Last year, more than 8,000 Iowa taxpayers helped boost
wildlife conservation with donations to the Fish and Wildlife Fund on their tax
form. This marks the fourth straight year donations to the fund have increased,
a trend that Stephanie Shepherd, DNR Wildlife Diversity Biologist, hopes to
continue in 2014.
“The amount Iowans are donating to the fund is growing after
a 10-year downward trend,” said Shepherd. “Those donations go directly to
research and habitat development for some of Iowa’s most vulnerable animal
species, so the funds are very important for natural resources.”
According to Shepherd, Iowans donated $136,000 last spring
when completing their 2013 tax forms.
The Fish and Wildlife Fund, known popularly as the
“Chickadee Check-off,” is a mechanism the Iowa Legislature created in the 1980s
for Iowa citizens to donate to wildlife conservation on the Iowa state tax
form. At its height, Iowans donated more than $200,000 annually to the fund.
According to Shepherd, one of the main reasons for the decline is the increase
in electronic tax filing.
“It is easy to pass over or forget, and many tax preparers
may not remember to ask whether a client wants to donate,” said Shepherd. “It
may be up to the taxpayer to remind their preparer, or check out the
completeness of the electronic program they are using.”
According to Shepherd, donating on the tax form is easy:
simply write the amount to donate next to the Fish and Wildlife Check-Off
(somewhere between lines 55-60 on Form 1040) and the sum is either
automatically deducted from the refund or added to the amount owed. As with all
charitable contributions, the amount is deductible from next year’s
taxes.
“Currently only about half a percent of Iowans donate,” said
Shepherd. “Our goal in 2014 is for more people to find the check off on their
tax form, and to increase donations by 10 percent.”
All proceeds from the check-off support the Department
of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Diversity program, responsible for
protecting more than 1,000 fish and wildlife species in the state. Money from
the Check-off helps improve wildlife habit, fund research studies, support the
reintroduction of threatened or endangered species, and much more.
DNR
CONTACT: Stephanie Shepherd at 515-432-2823 ext. 102 or stephanie.shepherd@dnr.iowa.gov
