Estate planning

Join our Heritage Circle.

Donors who make a commitment to nature that extends past their own lifetimes join an honored group of individuals known as our Heritage Circle. By including Columbia Land Trust in your estate plans, you create a lasting legacy of conservation and care. Whether it’s through a bequest, beneficiary designation, or another form of planned giving, the choices you make today will impact the nature of this special place for generations.

There are many ways to give to Columbia Land Trust that can deliver critical conservation benefits to nature and tax benefits to you.  This page highlights some of the most common (and easiest) way to to join our Heritage Circle and help create a better future for everyone in the Pacific Northwest.

Make a Bequest:  

Passing your estate to a non-profit organization is a powerful way to leave a lasting impact while offering tax advantages for your estate or family. Charitable bequests reduce the taxable value of your estate and can lower or eliminate estate taxes. If done efficiently, you can ensure your family is taken care of and then use the rest to support your favorite charity. Sleep easily knowing you can change or revoke your plans at any time. 

Allocate any amount, percentage, or the remainder of your estate or other assets to Columbia Land Trust through your will or revocable living trust. This is a perfect way to benefit Columbia Land Trust when you no longer need the assets yourself.  

Bequest Language Sample: 

If you wish to name Columbia Land Trust in your will or estate plan, we offer the following example of language that might fit your needs. Once you have this foundation, you can begin to work with your financial advisor or estate planning attorney to tailor to your financial situation.*   

I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to Columbia Land Trust (Federal Tax ID: 94-3140861) a Washington nonprofit corporation, located at 850 Officers’ Row, Vancouver, WA 98661, ____% of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate [or $____ if specific amount] for Columbia Land Trust’s general use and purpose. 

Designate a Retirement Plan:

Name the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your retirement account as a way to give back and gain tax savings. IRA accounts listing Columbia Land Trust as the beneficiary are free of estate and income taxes. 

Fill out a beneficiary designation form from your plan custodian and name an organization the beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k) or 403(b).  

List us on your Life Insurance Policy: 

Naming the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your life insurance policies gives the insurance proceeds to us and removes them from your taxable estate. 

What should I do next?  

  1. Reach out to your estate planning attorney and tax advisor.  
  2. If you’ve already included Columbia Land Trust in your estate plans, let us know. We’d like to thank you! Sharing your plans with Land Trust helps us to better assess our financial picture and plan for the future. 
  3. Contact us at (360) 696-0131 and jsamwel@columbialandtrust.org to notify us of your estate gift or to learn more about other ways you can support Columbia Land Trust in your will.  

*The information above does not constitute legal or tax advice. Please make sure to work with your own legal and tax advisors.