Planned Giving: Leaving A Legacy of Support for Wildlife
Written by Christie Trapp, Member, Board of Directors
An increasing number of donors consider the charities they support when making decisions about estate planning. Planned giving is a tool which helps supporters find a way to make a lasting gift to causes they believe in, while receiving the best tax benefits possible and achieving personal financial goals. Designating Keystone Conservation as a recipient of a part of your estate planning can provide you and your family a sense of satisfaction and pride in being able to make a difference for wildlife.
A planned gift may take the form of an estate gift or life-income gift. Examples of planned gifts include:
- Naming Keystone Conservation in your estate plan (will or trust)
- Naming Keystone Conservation as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or a retirement plan
- Gifts of stock, real estate, or securities
Sample Will Language
You may find it helpful to have sample will language to share with an attorney: “I give, devise, and bequeath to Keystone Conservation, a non-profit corporation, located at 104 E. Main, Suite 307, Bozeman, MT 59771, the sum of $______(or,____% of my estate, or, ____ % of the residue of my estate) to be used for such purposes as Keystone Conservation Board of Trustees determines at the time this bequest becomes effective.”
Designating Your Gift for a Specific Purpose
Will or trust provisions may be designated for a specific purpose, such as a specific program or project on which Keystone Conservation is working. In the case of a restricted bequest, you may wish to add language that would give Keystone the flexibility to use the bequest for some other purpose in the event that the project or purpose designated by the donor is no longer needed when the funds become available. Adding the following sentence to the end of the bequest provision would provide this flexibility:
“If, at the time this bequest becomes effective, the funds are not needed for this purpose, then Keystone Conservation Board of Trustees may direct the funds to be used for a purpose as closely related as possible to the original purpose described in this provision.”
If you wish to restrict or designate a use for your gift, please contact Keystone's office to ensure that we understand your wishes.
If you have any questions, or would like more information about including the Keystone in your will, please talk to your tax advisor and/or attorney, or contact our Executive Director, Lisa Upson, at 406.587.3389.
