April & Jeff Sayre Fund for Nature
Donation protected
We are raising funds for the April & Jeff Sayre Fund for Nature -- a 501(c)(3) charitable conservation foundation.
The foundation was incorporated in June of 2020 and has yet to receive its official charitable ruling from the IRS (see note at bottom). That is why we are launching this personal campaign. All funds will eventually be transferred to the foundation's bank account. We will keep all donors posted on the tax-exempt status of the foundation, but at this time, donations are not currently deductible on tax returns.
Our Legacy Project
The April & Jeff Sayre Fund for Nature is a heart and legacy project of wife and husband April Sayre and Jeff Sayre. Through almost 32-years of marriage, April and Jeff have made natural history and the conservation of threatened species and ecosystems one of their driving passions.
In April of last year, they learned some terrible news: April’s breast cancer had returned with a vengeance. April’s illness motivated them to take the initiative and establish a conservation-focused foundation that will continue their legacy — while they were still alive and long after. This has always been a dream of theirs.
April’s professional career has centered around science communication, authoring and publishing over 80 children’s books. Many of her award-winning books focus on natural history topics. She is also a professional wildlife photographer, her photos illustrating a number of her books. Jeff has had a varied career — from ecological consulting to advising, investing in, and running life sciences startups. He was the co-author, along with Kenn and Kim Kaufman, of the Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of the Midwest, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (2015). In their spare time, they are both avid birders, semi-expert botanists, wildlife photographers, and ecological restorationists.
No matter what vocations and avocations they have had, the common thread that has connected their lives is nature. In the early 2000s, they had a natural history tour company that allowed them to take select clients to some of the most pristine ecosystems on Earth in search of rare birds, amazing plants, and inspiring habitats. They are passionate about native plants and have transformed their small yard into a wildlife haven where they can watch and photograph a myriad of insects, birds, amphibians, mammals, and plants.
The Focus
The April & Jeff Sayre Fund for Nature will award yearly grants from profits generated from the invested principal. The specific purposes of the foundation are to support scientific discovery and conservation of Earth’s Ecosystems. The foundation’s mission is to help researchers continue their critical field work in helping to better understand the ecological connections of Earth’s plants and animals and how best to protect and conserve them. When possible, larger grants will be made to directly participate in the protection of critical habitats.
Update on April
Unfortunately, after a difficult but valiant 18-month fight with advanced metastatic breast cancer, April passed on Saturday, November 6, 2021. Your contribution to the April and Jeff Sayre Fund for Nature will enable Jeff to continue the fight for nature in April's name.
Note: The foundation was incorporated in June of 2020 and has yet to receive its official charitable ruling from the IRS. The foundation has filed Form 1023 — Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A determination is imminent. Therefore, donations are not yet deductible on tax returns. However, as soon as the foundation receives its charitable status from the IRS, we will notify all donors that they can take a deduction if desired. Whereas there is no guarantee the foundation will be granted exempt status, since it was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and is meeting all the requirements of the statutes, legal counsel believes the status will be granted later this year.
The foundation was incorporated in June of 2020 and has yet to receive its official charitable ruling from the IRS (see note at bottom). That is why we are launching this personal campaign. All funds will eventually be transferred to the foundation's bank account. We will keep all donors posted on the tax-exempt status of the foundation, but at this time, donations are not currently deductible on tax returns.
Our Legacy Project
The April & Jeff Sayre Fund for Nature is a heart and legacy project of wife and husband April Sayre and Jeff Sayre. Through almost 32-years of marriage, April and Jeff have made natural history and the conservation of threatened species and ecosystems one of their driving passions.
In April of last year, they learned some terrible news: April’s breast cancer had returned with a vengeance. April’s illness motivated them to take the initiative and establish a conservation-focused foundation that will continue their legacy — while they were still alive and long after. This has always been a dream of theirs.
April’s professional career has centered around science communication, authoring and publishing over 80 children’s books. Many of her award-winning books focus on natural history topics. She is also a professional wildlife photographer, her photos illustrating a number of her books. Jeff has had a varied career — from ecological consulting to advising, investing in, and running life sciences startups. He was the co-author, along with Kenn and Kim Kaufman, of the Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of the Midwest, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company (2015). In their spare time, they are both avid birders, semi-expert botanists, wildlife photographers, and ecological restorationists.
No matter what vocations and avocations they have had, the common thread that has connected their lives is nature. In the early 2000s, they had a natural history tour company that allowed them to take select clients to some of the most pristine ecosystems on Earth in search of rare birds, amazing plants, and inspiring habitats. They are passionate about native plants and have transformed their small yard into a wildlife haven where they can watch and photograph a myriad of insects, birds, amphibians, mammals, and plants.
The Focus
The April & Jeff Sayre Fund for Nature will award yearly grants from profits generated from the invested principal. The specific purposes of the foundation are to support scientific discovery and conservation of Earth’s Ecosystems. The foundation’s mission is to help researchers continue their critical field work in helping to better understand the ecological connections of Earth’s plants and animals and how best to protect and conserve them. When possible, larger grants will be made to directly participate in the protection of critical habitats.
Update on April
Unfortunately, after a difficult but valiant 18-month fight with advanced metastatic breast cancer, April passed on Saturday, November 6, 2021. Your contribution to the April and Jeff Sayre Fund for Nature will enable Jeff to continue the fight for nature in April's name.
Note: The foundation was incorporated in June of 2020 and has yet to receive its official charitable ruling from the IRS. The foundation has filed Form 1023 — Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A determination is imminent. Therefore, donations are not yet deductible on tax returns. However, as soon as the foundation receives its charitable status from the IRS, we will notify all donors that they can take a deduction if desired. Whereas there is no guarantee the foundation will be granted exempt status, since it was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and is meeting all the requirements of the statutes, legal counsel believes the status will be granted later this year.
Organizer
Jeff Sayre
Organizer
South Bend, IN
