Memorial & Tribute Gifts
Thank you for considering Sacramento Zoo as a recipient of a memorial or tribute gift in the name of a friend, relative, family member or beloved pet. Memorial and tribute gifts are wonderful ways to honor a loved one while supporting a connection with wildlife.
Tribute gifts are a thoughtful way to celebrate a birthday, wedding, new baby, graduation or any special occasion. They also serve as a special expression of sympathy by honoring the memory of a friend, relative or beloved pet.
Your gift to the Sacramento Zoo will be acknowledged with a letter letting the recipient or their family know a donation has been made in their honor or memory (amount not disclosed). For more information, call 916-808-8815.
Pay tribute or homage to a special someone with a commemorative bench at the Sacramento Zoo. For $2,500, your personal message will be engraved and mounted on the bench for years to come. Each bench enhances the zoo and provides a comfortable place for visitors to rest. Benches are currently SOLD OUT.
Want to honor someone special in your life? Consider a commemorative picnic table! For $3,000, we will engrave your personalized message on a aluminum plate, which will be mounted onto a picnic table. Picnic tables enhance a zoo visit. People celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, or even just relax to enjoy their day.
For questions, call 916-808-3713 or email Lisa Clement
A carousel animal sponsorship is a great way to remember or honor someone special in your life. Visit the Conservation Carousel page for more information and available animals or call 916-808-3713.
In-kind Gifts
In-kind gifts are donations of items that benefit the Sacramento Zoo. We have many programs including ways to donate your old vehicle, outdated electronics (ewaste), and edible tree trimmings to help feed the animals.
You can also shop our Amazon wish list to see what else we need!
Donations by Appointment
Every day the Sacramento Zoo feeds pounds of browse (non-toxic branches and leaves from specific species of trees and shrubs). This allows us to feed many of our animals – including the giraffes, chimps, lemurs and many birds – food that is exactly like what they would consume in the wild. They enjoy nibbling leaves, stripping bark, and chewing on stems to keep their brains busy and bellies full.
Many of our neighbors trim their trees on a regular basis and leave the piles for curb-side collection. But, if your tree is on our list, we can collect branches from your home – or even better, you can deliver to us – and the browse goes to our animals instead of the landfill.
View the edible plant list & FAQs
If you have a tree or shrub on the list above and will be trimming it soon, contact us by email or call 916-808-5888.
You can support the Sacramento Zoo with the gift of a vehicle donation! Donate your car, truck, boat, trailer, or RV to the Sacramento Zoo and help create a better future for all living things. Donating is easy, and the vehicle pick-up is at no cost to you. Donate online or call 1-833-SACZOO1.
*All vehicle donations are handled by CARS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; the FAQ’s below refer to their policies. All donations benefit the Sacramento Zoo.
What vehicles can I donate?
All vehicles are considered, running or not. You can donate your car, truck, trailer, boat, RV, motorhome, motorcycle, camper or plane!
Can I still donate my car if it doesn’t run?
Yes, most vehicles will be accepted running or not.
What do I need to donate my vehicle?
You will need to have the title to the vehicle, but if you do not have it, please call us anyway. It is possible that other arrangements may be made.
What information will I be asked for?
Please have the location of the car, your mailing address, the vehicle’s license number, VIN number, year, make and model. You should also provide information concerning any sort of damage or flat tires that would affect the towing of the car.
Can you pick up vehicles in all 50 states?
Yes. We can provide quick and convenient vehicle pick-up and towing just about anywhere in all 50 of the United States.
How will my car be picked up?
Your vehicle will be towed away by a professionally licensed towing company at a time that is convenient to you.
How long will it take to pick up my car?
A towing company will contact you via telephone within 2-3 business days to schedule. In some cases, you may be able to schedule the pick-up on your initial donation call.
Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes! Your vehicle donation is a tax-deductible contribution. Your car donation will help feed and care for animals at the Sacramento Zoo!
