Donate

Support the Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation (KGASF)

 

DONATE ONLINE

 

Your support sustains our commitment to assist North American Indigenous students who are studying—or wish to study—aquaculture, fisheries, natural resource sciences, and related fields. Your contribution directly changes lives for the long term and supports the economic viability of Tribes and First Nations, particularly in rural areas.

(Note: KGASF is a 100% volunteer-run organization. We have no employees, meaning your entire contribution goes directly toward our mission, scholarships, and minimal administrative costs like website and corporate registration.)

OTHER WAYS TO GIVE

 

Consider including the Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation in your planned giving through estate planning, donor-advised funds, IRA distributions, stock transfers, or in-kind donations. Gifted assets may include cash, checks, appreciated securities, bank transfers, personal property, real property, or retained life estates.

 

Mail-In Donations Please make checks payable to the Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation and mail to: c/o John Dentler 8920 Franklin Avenue Gig Harbor, WA 98332 FEIN: 87-1742415

 

Questions? Give us a call at (253) 279-9950 or email us at john.dentler@gmail.com.

 

Wills or Trusts

 

Ensure that our work to promote opportunities for Indigenous students continues for generations. Gifts can be planned in a Will or Trust, including cash, appreciated securities, or real estate/property, potentially providing tax savings for estate taxes, income taxes, or capital gains.

 

Please reach out to us to discuss bequeathing options when drafting your will or trust, or consult your Estate Planner to make the appropriate arrangements.

 

Retirement Plans

 

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit like the KGASF.

 

  • Age and Contribution Limits: Account owners who are 70½ or older can distribute up to $111,000 annually (as of 2026) directly to the KGASF. At age 72, account holders are fully eligible to execute QCDs, providing a tax-advantaged giving strategy before Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) legally mandate withdrawals at age 73.
  • Tax Advantages: Because the funds go straight from the IRA custodian to the nonprofit, the withdrawal is entirely excluded from your adjusted gross income (AGI). This keeps your AGI lower, which can help minimize Medicare premiums and the taxation of Social Security benefits.
  • RMD Fulfillment: For individuals 73 and older, the QCD counts directly toward satisfying your annual Required Minimum Distribution.
  • How to Give: Contact your IRA administrator to request a direct charitable distribution to the Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation, then notify us when the gift is initiated so we can properly acknowledge your contribution.

 

Beneficiary Designations Naming the KGASF as a primary, partial, or contingent beneficiary of a retirement account (such as a 401(k), 403(b), or IRA) allows the organization to receive the remaining assets after the account owner’s lifetime.

 

  • Estate Tax Efficiency: Unlike individual heirs—who must pay ordinary income tax on inherited traditional IRA assets—registered public charities are tax-exempt. Every dollar goes directly to the mission.
  • Flexibility and Control: Beneficiary designations can be updated at any time by submitting a new form to your plan administrator. Upon the account owner’s passing, assets transfer directly to the charity, bypassing the probate process.

 

Life Insurance Policies

 

A life insurance policy offers a meaningful way to support the foundation and help Indigenous students cover rising education costs. You can name the Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation as a beneficiary of a new or existing policy, or donate a policy you no longer need, creating a lasting legacy for Indigenous aquaculture.

 

Stock Share Transfers

 

You can support the foundation by donating appreciated stock shares or other securities. Giving appreciated stock directly to the KGASF may allow you to avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation while potentially receiving a charitable deduction, subject to your individual circumstances.

 

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

 

A Donor-Advised Fund is essentially a dedicated personal account for charitable giving. You contribute assets to the account, receive an immediate tax deduction, and take your time deciding when to support your chosen charities.

 

  • Give: Make a non-refundable contribution of cash, stocks, or non-cash assets to the DAF (managed by a sponsoring institution such as Fidelity, Vanguard, or Schwab).
  • Grow: The funds are invested, allowing your initial contribution to grow tax-free, meaning more total money can eventually go to charity.
  • Grant: Recommend how and when to distribute the money to the KGASF at your own pace.
  • Key Benefits: You claim the tax deduction in the year you fund the DAF, avoid capital gains taxes on appreciated assets, and simplify your tax reporting with a single receipt. You can also strategically “bunch” multiple years’ worth of contributions into a single tax year to surpass the standard deduction threshold while maintaining steady annual support for the foundation.
Skip to content