Learn about Donating and Volunteering at Evergreen International

Why Should I Get Involved?

We live in a time of rapid social change. Only a few years ago, same-sex marriages, a gay pride day in our elementary schools, and the deliberate decision to raise children in single-parent families would have been unthinkable. Your children and grandchildren face the very real possibility of living in a world where few of the ideals that have shaped your life will even be tolerated. Scientific research and social trends demonstrate that when we abandon high standards of moral character and the natural family, we reap a bitter harvest. Nowhere is this more true than in the matter of homosexual behavior.

We need to unite scientific, clinical, moral, and community leaders to insure that assistance is available for those dealing with unwanted gender identity disorders. To accomplish these goals, individuals of integrity must be willing to sacrifice their time, talent, and financial resources to sustain these worthy goals.

Donating to Evergreen International: The Privilege of Giving

Please consider making a donation to Evergreen. Donate with a credit card at our bookstore or donate using PayPal (credit card or bank account) by clicking the Donate button below.

U.S. tax laws encourage charitable giving. Because of the income tax charitable tax deduction, if you make a gift and itemize, you can reduce the sting of income taxes. Of course, giving is much more than tax brackets and charitable deductions. Your gifts provide the meaningful difference in what we do.

The Board, Staff, and Volunteers thank you for helping make our mission possible. You are a crucial part of providing hope and help to those in need and we appreciate your support!

Evergreen International, Inc. is incorporated in the State of Utah as a non-profit corporation and has been granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code, making contributions tax-deductible.

The following information is intended to provide illustration and should not be considered expert legal or tax advice. Please consult your legal or tax professional to determine the impact of your donations.

Regular individual giving

One of our greatest needs is for individuals to pledge support on a monthly or quarterly basis. This provides a steady income to the organization. Contact us if you'd like an automatic withdrawal from your checking account so you don't have to remember to send in checks. You can also made a donation on this Web site as explained above. If you itemize your taxes, your outright gifts of cash (whether by check, credit card, or cash) are deductible for federal income tax purposes.

United Way

Many employers offer the ability to sign up for a regular monthly donation to United Way through payroll deduction. You can indicate on the United Way card to have your donation go to Evergreen. Simply write "Evergreen International, Inc., 307 West 200 South, Suite 3004, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101." Some employers even match contributions made by employees.

Corporate giving

Some employers will match contributions made by employees to charitable organizations. Many business owners look for a way to help the community with donations of money, goods, or services. If you know of a company or foundation that may consider donating to Evergreen, please talk with them or let us know so we may contact them.

Use goodsearch.com to search the Internet

You can help raise funds for Evergreen International simply by using the search engine www.goodsearch.com. Each time you use this search engine, it donates money to your favorite charity. The site is powered by Yahoo!, so you'll get the same quality search results that you're used to. The more people who use this site, the more money will go to those in need. So please spread the word to your friends and family. You can set www.goodsearch.com as your start-up page. The first time you use the site, enter Evergreen International in the field labeled "Who do you goodsearch for?" Select Evergreen International (Salt Lake City, UT). Then you will automatically help raise money for Evergreen every time you search the Internet.

Stock gifts

You may donate stock or other assets to Evergreen. Giving long-term appreciated stock offers you a two-fold saving. First, you avoid paying capital gains tax on the increase in value of your stock. In addition, you receive a tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock on the date of the gift. Consider stocks, bonds, real estate, furniture, jewelry, collectibles, vehicles, or anything else of value.

For example, if you purchased some stock many years ago for $1,000, and it is now worth $10,000, an outright gift of that stock to Evergreen would result in a charitable deduction of $10,000. In addition, you permanently avoid paying capital gains tax on the $9,000 of appreciation!

Building a legacy

We plan to be around for a long time. Therefore, you may wish to consider leaving assets to the organization in your will or naming Evergreen as a beneficiary to your life insurance or retirement accounts. More information about deferred giving to Evergreen.

Gifts in kind

We are always in need of goods and services, such as office supplies, computers, software, furniture, copy machines or photocopying services, printing, envelopes, stamps, or anything else that could help the work.

Gifts of real estate

If you have owned your home, a vacation home, acreage, or a farm for many years, a charitable gift of that real estate can be especially tax-advantageous. The property may have so appreciated in value over the years that its sale would result in a sizeable capital gains tax for you. If given outright to Evergreen instead, you avoid the tax and, at the same time, realize a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the real estate.*

You may also wish to consider a gift of your personal residence for farm, reserving the right to continue to live in the house or farm for life (or the life of your surviving spouse). Through such an arrangement, you are entitled to an income tax deduction for a portion of the fair market value of the property.

Gifts of life insurance

If you own a life insurance policy that is not needed by your heirs, consider it as the perfect vehicle for a charitable gift to Evergreen. To receive the deduction, name Evergreen as both the owner and beneficiary of that policy. If the policy has a cash value, you can take a charitable deduction approximately equal to the cash value at the time of the gift. In addition, if annual premiums are still to be made and you continue to pay them, those premiums will become tax deductible each year. It's easy to contribute a life insurance policy. Just check with your insurance agent for details on which forms to complete.

