Last Minute Charitable Deductions to support mountain nonprofits

There's still time to support your favorite NC Mountain organization and get a tax deduction for 2012. Whether you have $10 or $10,000 your donation will help insure the continuing good works of dozens of community and local nonprofits dedicated to preserving and protecting the mountains and their culture and heritage. Here is a list with links for some of the many organizations who need your help:


Friends of the Western North Carolina Nature Center - The Center is a special place in many ways including being one of only four U.S. zoos that saw the birth of red wolves in 2012.  With only 400 red wolves left in the world, the pups' birth in May 2012 was a major contribution to current and future conservation of one of our most endangered species.  In addition to conservation the WNC Nature Center offers year around education for all ages and is a living museum of plants and animals native to the Appalachian region. A variety of support options are offered for adopting an animal to Membership to cash donations. Get complete details and make online contributions HERE. 


Friends of the Mountain to Sea Trail - Donations help build, protect and promote the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. In 2012 an additional 42 miles of trail officially opened near Boone, in Pilot Mountain State Park and at Falls Lake. Volunteers also constructed more new trail west of Asheville, in Greensboro and in Alamance counties and along the Eno River.  The Mountains-to-Sea Trail connects Clingman's Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey's Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks with 1000 miles of footpaths and temporary connectors. Donate by becoming a Member beginning at $10 for students.

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina -  Donations help to protect the region's magnificent mountains, creeks, rivers and lakes, and productive farm and forest lands. Protected and supported areas include
include state parks at Lake James, South Mountains and Chimney Rock; game lands at Wilson Creek the Johns River and the Linville Gorge; and hidden gems like Catawba Falls in Pisgah National Forest. Your gifts also help us protect the region's fast-disappearing farmland and forests and water feeding the Broad, Catawba and Yadkin rivers. Learn more about donations to the Foothills Conservancy HERE.

iLoveMountains.org - An organization dedicated to ending mountaintop removal coal mining. Give a Gift to Appalachia this holiday and help support several exciting initiatives planned in the coming year. You contributions will be used to buy equipment to test wells and waterways, purchase materials for upcoming End Mountaintop Removal rallies, provide scholarships for emerging Appalachian leaders, and more. You can also shop online for several fund-raising products. By contributing to iLoveMountains.org you directly support the efforts of groups working to end mountaintop removal coal mining and help to counter Big Coal's efforts to destroy the mountains we love.   Learn more about donations HERE.   

Land Trust for the Little Tennessee - conserving the land, water, forests farms and heritage of the Upper Little Tennessee and Hiawassee  River Valleys in southwestern North Carolina. 2012 projects included the Town of Andrews' 930-acre watershed in Cherokee County, the four-mile Blue Ridge Parkway easement in the Balsam Mountains and many projects in between.  There are multiple ways you can give to LTLT before December 31st: cash, stock or an IRA distribution*. Get details about donating, joining of volunteering HERE.

Friends of the Smokies -  Assists the National Park Service in its mission to preserve and protect the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by raising funds and public awareness, and providing volunteers for needed projects. Choose from a variety of way to give support: cash donations, membership, volunteering, shop for Smokies products and more. Click HERE for details.

HandMade in America -  Programs and initiatives that train artists and entrepreneurs, help small craft businesses, animate places, and spark development throughout the region. HandMade not only provides support and education for local artisans, their efferts spur revitalization, attract tourism, broaden markets, grow partnerships, and create job opportunities in Western North Carolina. Make a year-end donation to HandMade in America  by calling the office at (828) 252-0121, visiting the online website at indiegogo.com/HandMade or by mailing in your donation to our office, at 125 S. Lexington Ave., Suite 101, Asheville, NC 28801.