How to Register
Your Gifts to The Mountain’s Annual Fund Really Do Make a Difference
“Giving is not just about making a donation. It is about making a difference.”
- Kathy Calvin
$55,000 Match in November
Help us Flourish
For the month of November, donations will be matched up to $55,000.
These contributions will be applied to the annual fund and will make a difference in the work we do toward our mission.
Please consider making a generous donation during November. Contributions may be made through a check (preferred to reduce fees) credit card, stock transfer, or required distribution from a retirement account. For information about this matching campaign or other financial investment in The Mountain, contact Beverly Cree or 828-526-5838 x 254. Mailing address P.O Box 1299, 28741 Highlands, NC.
Did you know that typically, donations to The Mountain’s Annual Fund provide over 25% of the funds for our operating budget every year? Our program revenue simply doesn’t cover all the costs to keep The Mountain well-maintained, financially healthy, and fully staffed year-round.
Your gifts to the Annual Fund help keep our program costs affordable for all the retreat guests, congregations, community groups, and camper families who come to this special place. Thank you!
2021 Revenue by Source
Thats you! Thank you for your support. Your love, care, and donations help The Mountain stay open to all, and enable The Mountain to meet our Mission and Vision.
The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center has been a membership organization from its very beginnings in 1979. The Mountain’s membership program has evolved and changed over the years, and members have been the heart of The Mountain community throughout.
2020 Revenue by Source
2019 Revenue by Source
Becoming an Annual Member of The Mountain demonstrates your caring for this place and community and gives you a voice by your vote at the annual meeting in May. Membership is only $50.00 for an individual membership and $85.00 for a household/family membership and $20.00 for youth.
We appreciate your support!
Mountain Giving
Make your gift today through the donate button
Or by mail to: The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center, P.O. Box 1299, Highlands, NC 28741
The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN# 58-1396972. Donations are tax deductible as a charitable donation in accordance with tax regulations.
Enriching lives. Creating Community. Celebrating nature.
This is the magic that occurs when people come together at The Mountain. This is a special place where children, youth, and adults experience the joys of connecting with one another and the natural world. There are summer camps, leadership retreats, environmental programs, and outdoor activities galore to engage and inspire people of all ages.
It’s all made possible through the active participation of our guests and the generosity of Mountain supporters!
Ensuring The Mountain's Future Through Long Term Giving
Memorial Gifts
The Mountain’s Memorial Garden is a serene, natural setting where ashes of loved ones may be scattered. The names of those honored are displayed on our Memorial Life Members plaque located in The Mountain’s Heritage Hallway. Individual Memorial Life Member gifts of $1,500 are recognized by featuring the honoree’s name on engraved plaques.
The Mountain staff can assist individuals and family members in planning a memorial service or gathering upon request. Contact our Executive Director or Development Office for more information.
Each year during our annual Homecoming Weekend in May, we hold a Memorial Service to honor the lives of those in our Mountain community who have died since the Homecoming.
Planned/Deferred Gifts
It helps to plan ahead! Planned giving options include: wills and codicils, life insurance beneficiaries, Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT), Charitable Gift Annuities (CGA). The Mountain is fortunate to have many members and friends have chosen to leave a legacy gift to The Mountain or Mountain Endowment Fund. In doing so, your gift is an investment in The Mountain’s future. We recommend that you consult your attorney, financial advisor, or accountant in making long term and planned giving decisions that are best for you. Contact our Development Director for more information.
IRA Charitable Rollover
You may be looking for a way to make a big difference to help further the mission of The Mountain and the vision for its future.
If you are 70½ or older you may also be interested in a way to lower the income and taxes from your IRA withdrawals. An IRA charitable rollover is one way you can help support our programs and operations and experience the benefits of charitable giving.
Benefits of an IRA charitable rollover
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Avoid taxes on transfers of up to $100,000 from your IRA to our organization
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Satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year
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Reduce your taxable income, even if you do not itemize deductions
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Make a gift that is not subject to the 50% deduction limits on charitable gifts
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Help further the work and mission of The Mountain
How an IRA charitable rollover gift works
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Contact your IRA plan administrator to make a gift from your IRA to us.
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Your IRA funds will be directly transferred to our organization to help continue our important work.
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Please note that IRA charitable rollover gifts do not qualify for a charitable deduction.
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Please contact our Development Director if you wish for your gift to be used for a specific purpose.
Other Forms of Giving
Gifts of Stocks and Securities
We hope you will consider gifts of stocks or securities to The Mountain. If you are 70.5 or older and must comply with the Required Minimum Distribution rule, consider a tax exempt gift to The Mountain. Contact our Development Director for more information about our giving programs and options.
The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN# 58-1396972. Donations are tax deductible as a charitable donation to the extent allowed by tax regulation. It is recommended that you consult a financial advisor or tax professional in making your donation arrangements.
Corporate Matching Gifts & Grant
A number of corporations match their employees (active or retired) charitable gifts to eligible nonprofits at some level. Other corporations have charitable foundations that grant funds to nonprofit organizations. Does yours? Check with your company’s Human Resources or Administrative offices for more information. Our staff will gladly provide you information or assistance.
Double the Donation offers a national listing of top 10 matching gift companies and a searchable database where you can search to see if your employer offers matching gifts for qualifying nonprofit organizations.
For example, if you are employed by one of these Atlanta-based companies, you may be able to make donations to The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center that are matched by the company.
View here for a listing of Atlanta-based companies with matching gift programs.
Planned Legacy Gifts
The long-term health and well-being of The Mountain depends on those who love this special place, and want to be a part of The Mountain’s mission and legacy as a nonprofit organization committed to enriching lives, creating community and celebrating nature. One extraordinary way Mountain supporters can help to sustain these outcomes over time is through planned giving.
There are a variety of ways planned gifts can be made to benefit The Mountain and the Mountain Endowment Fund. View The Mountain’s Planned Giving brochure.
Charitable Giving & Matching Programs
The Mountain is a participant in the Amazon Smile program.
Each time you make a qualified purchase from Amazon using the Amazon Smile link assigned to The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, The Mountain receives .05% of your purchase. Really! It’s like FREE MONEY!
There is no additional cost to you! Tell your friends, family, coworkers, and everyone else!
You can use your existing Amazon account on both Amazon and Amazon Smile. There are different website URLs so please make sure to use The Mountain Amazon Smile link.
Benevity Causes has a social mission with a focus on helping to improve the way charities access and become eligible for corporate giving programs, and to modernize how they process and receive donation funds. Companies such as Coca Cola, ADP, Prudential, Honda, Microsoft, and many others are using Benevity Causes for their charitable giving programs. The Mountain is a registered charity with Benevity Causes.
We receive hundreds of dollars in charitable funding each year from the Facebook fundraising events that are created by individual Facebook Friends to benefit The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center, Inc., as a qualifying nonprofit.
Giving Assistant is another charitable giving program which enables you to make donations to The Mountain as part of your online shopping experience.