Deepen Your Connection
By leaving a gift in your will, you will be securing Avaaz for the road ahead
We've won incredible victories - together, we’ve landed a historic climate agreement to protect our planet, helped advance human rights around the world, and fought to keep the Internet free and fair... and much, much more.
But from defending democracy globally, to campaigning to solve the twin crisis of climate emergency and biodiversity, to mobilising millions in humanitarian aid for vulnerable communities on the frontlines -- our movement has never been more important, and we have decades of work left to do.
Avaazers choose to become "legacy donors" because of the impact they know it will continue to have for generations. Avaaz is almost 15 years old now, and with every year that passes we are growing stronger and more ambitious in our campaigning.
The sample bequest language below can help you to get started, but you'll want to consult your legal and financial advisors to make sure the language you decide to use ensures your gift is effective.
"I give to the Avaaz Foundation a Delaware nonprofit corporation with its principal offices at 27 Union Square W #500, New York, New York, or, in the event that Avaaz Foundation has lawfully transferred substantially all of its undertaking to another organisation, I give to such other organisation, [all (or ____ percent) of my residuary estate] or [the sum of [USD/GBP/EUR_______ ] to be used for its general purposes."
Avaaz 501(c)(4) Tax ID:
20-5050267
Avaaz legal address:
27 Union Square W #500
New York, NY 10003
It's important to note that each country or state has its own rules about how to create a valid legacy and its tax implications and we are not able to offer any legal or tax advice. We recommend that you consult with your legal and financial advisors to learn how a gift would work in your circumstances in your country or state. For example in the US as a 501(c)(4), donations to Avaaz Foundation, are not tax-deductible.
Click here for an easy-to-print PDF version of these details:
PDF versionWe’ve been audited annually since Avaaz started in 2006 and the independent auditors have always given us a squeaky clean bill of health. This audit thoroughly checks every aspect of our books and financial practices. (For more details on Avaaz’s financial health, click here)
Avaaz takes absolutely no money from governments or corporations. This is hugely important to ensuring that our voice is exclusively determined by the values of our members, and not by any large funder or agenda. While we received initial seed grants from partner organisations and charitable organisations, 100% of the Avaaz budget now comes from small online donations. This means that the only agenda we have to follow is the people's agenda. Avaaz legacy donors play a crucial role in securing this independence for decades to come.
Campaigning, advocacy and social change are a serious and demanding business – the more competent the team, the more impact our donations have. Avaaz attracts some of the best campaigners and advocates in the world.
Avaaz has donated nearly tens of millions of dollars to other organisations, because we saw them as better placed than us to have impact on a particular issue. In 2020 alone, we granted nearly $10 million dollars to urgent causes around the world, transforming the lives of people everywhere. When Covid-19 hit, Avaaz kicked into full gear, supporting indigenous groups in the Amazon and the Maasai in Kenya, and covering the cost of millions of meals and thousands of kits in medical supplies for vulnerable communities stretching from Pakistan to Bolivia, and from Democratic Republic of Congo to Pakistan. And, when Europe turned its back on refugees risking their lives at sea, we chipped in to fuel the boats of the few rescue missions operating in the Mediterranean.
We’ve raised funds to help recover forests and rescue injured koalas, kangaroos and other wildlife after forest fires blazed through Australia; and, we’ve supported ranger groups in Africa to fight the rise in poaching… and so much more!
The way we support organisations is important too. Most foundations have endless processes and constraints that make them slow, bureaucratic and risk averse in supporting advocacy. Avaaz finds the best people and organisations -- doing the most effective work, often on a small budget, and doesn't micromanage them; we help advance their power to meet their needs and do what they know best.
Most charities offer tax deductibility for donations. But this means that they are, in a way, partially taxpayer funded, and governments use that to place a very thick set of rules on what they can and can't do. Chief among them is restricting what they can say to criticize, support, or oppose a politician. Avaaz is very rare in that our donations are not tax deductible, leaving us 100% free to say and do whatever we need to to get leaders to listen to people. Since so many important issues are won and lost in the political realm, this makes us much more effective than advocacy groups that shy away from speaking out politically.
Avaaz is a massive network of citizens, but our organisation is small – just a few dozen full time campaigners with operational and technology support. Most large global NGOs have hundreds or even thousands of staff. We're efficient and we focus on impact and getting results.
The Avaaz model of campaigning is people-powered. Our priorities are guided by polls of our membership and every campaign we run is first polled with members. No matter how much work we put into developing a campaign, if it fails to get the greenlight from members, we don't run it. So on a day to day basis, how we spend the donations we receive is determined directly by members.
Let Avaaz staff know if you have any questions by emailing legacy@avaaz.org. A reminder that we cannot offer any legal or tax advice, but we'd love to hear from you.
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