Support the Watershed
Our waters need you.
For more than five decades, supporters like you have helped protect and restore the rivers, streams and waters that make the South Shore special.
Your support — time, membership, a gift, or a planned legacy — fosters a more resilient watershed through support of engagement, education, and restoration.
Choose How You’ll Help
Every path below directly supports a healthy watershed. Choose what works for you.
01 · Make a gift
Donate to the NSRWA
A one-time or recurring gift supports water-quality science, river restoration, and environmental education across the South Shore.
Suggested gift amounts
Select any amount or enter your own on the giving page.
You’ll be taken to our Network for Good giving page. NSRWA is a 501(c)(3); your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
02 · Volunteer
Join 800+ volunteers
From herring counts to water-quality monitoring, your contributions make a difference. No experience necessary.
03 · Membership
Become a Member
As a member, you’ll help protect local rivers year-round while joining a community of people who care deeply about the South Shore.
Employer matching
Double your Impact
Many employers match their employees’ charitable gifts.
Search Your Employer
04 · Tax-advantaged giving
Leave a lasting legacy
Donor-Advised Funds, IRA distributions, appreciated stock, and planned gifts are often the most impactful ways to support NSRWA. Our team can help you give in a way that aligns with your goals.
Explore the Leadership Giving Circle for gifts of $500 and above.
Ways to Give Tax-Smart
Not sure which approach fits your situation? Learn more about the most common tax-advantaged giving options below.
Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)
A Donor-Advised Fund lets you make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to NSRWA on your own schedule. DAFs are held through sponsoring organizations like Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or your community foundation. They’re one of the simplest ways to make a significant gift while maximizing your tax benefit in any given year.
Gifts of Appreciated Securities
Donating appreciated stock, mutual funds, or other securities directly to NSRWA allows you to avoid paying capital gains tax on the increase in value — and you still receive a full fair-market-value deduction. If you’ve held securities that have grown significantly, this is often a more tax-efficient option than selling and donating the proceeds. NSRWA can accept transfers from most major brokerage accounts.
Gifts from Your IRA
If you’re 70½ or older, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) lets you transfer funds directly from your IRA to NSRWA — tax-free, up to the annual IRS limit. The distribution counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) but is excluded from your taxable income, making it one of the most powerful giving tools available to retirees. Contact your IRA administrator to initiate a direct transfer to NSRWA.
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We support the NSRWA because the work you do is vital to maintaining the rivers, to have it clean for the fish and for everyone. Healthy rivers don’t happen overnight!
We are appreciative of your leadership and want to support you any way we can.
— Bianchi Family · NSRWA members · Scituate