Frequently Asked
Questions

If you have questions about any giving option, please contact:
Andy Tompsett, Philanthropy Director
(408) 837-8091
Andy@MountMadonna.org

Yes. Mount Madonna operates under the auspices of the Advaita Society – Hanuman Fellowship, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization.

In most cases, yes. If you would like to choose to give to a specific purpose, please include that information when making your donation or contact us to discuss your intentions. Please consider supporting one or more of our four Mission-aligned philanthropic focus areas: community of practice, stewardship of sacred land, preservation of wisdom, and lifelong learning.

Most donations to Mount Madonna are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. We recommend consulting your tax advisor regarding your specific situation.

All donations are acknowledged by Advaita Society–Hanuman Fellowship, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dba Mount Madonna Center. Certain types of gifts, such as stock donations, QCDs, or gifts made through donor advised funds, may require additional information or the completion of a form so we can properly prepare for and acknowledge your gift. If you wish to remain anonymous, please indicate this when making your gift, or contact Andy Tompsett, Philanthropy Director, at (408) 837-8091 or andy@mountmadonna.org.

Some gifts, such as stock donations, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), or donor advised fund grants, are initiated through third parties. Completing a donation form helps us anticipate your gift, understand your intentions, and ensure it is properly acknowledged.

Yes. You can make a one-time or recurring gift online using a credit card.

One-time gifts can be made by mail, and one-time or recurring gifts can be made by phone.

Gifts may be made through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or Automated Clearing House (ACH) by both international and domestic donors.

Yes. One-time or recurring gifts can be made through EFT or ACH. Please contact us to set up this type of gift and complete the transfer.

For some donors, donating appreciated stock or mutual funds may offer tax advantages, including the potential to avoid capital gains tax while supporting Mount Madonna’s mission. We recommend consulting your tax advisor to determine whether this option is appropriate for your situation.

Mount Madonna is able to accept donations of stocks and mutual funds transferred electronically.

To initiate an electronic transfer of stock or mutual funds, instruct your broker to transfer the securities directly to Mount Madonna’s Morgan Stanley account via the Depository Trust Company (DTC) system.

After initiating the transfer, you will be asked to complete our Stock Donation Form. This form includes important details about your donation so we can anticipate and acknowledge your gift and process it according to your intent.

After initiating the transfer, please contact Andy Tompsett, Philanthropy Director, at (408) 837-8091 or andy@mountmadonna.org.

Some employers offer matching gift programs that allow them to match charitable donations made by their employees, increasing the impact of a gift to Mount Madonna.

Matching gift programs vary by employer. We recommend checking directly with your employer to see if a matching program is available.

If your employer offers a matching gift program, you can submit a matching gift request according to your employer’s process.

Yes. If your gift will be matched by your employer, letting us know helps us anticipate and properly acknowledge the matching contribution.

Benevity is a platform used by many employers to support corporate giving, volunteering, and grant-making solutions.

If your employer uses Benevity, you can search for Advaita Society/Hanuman Fellowship dba Mount Madonna Center within the platform.

Employees at participating companies may be able to make one-time or recurring donations through Benevity.

If your employer offers matching gifts through Benevity, you may be able to request a match for your donation through the platform.

A donor advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account established through a financial institution or charitable sponsor that allows donors to recommend grants to qualified nonprofit organizations, such as Mount Madonna.

To recommend a grant, follow the process required by the sponsoring organization of your donor advised fund and provide Mount Madonna’s legal and mailing information.

Yes. Donors may recommend one-time or recurring grants through their donor advised fund, depending on the policies of the sponsoring organization.

Yes. In addition to recommending immediate or recurring grants, you may name Mount Madonna as the full or partial beneficiary of your donor advised fund.

The sponsoring organization of your donor advised fund may request Mount Madonna’s legal name, federal tax ID, mailing address, and the intended purpose of your gift.

A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a direct charitable gift made from an IRA to a qualified charitable organization, such as Advaita Society / Hanuman Fellowship dba Mount Madonna Center. Because the funds are transferred directly from your IRA custodian, the gift amount may be excluded from your taxable income.

For a distribution to qualify as a QCD, the funds must be transferred directly from your IRA custodian to Mount Madonna. Funds that pass through the account holder do not qualify.

QCDs can be made by IRA owners who are age 70½ or older.

QCDs may be made from an IRA other than a SEP or SIMPLE IRA. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific situation.

In some cases, a QCD can count toward an individual’s Required Minimum Distribution. Please consult your tax advisor to confirm how this applies to your situation.

Completing the QCD Donation Form helps us anticipate your gift, understand your intentions, and properly acknowledge your donation once it is received.

For more information about QCDs, please visit IRS.gov or consult your tax advisor.

For tax year 2026, the QCD limit is $111,000 per person. The IRS sets an annual limit on QCDs, which may change over time. We recommend consulting IRS.gov or your tax advisor for the most current limits and guidance.

Legacy giving is a way to support Mount Madonna’s work long into the future by including the organization in your estate plans.

Legacy gifts may be made through a will or trust, naming Mount Madonna as a retirement plan beneficiary, life insurance beneficiary, or donor advised fund beneficiary, establishing a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust, or donating property.

Distributions from tax-deferred retirement plans, such as IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b)s, are generally taxable to descendents when inherited. By naming Mount Madonna as a full or partial beneficiary of a retirement account, you may be able to reduce the tax burden on your descendents while ensuring that your charitable gift is transferred tax-free to support Mount Madonna’s mission. We encourage you to consult your tax or financial advisor to determine whether this option is appropriate for your financial situation.

You can designate Mount Madonna as the beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy, which may offer tax benefits. To deduct premium payments as charitable deductions, you must name Mount Madonna as both owner and beneficiary of the policy. We recommend consulting your financial advisor regarding your specific situation.

Charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts allow you to make a gift to Mount Madonna while receiving income, often through fixed payments for life. These options may also offer favorable tax benefits. We encourage you to seek professional advice to determine whether a charitable gift annuity or trust is appropriate for your financial situation.

Donating appreciated real estate may allow you to make a charitable gift to Mount Madonna while avoiding capital gains taxes and potentially receiving a charitable deduction based on the property’s fair market value. We encourage you to consult your tax or financial advisor to determine whether a gift of property is appropriate for your situation.

You may include Mount Madonna in your will or living trust by leaving a specific amount, property, or percentage of your estate. Sample bequest language is available to support this process.

Yes. You may direct a legacy gift for a specific purpose, if and so long as Mount Madonna determines that the need exists. Please consider supporting one or more of our four Mission-aligned philanthropic focus areas: community of practice, stewardship of sacred land, preservation of wisdom, and lifelong learning.

If it is no longer possible or appropriate to use a gift for its originally intended purpose, Mount Madonna may direct the gift toward a closely related purpose, consistent with the donor’s intent.

If you have named Mount Madonna in your will or trust, we invite you to let us know so we can ensure your gift is used according to your wishes and thoughtfully plan for the use of your future gift.

Please consider submitting a Legacy Donor Circle Enrollment Form to help us acknowledge your gift or contact:
Andy Tompsett, Philanthropy Director
(408) 837-8091
Andy@MountMadonna.org

Yes. We encourage you to seek professional advice for all questions related to legacy giving and are happy to collaborate with you and your advisor as needed.