How does my tax deduction work?
The IRS allows you, the taxpayer, to claim a tax deduction of (a) the value of your vehicle up to $500 or (b) if the vehicle is sold for more than $500 you will receive an IRS Form 1098c to claim the full sales price.
Donating your house to the Sacramento Zoo is a great way to support the animals, educational outreach, and wildlife conservation. You can support the Sacramento Zoo with the gift of a real estate donation! Donate online or call 1-844-277-HOME.
All donations are handled by CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; the FAQ’s below refer to their policies. All donations benefit the Sacramento Zoo.
Can you accept real estate with a mortgage balance?
Yes, Sacramento Zoo will resell the property with its national auction partner and the proceeds of the auction sale will pay off the mortgage balance first, with the remainder going to Sacramento Zoo (after normal closing costs such as escrow, title fees, transfer tax, real estate commissions, etc.). Prior to the auction we will determine if the likely value exceeds the mortgage balance and we may have to reject any asset that does not have sufficient equity to result in cash proceeds to Sacramento Zoo.
Can I give a portion of the equity to Sacramento Zoo, or do I have to donate it all?
If your property has a high value, you may elect to donate a portion of the equity to Sacramento Zoo (falling under a Bargain Sale-IRS Section 170).
What type of real estate can be donated?
Any type of real property may be donated that has positive equity, clear title, and no environmental issues. Common property types are land, second homes, rental property, commercial real estate and estates. We do not accept timeshares or mobile homes.
Is donating real estate easy?
Yes! Our partner has a national real estate auction platform, and a national title company partner so we can quickly vet assets and convert them to cash without Sacramento Zoo ever having to own or operate the asset. Also, using the IRS Bargain Sale, Sacramento Zoo can accept real estate with mortgage debt and high value assets with a portion of the equity going to the Sacramento Zoo (and a portion in cash to donor). Donors don’t need to pay for anything and only need to fill out a seller disclosure and sign the deed at closing. We take care of everything else!
What tax deduction do I receive when donating property?
Real estate donations are based on the full appraised value, not the sale price. Capital gain tax may also be avoided (excluding the mortgaged portion or cash received). The deduction can be carried forward up to five years following the year of sale.
In most cases, you may deduct the difference between the cash received and the fair market value based on an appraisal specifically completed to assess the value based on IRS gift appraisal guidelines. You many not deduct proceeds that were applied to pay off mortgages or back real estate taxes.
How long does it take to complete a real estate donation?
Most donated properties will be completed within 90 days, and some as quickly as 14 days. Our goal is to maximize the value of the property.
Do I have to pay commissions or closing costs?
You do not have to pay any commissions. If your property is currently listed with a broker, Sacramento Zoo will pay the commission owed based on the list price, or tax assessor value if there is no list price. There are no closing costs to the donor and all unpaid liens will be paid off at closing. The donor is generally not asked to pay anything out of pocket and prepaid property taxes and assessments will be remitted back to the donor at closing.
Can either party cancel the donation agreement?
In short, it depends on the transaction. If Sacramento Zoo can’t achieve a resale sales price that results in a surplus, or if there are title or serious repair issues found, the nonprofit may terminate the donation agreement.
What if my property has environmental issues?
We have the ability to process properties with environmental issues, however, only high value assets would be considered due to the risk and complexity. We have investors specialized in environmental clean up and often issue indemnities to sellers via complex insurance placements.
Thank you for donating your house for animals!
The Sacramento Zoo has partnered with eWaste4Good to not only properly dispose of your ewaste but to help raise funds for the zoo at the same time!
They will pick up your ewaste free of charge and automatically donate part of the proceeds back to the zoo. We cannot accept ewaste at the zoo.
What is ewaste?
Just some of the items that qualify are: televisions, fax machines, monitors, PC boards, computers, DVD players, laptops, VCRs, keyboards, cables and cords, printers, radios, computer mice, stereo components, hard drives, tape and zip drives, power tools, amplifiers, speakers, telephones, cell phones, car audio and microwaves.
