Planned Giving
What will be your footprint?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROTECT THE PLACES YOU LOVE - FOR NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME?
- You can receive immediate benefits for gifts that last lifetimes.
- Many of these gifts cost nothing today - and in some cases give you money back in the form of tax benefits and/or life income payments.
- Your gift shapes the future of your community and helps to ensure that your grandchildren and great grandchildren will enjoy the precious gifts of nature just as you do.
Read on to explore effective ways to support the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and leave your mark.
Ways of Giving
GIFTS OF CASH
Gifts of cash are fully deductible up to 50% of your adjusted gross income in the year of the gift. Any excess can be carried forward and deducted over as many as five subsequent years.
GIFTS OF STOCK
A gift of appreciated stock owned one year or longer generally offers two benefits: You receive an income tax deduction for the fair market value of the stock, and you avoid paying capital gains tax.
IRA’S AND PENSION PLANS
Your estate can save both income taxes and estate taxes if you make the land trust a death beneficiary of your individual retirement account, pension, 401 (k) or other retirement savings plan.
REAL ESTATE GIFTS
Tax benefits for gifts of appreciated real estate are virtually identical to those for gifts of appreciated securities. Real property such as personal residences, undeveloped land, or farms may be transferred by deed with no liability for income or estate taxes on the appreciated value. Land trusts are in a unique position to accept gifts of real estate - we can guarantee permanent protection of special lands, or we can accept gifts of “trade lands” - property donated with the intention it will be sold to preserve significant conservation properties elsewhere. Discuss your wishes with us before making your gift.
LIFE INSURANCE
A tax-deductible gift of whole or universal life insurance can be made by naming the land trust as owner and beneficiary. You could purchase a new policy or donate a policy that you currently own but no longer need. Check with your insurance agent for the details.
BEQUESTS
Name the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy in your will in any one of a number of simple ways. An outright gift, either a designated dollar amount or percentage of your estate could be specified. The Conservancy also could be named as a remainder beneficiary to receive funds only after specific sums have been paid to individual beneficiaries. You can easily add us to your will through an amendment to your will called a codicil.
Converting Assets into income
Charitable gift annuities
You can guarantee a fixed income for your life and your spouse’s life by transferring cash or appreciated securities in exchange for a charitable gift annuity. A gift annuity offers two significant benefits: an immediate and substantial income tax charitable deduction, and favorably taxed income for life.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
You can fund a charitable remainder trust with cash or appreciated property and receive income from the assets for your lifetime, qualify for charitable deductions, and save capital gains and estate taxes. Upon your death and/or that of a loved one, the trust assets would be distributed outright to the land trust.
Charitable Lead Trusts
Under this arrangement, you transfer assets to a trust that makes payments to the land trust for a specified number of years, after which time the assets are transferred to your heirs. The charitable lead trust allows you to pass assets on to your children and grandchildren with little or no estate and gift taxes. It can make good sense for anyone in the top estate and gift brackets.
Every family’s financial situation is unique and it is important that you check with your personal attorney or financial advisor to find the most suitable gift arrangements for you and your family.
A gift to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy multiplies your investment. We combine your gift with other gifts from public and private sources to conserve the unique plant and animal habitat, working farms, clean water, and scenic beauty of the mountains of western North Carolina and East Tennessee. We accept responsibility for the stewardship of conserved lands - forever.
The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is a regional land trust dedicated to working cooperatively with landowners and public and private conservation partners to preserve and protect important natural areas for present and future generations. To learn more about using planned gifts to benefit our conservation work, please email us at sahc@appalachian.org or call us at 828-253-0095. All inquiries will be held in confidence.
Remember SAHC with a gift of cash or stock. Our Raymond James account number is 83438099 and the DTC number for transfers is 0725. Your broker can arrange the transfer for you or call our office for assistance.
