A gift to future generations...
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A Legacy Gift is a profoundly significant statement about what has been important to you in your life. Your Legacy Gift is a commitment to the preservation of land for the benefit of people and wildlife—today and far into the future.
To enroll in our Legacy Circle or request more information about Legacy Giving, please click (LINK/ FORM COMING SOON) to complete our confidential form. We will get back to you to discuss your interest in a Legacy Gift. You can also reach out directly to Conservation Project Manager, Alyssa LoGalbo, at [email protected] or (669)766-5903. For general questions, we have an extensive FAQ below, which provides more information about different ways to make a Legacy Gift, how to include the Land Trust in your estate plans, and the benefits of being a Legacy Member. |
Financial, legal, and tax benefitsConsult with your advisors regarding how your gift enhances your overall circumstances and legacy planning.
Recognition or AnonymityWe celebrate our Legacy Circle members during their lifetime through invitations to Legacy and Conservation member-only events, special updates, and on our Legacy Wall. You can give anonymously as well.
Language to Use in Your Will"The Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley, a California non-profit corporation, with Business Address of 605 Tennant Ave, Suite H, Morgan Hill CA 95037. Our taxpayer identification number is 77-0471102."
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Why become a legacy donor?
A legacy gift is a profoundly significant statement about your passion for protecting the wildlife, open space, and agriculture of Santa Clara Valley. Legacy gifts are gifts anyone can make. By designating the Land Trust to receive assets in the future, you are making a gift during your lifetime without impacting your current lifestyle or family security.
There are a variety of ways you can make a legacy gift to the Land Trust, which we summarize below. We encourage you to consult your advisors regarding your financial, legal, or tax needs to ensure that your gift fits well into your overall circumstances and planning.
Over the years, members have made gifts both small and large through legacy gifts. Each gift is unique to the member who made it and will make a meaningful impact on our work for years to come.
There are a variety of ways you can make a legacy gift to the Land Trust, which we summarize below. We encourage you to consult your advisors regarding your financial, legal, or tax needs to ensure that your gift fits well into your overall circumstances and planning.
Over the years, members have made gifts both small and large through legacy gifts. Each gift is unique to the member who made it and will make a meaningful impact on our work for years to come.
I'm interested in making a legacy gift. What type is right for me?
There are different ways to make a legacy gift. We encourage interested members to talk with their financial advisors to determine which is the most beneficial and meaningful for them. Below are a few examples, as well as their potential benefits.
Gifts from Your Will or Trust (Bequests): You can name the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your will or living trust. They are easy to arrange, cost nothing during your lifetime, and the bequest remains in your control. You can change your mind at any time or modify your gift should circumstances change.
You can also structure the bequest to leave a percentage of your estate, a specific dollar amount or item (including real estate), or the balance or residue of your estate to the Land Trust. Your bequest is entitled to an estate tax charitable deduction for the gift's total value. All that is needed is a few sentences in your will or trust.
To include the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your will or trust please use the following language:
"The Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley, a California non-profit corporation, with Business Address of 605 Tennant Ave, Suite H, Morgan Hill CA 95037. Our taxpayer identification number is 77-0471102."
We suggest you specify that your bequest is "used in such a manner as the Board of Trustees of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, in its discretion, determine." If you prefer to restrict your bequest, the Land Trust will work with you to ensure that your wishes will be met.
Over the years, members have made gifts both small and large through their estate. Each gift is unique to the member who made it and will make a meaningful impact on our work for years to come.
Life Insurance: By naming the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your life insurance plan, you'll avoid potential estate taxes and make an extraordinary gift. The process is easy and straightforward and can be done (or undone) anytime using a "change of beneficiary" form from your insurer and without the expense of an attorney.
Retirement Assets: Naming the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your retirement plan is easy and straightforward. Designation can be done (or undone) online without the expense of an attorney. Retirement plan funds can get hit with heavy income and estate taxes if left to family members but are tax-free if left to a charity. By naming the Land Trust as the beneficiary of your retirement plan, the balance will be donated tax-free. Then you can use your will or living trust to pass other assets that are not as highly taxed to your heirs.
Charitable Remainder Trusts: A charitable remainder trust allows you to make a gift while providing payments to one or more people (including yourself) for life or a term of years. It can be funded with any asset (cash, stock, real estate, or business interest). When you set up a CRT, you benefit from an income tax charitable deduction for a portion of the gift amount, and any capital gain associated with assets going into the trust are deferred or forgiven. When the trust ends, the balance remaining will be donated to the Land Trust.
