Donations for Community-based Advocacy
Join over 7,000 other Tennessee Chapter members in supporting the Chapter's work to build a sustainable Tennessee, supporting a healthy planet for future generations. These donations are essential, but are not tax deductible since they support our effective, citizen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts.
Tax Deductible Donations
To make a tax-deductible gift to the Tennessee Chapter, donate to the Sierra Club Foundation, either online: Donate to the Sierra Club Foundation or mail a check, made out to “Sierra Club Foundation” with “Tennessee Chapter” in the memo line:
Sierra Club Tennessee Chapter
P.O. Box 113
Powell TN 37849
More Ways to Support the Tennessee Chapter:
- Become a Monthly Donor
- Defenders Fund – Support our State Lobbying Program
- Donations in Memory or Honor of an Individual
- Donate in your Will or tTrust (planned giving)
- Give a Gift of Stock
- Tax-free donation directly from your retirement account
- New Members Rewards, Including Gift Memberships
- Donate a Used Vehicle
Become a Monthly Donor
The Tennessee Chapter is effective because we have the flexibility to defend the environment at any time — including in legislative fights in Nashville. Monthly donors are the backbone of that power and flexibility. Your regular monthly donation, regardless of size, empowers the Chapter by sustaining long-term campaigns. Click the button on the right to be directed to the secure donation webpage. Then under “Make my gift monthly” be sure to click on “ Yes, count me in!”
Defenders Fund – Support State Lobbying
The Sierra Club is the only organization in Tennessee that employs a full-time environmental lobbyist in the General Assembly. Your contribution to the Defenders Fund of Sierra Club’s Tennessee Chapter supports this crucial work. When you make a contribution to the Chapter’s Defender Fund, 100% goes to support direct connections to legislators and ways for volunteers to take action. Our Chapter Lobbyist works to inform our legislators and engage our local leaders in pushing back against the industries that would see our the laws that protect our natural resources dismantled. We mobilize Sierra Club’s nearly 70,000 members and supporters across the state via weekly updates and action alerts to ensure legislators hear from constituents like you who understand the importance of protecting Tennessee’s environment.
Your contribution to the Defenders Fund makes this work in the Tennessee General Assembly possible. You can contribute by using your credit card on our secure webpage with this special Defenders Fund link:
Sign up for Legislative Updates
Get our updates about actions in the legislature that are important for our environment. Yes, please send me legislative updates!!
Sign up for Sierra Club’s Action Alerts
If you would like to get email alerts when there is a critical vote and Sierra Club needs for you to contact your State legislators you can sign up for the Chapter’s Alert List by our legislative committee.
Sign up for Email Updates from the Tennessee Conservation Voters
If you would like to be sent sent weekly updates during the legislative session each year from Tennessee Conservation Voters sign up HERE!
Donate Online:
Or By Check:
Mail a check payable to TN Chapter Sierra Club with “Defenders” in the memo line and mail it to:
Sierra Club Tennessee Chapter
P.O. Box 113
Powell, TN 37849
Attn: Defenders
The Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization. Contributions to the Defenders Fund are not tax deductible.
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Donations in Memory or Honor of an Individual
Currently, “in memory of” or “in honor of” gifts can only be made by sending a check to the Tennessee Chapter Treasurer at P.O. Box 113, Powell TN 37849. Please include your information so we can send a thank you note acknowledging your gift, and information on how we can inform family members and other concerned individuals of your gift. Make the check out to TN Chapter Sierra Club. If the gift is to be tax deductible, it is important to make the check out to The Sierra Club Foundation and put Tennessee Chapter in the memo field on the check.