How do I schedule a pick up?
Pickup does require three qualifying items. Qualifying items are defined as: televisions, monitors, computers, towers, laptops or servers. They will pickup all other ewaste listed above with three qualifying items.
Request an eWaste4Good pick up. Make sure to list the Sacramento Zoo or Sacramento Zoological Society as the organization you would like to support. They will contact you within 3 business days to schedule a pick up at your home, business or school.
If you would like to purchase items from Amazon.com, the zoo has a wide range of needed items on our wish list. Many items go directly to the animals as enrichments and toys! Visit our Amazon wish list now.
They will ship directly to the Sacramento Zoo.
Another way to help is to always start your Amazon shopping here, or choose the Sacramento Zoological Society via the Amazon Smile program. A portion of your purchase will be donated to the Zoo.
More Ways
A Donor Advised Fund is a centralized charitable account. Individuals, families and businesses make an irrevocable gift to a public charity that sponsors a Donor-advised fund program for charitable giving (through a community foundation or charitable giving account). The donor receives an immediate tax deduction, and can then make charitable contributions to non-profit organizations over time. If you have a Donor Advised Fund through one of the following: Fidelity Charitable®, Schwab Charitable® and the BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund®, simply log in to your account using the link below, and make a direct charitable contribution to the non-profit Sacramento Zoological Society.
Many employers sponsor corporate matching gift programs that will match any charitable contribution made by their employees (including memberships). Check here for a listing of some participating businesses.
If you don’t see your employer listed, please contact your human resources office to see if your company has a matching gift program and to check the eligibility requirements. If you are eligible, please complete the appropriate form and mail the completed form to the address below. We’ll verify your gift and notify your company. Your personal gift and matched contribution help the animals in our care and help us to provide a variety of educational programs at the Sacramento Zoo.
Sacramento Zoo
Attn: Matching Gifts
3930 West Land Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95822
Email with matching gift questions or call 916-808-3713.
Your employer may also match your volunteer time!
Ask your human resources office for eligibility requirements. Visit the Volunteer page for opportunities at the Sacramento Zoo.
Your gift of stock (or mutual funds) can yield high returns for the animals, educational programs and conservation efforts at the Sacramento Zoo.
Donating appreciated securities can also provide tax savings. Your donation triggers an immediate tax deduction at the security’s current fair market value. You can also avoid capital gains tax. It’s especially smart to donate stocks which have grown in value over the years.
You may find these tax benefits enable you to make a larger gift than you could have made with cash.
To make a gift of stock, please contact the Senior Development Officer or call 916-808-3713 for information.
For as little as 17 cents a day you are contributing to our ongoing work on behalf of wildlife species at your Sacramento Zoo and around the globe.
It’s easy to do: You agree to make a set contribution each week, month or quarter, then we deduct the specified amount from your credit or debit card as requested. Spreading your support throughout the year is a convenient way to fit your donations into your personal budget.
For example…
$100 a month buys enough dandelion greens to feed 14 hungry tortoises
$80 a month buys fresh, organic romaine lettuce for our giraffes
$70 a month covers a snow leopard’s annual exam
$50 a month covers a blood chemistry panel for any animal
$30 a month provides bananas (a favorite) for our troop of chimpanzees
$22 a month buys plenty of capelin (smelt-like fish) for our otter pair
$16.25 a month covers a flamingo’s annual exam
$10 a month buys exotic pine nuts to feed our Endangered flock of thick-billed parrots
Spread your gift to the Sacramento Zoo over the entire year. Your recurring gift adds up and helps us to protect and care for wildlife all year long.
By making a recurring gift of as little as $5, you join a group of dedicated supporters committed to making an ongoing contribution. Your monthly gift will provide the zoo with a dependable source of income that will help us to achieve our mission.