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Why We Give

Shark LadyCelebrating the Legacy of Mote's ‘Shark Lady'
Dr. Eugenie Clark founded the Mote Marine Laboratory in 1955 as a one-woman operation founded on the three basic principles of passion, philanthropy and partnership. Genie passed away earlier this year, but support will helps her vision live on. More

Mote Marine LaboratoryOceans of Opportunity
Mote prides itself on its world-class research, conservation efforts and public education. In an effort to ensure long-term sustainability for future generations, Mote Marine Laboratory announced a comprehensive fundraising campaign, Oceans of Opportunity. More

BradyMaking Her Connection to Mote's Past, Present and Future
All members of Mote Marine Laboratory's Legacy Society have their own history and connections that drew them to the organization and inspired them to support Mote through a planned gift. Veronica Brady and her husband Jay have many connections. More

Shirely FeinFrom 4-H Farm Girl to Mote Donor
Shirley Fein lives life to the fullest—from her humble beginnings on a dairy farm to exploring the marine world and meeting Jacques Cousteau. Now she is giving back to Mote, an organization that has meant so much to her.More

Pamela and Charlie SiderskiBorn to Give
Pamela Siderski seems born to care for the things most important to her. Her love of the sea influenced her and her husband, Charlie, to include a gift in their will to support the future of Mote Marine Laboratory. Pamela quickly qualified as an Aquarium docent, became a member of Mote's Advisory Council and Education Committee, and worked in the Dolphin Whale and Sea Turtle Hospital..More

BenimeliRich and Judi Benimeli Donate to Mote First, Then Volunteer
Rich and Judi Benimeli didn't follow the usual pattern of volunteering at Mote, and then including Mote in their estate plans. They decided early on to make Mote's mission their own, and have become loyal supporters in every way. Usually folks learn about Mote's research and public education after becoming volunteers in the Aquarium or in another Mote endeavor..More

Patrice Boeke and Tom AlburnRomance Leads New Donors to Mote
Patrice Boeke and Tom Alburn were brought together thanks to the amateur matchmaking of Mote's own Dr. Eugenie Clark and a love of diving. Their shared love of marine life also led them to Mote Marine Laboratory. It should come as no surprise to you, dear reader, that Patrice Boeke and Tom Alburn became Mote donors as a consequence of their shared interest..More

Tom WatersRespected Fundraiser Brings Talents and Support to Mote
Tom Waters was a man on a mission almost from the start. He graduated from American International College in 1978 with majors in management and economics, a solid foundation for the work he would spend many years doing. When he joined Mote, Tom immersed himself in Mote's history, its marine research projects, its education initiatives and its dedicated staff..More

Rande RidenourHow Boomers Become Mote Donors
Rande Ridenour comes on strong because he is a believer in advancing the science of the sea. Laboratory projects now include everything from understanding the role of microbes in coral health, to tracking whale sharks, to cost-effective systems to grow marine and freshwater fish using environmentally sound practices..More

Educators Tell How They Became Mote Donors
How do people go from not knowing about all Mote Marine Laboratory has to offer to including the Lab in their estate plans? Just ask Tom and Carol Kerr..More

 Leaving a Legacy
While Dwight Davis has had a love for the sea since early childhood, his passion did not lead him to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium until after his retirement. His relationship with Mote may have just begun but he is making sure it continues for a long time—even after his lifetime..More

Ken RearA Mote Donor Cast in Concrete
Although Ken Rear built a career in concrete, his interest in marine life has never waned. Now that he is retired, he is able to invest more time in his passion. That includes making sure that marine life is protected in the future..More

Alfred GoldsteinI'm a Snowbird and a Mote Donor
Who says a Mote donor has to be a year-round Florida resident? Not me. I'm a native Michigander who spends six months up there and six months down here. After retirement, just over 15 years ago, I settled in Sarasota and almost at once became a supporting member of Mote Marine Laboratory, and later a volunteer at the Ann and Alfred Goldstein Marine Mammal Research and Rehabilitation Center..More

Mote Marine LaboratoryI Joined Mote, Left Mote, Then Returned Bearing a Gift
There are many places to give one's time and energy to help people. After retirement, my husband Ed and I moved from Pittsburgh to Sarasota and discovered an outstanding one — Mote Marine Laboratory. We became volunteers at Mote where my background in education found a perfect fit, interaction with diverse age groups and the opportunity to both teach and learn..More

Mote Marine LaboratoryA Letter to Mote
What does it take to make a person a Mote donor? It must be different for different people. For me, it was a love of the sea from earliest childhood. That was in Tampa, way back in the mists of time. Later in Hollywood, Fla., as a teenager and an avid fisherman and a collector of things washed up on the beach, my interest in marine life became even keener..More

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Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

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Donations help us rehabilitate sick animals, answer questions about the health of our marine environment and teach the public more about our oceans.

Retired Lieutenant General Howard Crowell and woman

LTG Howard G. Crowell, Jr. and Mrs. Sally M. Crowell

“The Lab means a lot to humanity; the more support it receives, the better future we will have.”
Susan and Brian Kelly

Brian and Susan Kelly

“Mote is one of the most effective answers to ocean problems that I’ve ever come across. We firmly believe the Mote Laboratory Legacy Society offers us a unique opportunity to invest in mankind’s future. It is perhaps the most impactful and assured way for us to ‘give back’ to our society.”

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

 Bequest Language

The official bequest language for Mote Marine Laboratory is: "I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to Mote Marine Laboratory [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose." 

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to Mote or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Mote as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Mote as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and Mote where you agree to make a gift to Mote and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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