Planned Giving

Why a planned gift?

A planned gift is an excellent option to help Columbia Land Trust carry out its mission while ensuring your own financial needs are met. Planned gifts allow you to take advantage of tax benefits associated with charitable giving. This often allows you to make a larger gift than would otherwise be possible. You can benefit through reduced capital gains, estate and income taxes, and in some cases may receive lifetime income in exchange for a gift.

When considering a Planned Gift to Columbia Land Trust, you should be familiar with all the ways that a gift can be made, including bequests, trusts and gifts of real estate or retirement benefits. We encourage you to consult with your legal or financial advisors prior to making a planned gift to Columbia Land Trust.

How can I make a planned gift to Columbia Land Trust?

There are many options available, including:

Bequest
You can make a gift in your will of a specific dollar amount for Columbia Land Trust, payable from the assets of your estate or a percentage of whatever is left over in your estate after all expenses have been paid. The gift can take the form of cash, appreciated securities, closely held securities, real estate and personal property. As a benefit to the donor, an estate tax charitable deduction is available for full fair-market value of the bequeathed assets, and it may reduce estate taxes. See below under "Including Columbia Land Trust in your Will".

Outright gifts
Gifts of cash, appreciated securities, closely held securities or tangible personal property can be made today. You may be able to receive an immediate tax deduction, avoid capital gains taxes, and provide immediate benefit to Columbia Land Trust.

Charitable trusts.
You can set up a trust to provide diversification of investments, and possibly increased income for you or your family members. This provides you with the flexibility of a separately managed portfolio. Benefits can include immediate tax deductions, reduced estate taxes, and the ability to accept additional gifts for the trust. The trust can be set up to benefit the work of Columbia Land Trust.

Gift annuity
After making a gift, you can receives a promise from Columbia Land Trust of a fixed income from the gift for you lifetime (or spouse’s lifetime), plus a current income tax charitable deduction.

Beneficiary designation
Transfer ownership of paid-up life insurance policies, pension plans, or individual retirement accounts to Columbia Land Trust and receive a current income tax charitable deduction and reduced estate taxes. You can also designate Columbia Land Trust as the owner and beneficiary of plans requiring premiums and receive an income tax deduction on those premiums. Additionally, you can make Columbia Land Trust the contingent or final beneficiary in the case that primary beneficiaries pre-decease you.

Stock gifts
Ownership of appreciated stock may be transferred to Columbia Land Trust, and you may be able to receive a charitable income tax deduction. Columbia Land Trust is free to sell the stock and benefit from the entire sale proceeds.

Where can I get more information on planned gifts?
Contact your legal and financial advisors for specific information on your potential planned gift, or contact Columbia Land Trust’s development director, Eric Allen, at 360-213-1203 or via email at eallen@columbialandtrust.org.

Including Columbia Land Trust in your will

One of the simplest ways to make an important gift to preserve and protect nature is through your will. You can name Columbia Land Trust as the direct beneficiary of specific assets, a portion or percentage of your estate, or of your residual estate after payment of other bequests.

Bequests to Columbia Land Trust are entirely free from federal estate tax and can therefore offer substantial estate tax savings. There is no limit to the amount you can leave to Columbia Land Trust or to other charitable organizations in your will.

You may designate a specific monetary amount, a percentage of your assets or a remainder interest to be given to Columbia Land Trust.

Bequest language
For gifts that will take effect after your lifetime, Columbia Land Trust should be named as the following:

“Columbia Land Trust, a nonprofit institution, incorporated in the State of Washington in 1990, and with the business address of 1351 Officers’ Row, Vancouver, Washington 98661, to be used to further the purposes of Columbia Land Trust.”

Columbia Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our employer identification number is 94-314-0861.

How will your bequest be invested?
Columbia Land Trust conserves signature landscapes and vital habitat together with the communities of the Columbia River region. To date, we have conserved over 9,800 acres in Oregon and Washington.

Bequest funds designated to Columbia Land Trust are dedicated to private, voluntary land conservation and the ongoing care of the lands. Gifts may be left unrestricted—to be spent at the board’s discretion. Funds may also be permanently restricted to our stewardship endowment, ensuring the care for our conserved lands forever.