MBNMSF: Donation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Sanctuary Foundation serves an important niche in the regional non-profit community. By partnering with the National Marine Sanctuary Program and other ocean and coastal management agencies, we’re able to help facilitate their important work. As a fiscal sponsor, the foundation is able to solicit funds from many sources and implement projects to aid in the understanding and protection of the Monterey Bay and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuaries and other coastal and ocean resources in California.

The Sanctuary Foundation is a leader among nonprofits with regard to its efficient use of funds. According to our latest financial reports, 87% of funds received goes towards key initiative projects and 13% funds management and general administration costs.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How will my donation be used?
Can I specify what my donation goes towards?
Is the online donation process secure?
How will the donation appear on my credit card statement?
Can I make a donation in honor of someone?
Will you notify the honoree that a donation has been made in their honor?
Will I get a receipt for my donation?
Will I receive a donation confirmation letter?
Can I set up a recurring donation to the foundation?
I set up a recurring donation to the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation, but I am unable to continue making these donations. How can I cancel my subscription?
Is my donation tax-deductible?

1.	How will my donation be used?
	The Sanctuary Foundation is a leader among nonprofits with regard to its efficient use of funds. According to our latest financial reports, 87% of funds received will go towards key initiative projects and 13% will fund management and general administration costs.

2.	Can I specify what my donation goes towards?
	Yes, on our donation page you can choose between several initiatives that the Sanctuary Foundation is supporting. Funds donated either to the Monterey Bay or Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuaries will help fund key initiative projects in the sanctuary of your choosing.

3.	Is the online donation process secure?
	Yes, the online donation system using PayPal is secure. PayPal uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) technology to keep your information safe. In addition, when you send a payment using PayPal, the recipient (Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation) won't receive sensitive financial information like your credit card or bank account number.

4.	How will the donation appear on my credit card statement?
	The donation to the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation will appear on your credit card statement as PayPal MONTEREYBAY ##transaction number##

5.	Can I make a donation in honor of someone?
	Yes, to make a donation in honor of someone, enter your request in the “Special Instructions for Donation” box on the donation page: http://mbnmsf.org/pages/donate-foundation.html (limited to 256 characters).

6.	Will you notify the honoree that a donation has been made in their honor?
	Please provide us with the honoree’s street or email address (info@mbnmsf.org) and we will notify them that you have made a donation in their honor.

7.	Will I get a receipt for my donation?
	Yes, you will automatically receive an email confirmation from PayPal that will serve as your receipt for your donation.

8.	Will I receive a donation confirmation letter?
	You will also receive a donation thank you letter from us, either electronically or by regular mail depending on the contact information you provide us in PayPal. This letter will also contain the IRS information for your tax deduction purposes.

9.	Can I set up a recurring donation to the foundation?
	Yes, to set up a recurring, monthly donation to the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation, please go to: http://mbnmsf.org/pages/donate-foundation.html and scroll down to the “Make An Automatic Donation to MBSF Monthly” section. There you can enter your desired monthly donation amount and designate for how many months you would like your donation to reoccur.

10.	I set up a recurring donation to the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation, but I am unable to continue making these donations. How can I cancel my subscription?
	If for any reason you are unable to continue your monthly donation subscription, simply contact us by email (info@mbnmsf.org) and we will cancel this for you.

11.	Is my donation tax-deductible?
	Yes, the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation is a public benefit 501(C)(3) non-profit organization and donations are therefore tax-deductible. You will receive our IRS federal identification number in your donation acknowledgement letter to use for your tax deduction purposes.