax ID: 94-3105570). Your donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. To request additional information or to make a donation by check, wire transfer, or stock transfer, please contact us.