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Planned Giving — Your Will or Trust Can Build a Legacy for Tennessee’s Environment
Planning an estate gift to Sierra Club or Sierra Club Foundation to benefit Sierra Club’s Tennessee Chapter enables you to create your legacy and ensure support for generations to come. Depending on the type of gift you choose — whether it’s a gift in your will, a gift of retirement assets, or a gift that provides you with income -- a legacy gift can help you to:
- Feel secure about making a future impact on the health of your regional communities
- Maintain control of your assets for life
- Receive tax benefits
- Give more than you ever thought possible
- Join an extraordinary group of visionary partners who share your passion for a healthy planet.
All planned giving donors are recognized as members of the Rachel Carson Society. If you have already made a planned gift to the Tennessee Chapter or would like further information please contact the Sierra Club's Gift Planning office at (800) 932-4270 or giftplanning@sierraclub.org.
NEW! Giving Docs is a simple, secure way to create your will and other important estate planning documents online. It’s free for Sierra Club supporters—and it only takes a few minutes to create an account and get started. You can even use Giving Docs to create your Sierra Club legacy by naming the Chapter as a beneficiary of your plans. Although this type of support isn’t required to utilize this estate planning platform, any gift is greatly appreciated.
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Give Stock
You can easily donate stocks to support our priority work in Tennessee — and you may get a nice tax deduction too!
Fill out this form to make a non-deductible stock gift. Be sure to enter the purpose of gift as “Tennessee Chapter”
Please contact the Sierra Club at majorgifts@sierraclub.org to make sure things go smoothly.
To give a tax-deductible gift by donating through the Sierra Club's fiscal sponsor at the Sierra Club Foundation, visit www.sierraclubfoundation.org/stocks to fill out the form and authorize your broker to transfer your shares. When you fill out the form, make sure that you enter the purpose of the gift as “Tennessee Chapter," otherwise we won’t receive your donation. It’s as easy as that! Contact the Sierra Club Foundation at foundation@sierraclubfoundation.org for help.
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Tax-Free Donation Directly From Your Retirement Account
If you saved money for retirement in traditional 401(k)s, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) or other tax-deferred investments, and you are over 72 years old, you may be required to withdraw at least a minimum amount, called the required minimum distribution or RMD, each year and pay income tax on this amount.
You can transfer up to $100,000 of IRA withdrawals to benefit charitable organizations by making qualified charitable distributions (QCD). If QCDs are transferred directly from a tax-deferred investment account to a qualified charitable organization, they count toward your RMDs and are not taxable. Your IRA custodian must transfer the funds directly from your account to the Sierra Club Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. You can specify that the money be sent to the Sierra Club Foundation and directed to the Tennessee Chapter to be used for charitable purposes. Here is some suggested wording to provide your IRA custodian:
“I ask that $________ from my IRA fund be sent directly to The Sierra Club Foundation, a California nonprofit corporation, currently located at 2101 Webster Street, Suite 1300, Oakland, CA 94612, to be used in support of the charitable activities of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club.”
Thank you for considering this type of gift to the Chapter. We recommend speaking to your financial advisor about this to ensure the best outcome.
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Rewards for New Memberships (including Gift Memberships)
The Chapter and its Groups earn 100% commission for first-year dues from online new membership sign-ups. This works only using the JOIN links on the Chapter and group webpages. If a new member clicks the JOIN button in the upper right corner any Tennessee Chapter or Group webpage and signs up for a $15 (or more) new membership, the Chapter or group gets a commission of $15 (or more) back! This program also works for Gift Memberships when you use the following links:
Chapter Gift Membership Reward Webpage
Harvey Broome Gift Membership Reward Webpage
Cherokee Gift Membership Reward Webpage
Middle Tennessee Gift Membership Reward Webpage
Chickasaw Gift Membership Reward Webpage
Donate Your Vehicle
Did you know you can donate your used vehicle to benefit the Tennessee Chapter? Whether it’s running or not, your car, truck, boat, RV, or motorcycle could support our educational work. And it is easy. Plus, you may even qualify for a tax deduction. Just call 844-6-SIERRA (844-674-3772) or visit :https://scfch.careasy.org/index.html.