Life income gifts

With the current low money market rates, and many stocks paying very low dividends, your gifts of cash to stock made in the form of a life income gift can actually increase your income! This allows you to transfer cash, stock, or other property to Evergreen now, and yet continue to receive the income from them. A life income gift can allow you to (1) increase your income for life, (2) receive a generous charitable contribution deduction this year, and (3) if you contribute stock, avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation. Read more about life income gifts.

Frequent flyer miles

Did you know that you can donate frequent flyer miles to a third party? We have increasing travel needs to provide workshops and local conferences in many cities. If you have frequent flyer miles to donate, this can greatly reduce Evergreen's travel costs.

Scholarship fund

Donate to our scholarship fund to provide the registration cost for an Annual Evergreen Conference to someone who can't afford to attend. Many Evergreen participants are students with limited incomes. On a limited budget, and with the cost of therapy, some have a difficult time raising the money to attend a conference. Your donation can directly help someone attend a conference. It may change their life and put them on the road to recovery.

Fund a special project

There are many special projects each year that you may wish to contribute to Contact the Evergreen office for more information.

Donation of talents and fees

Some therapists and other professionals agree to donate the value of an hour of therapy or professional service per month or quarter. Speakers could donate an honorarium. Donating your musical talents could improve the quality of conferences, workshops, and firesides. Singers could perform at fundraisers. Artists could donate profits from a painting. Writers could donate profits from a book.

Volunteering

Where would we be without those faithful volunteers who help with the many tasks to keep the work moving forward?

Evergreen’s many activities take time. It is a tremendous burden for a few people, but manageable service when many are involved. You help yourself when you help others. Please search your heart and if you have a few hours a month you could devote to this important work, contact the Evergreen office to volunteer.

The following are some things you may consider doing. Many may be done in your own home on your own time:

• Write or edit articles for the newsletter. Share your experience and insight with others.

• Organize grass-roots efforts to educate others about same-sex attraction. Because people like you take the initiative to suggest it, many stakes have held leadership training meetings on how to help those who struggle with same-sex attraction.

• Provide graphic design for newsletters and other Evergreen publications.

• Help plan and carry out firesides, seminars, workshops, or the annual conference.

• Thank your local bookstore or library for carrying books about overcoming same-sex attraction. If they don’t carry them, ask them to.

• Help in the office by preparing and mailing books and information packets.

• Write to television stations and newspapers to thank them for relaying appropriate information. When incorrect information is presented, respond with the truth.

• Vitalize affiliate support groups by communicating regularly with them and nurturing developing groups.

• If you have computer skills, help us with the Evergreen Web site or with computer programming.

• Translate, review, or proofread Evergreen materials in other languages.

• Help coordinate the volunteer workforce.

• Donate books or materials to the headquarters library and archives.

• Help with fundraising efforts by preparing information packets or visiting with potential donors.

• Act as a facilitator in a support group. Previous experience in counseling is helpful, but more important is an open heart and sincere concern.

• If you have financial or accounting experience, you could help with budgets or yearly audits.

• Help build the list of Friends of Evergreen to expand our sphere of influence. If you have friends or know of key people in your community who ought to know more about Evergreen, let us know and we will send them an information packet.

• If you travel to areas where there are affiliate groups, visit them and provide encouragement.

• Encourage local church leaders to receive training. Evergreen can provide training outlines or speakers.

• Help with public and community relations.

• Act as an Area Representative to be the eyes and ears of Evergreen in your area.

Faith and prayers

Faith and prayers have an amazing effect on how this work moves forward. Pray that we'll feel a sense of urgency where we need to move forward and that we'll have patience where we need to have patience. Since we consider the fundraising effort pivotal to our ability to move forward in important ways, we ask for your faith and prayers. We invite you to pray with us that potential contributors might understand the issues surrounding homosexuality and have a sense of compassion and urgency in the work, and that the Lord will open doors that we may move His work forward in a major way.

Friends of Evergreen

The Friends of Evergreen group was established to build relationships with individuals and groups who support Evergreen. It includes friends, family, spouses, individual strugglers, professional organizations, businesses, General Authorities, previous speakers at conferences and firesides, community leaders, and others who share our common interests.

Moral Support

Don’t be shy to talk about Evergreen or that you know people who are overcoming same-sex attraction. Since it can be discouraging and lonely at times, encourage those who struggle by showing your love, concern, and support. Tell them you believe in what they are doing and you admire them for their courage in the face of difficult trials.

In the world today, we are bombarded with rhetoric that people are born gay and cannot change. Everyone needs to hear the truth: that with the proper motivation, it is possible to control homosexual behavior, live according to Christ's teachings, diminish the attractions, and enjoy the blessings of the Gospel.