A group of Youth Climate Leaders, one speaking into a microphone
© Phil Doyle

Gift Planning

Designate and Donate — Jointly Held Accounts

Designate and Donate — Jointly Held Accounts

Learn More About Planned Gifts with Mass Audubon

If you’re interested in supporting Mass Audubon through a charitable gift and want to get started with facts, benefits, and next steps, we’re ready to help. These downloadable resources outline the process of supporting the nature of Massachusetts through a variety of planned gift options. We look forward to hearing from you!

You can still designate and donate to our nonprofit, even if you have a loved one as a joint account owner.

How It Works

  • Contact your bank to complete or update your P.O.D. (Pay on Death) form for your checking and savings accounts.
  • Designate Mass Audubon (Tax ID #04-2104702) to receive the remaining account balance after the joint account owners have passed away.

Benefits

  • Receive a charitable deduction that will reduce any estate or inheritance taxes.
  • Mass Audubon receives the balance of the accounts after the joint account owners have passed away.

Jointly Held Accounts

You may have made a loved one a joint owner of the account. The joint owner may make deposits and withdrawals during your lifetime. The joint owner may also have "rights of survivorship," meaning that he/she will automatically inherit the account when you pass away. Even if you have a joint account, you should complete the P.O.D. form to assure that the bank knows what to do with the remaining assets when both account holders have passed away. This step will also assure that the account may not become part of a time consuming and costly probate process.