Gifts from Your Will or Trust (Bequests): You can name the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your will or living trust. They are easy to arrange, cost nothing during your lifetime, and the bequest remains in your control. You can change your mind at any time or modify your gift should circumstances change.
You can also structure the bequest to leave a percentage of your estate, a specific dollar amount or item (including real estate), or the balance or residue of your estate to the Land Trust. Your bequest is entitled to an estate tax charitable deduction for the gift's total value. All that is needed is a few sentences in your will or trust.
To include the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your will or trust please use the following language:
"The Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley, a California non-profit corporation, with Business Address of 605 Tennant Ave, Suite H, Morgan Hill CA 95037. Our taxpayer identification number is 77-0471102."
We suggest you specify that your bequest is "used in such a manner as the Board of Trustees of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, in its discretion, determine." If you prefer to restrict your bequest, the Land Trust will work with you to ensure that your wishes will be met.
Over the years, members have made gifts both small and large through their estate. Each gift is unique to the member who made it and will make a meaningful impact on our work for years to come.
Life Insurance: By naming the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your life insurance plan, you'll avoid potential estate taxes and make an extraordinary gift. The process is easy and straightforward and can be done (or undone) anytime using a "change of beneficiary" form from your insurer and without the expense of an attorney.
Retirement Assets: Naming the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your retirement plan is easy and straightforward. Designation can be done (or undone) online without the expense of an attorney. Retirement plan funds can get hit with heavy income and estate taxes if left to family members but are tax-free if left to a charity. By naming the Land Trust as the beneficiary of your retirement plan, the balance will be donated tax-free. Then you can use your will or living trust to pass other assets that are not as highly taxed to your heirs.
Charitable Remainder Trusts: A charitable remainder trust allows you to make a gift while providing payments to one or more people (including yourself) for life or a term of years. It can be funded with any asset (cash, stock, real estate, or business interest). When you set up a CRT, you benefit from an income tax charitable deduction for a portion of the gift amount, and any capital gain associated with assets going into the trust are deferred or forgiven. When the trust ends, the balance remaining will be donated to the Land Trust.
How do I include the Land Trust in my will or trust?
All that is needed are a few sentences in your will or trust. To include the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your will or trust, please use the following language:
"The Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley, a California non-profit corporation, with Business Address of 605 Tennant Ave, Suite H, Morgan Hill CA 95037. Our taxpayer identification number is 77-0471102."
"The Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley, a California non-profit corporation, with Business Address of 605 Tennant Ave, Suite H, Morgan Hill CA 95037. Our taxpayer identification number is 77-0471102."
I've included the Land Trust in my estate plans. Now what should I do?
We are honored and grateful to have you as part of our Legacy Circle! Please fill out this form (link and form coming soon) and return by mail or email to our Conservation Project Manager, Alyssa LoGalbo: [email protected].
We celebrate our Legacy Circle members during their lifetime. We celebrate our Legacy Circle members during their lifetime through invitations to Legacy and Conservation member-only events, special updates, and on our Legacy Wall. You can give anonymously as well. If you'd like to remain anonymous but still wish to participate in Legacy circle events, just let us know! We want to honor your gift in whatever way makes you comfortable.
We celebrate our Legacy Circle members during their lifetime. We celebrate our Legacy Circle members during their lifetime through invitations to Legacy and Conservation member-only events, special updates, and on our Legacy Wall. You can give anonymously as well. If you'd like to remain anonymous but still wish to participate in Legacy circle events, just let us know! We want to honor your gift in whatever way makes you comfortable.
I'd like to let you know I've made a legacy gift but wish to remain anonymous. How can I do that?
To let us know if you'd like to remain completely anonymous, please fill out this form (form and link coming soon!) and leave us a note that you would like to remain anonymous.
If you would like to be listed as anonymous but still participate in Legacy Circle events, make sure to check the box next to "I'd prefer to remain anonymous," but leave a note saying you'd like to be included in Land Trust Legacy events.
Once you've completed the form, please return it by mail or email to our Conservation Project Manager, Alyssa LoGalbo ([email protected]). We want to honor you in whatever way makes you feel comfortable!
If you would like to be listed as anonymous but still participate in Legacy Circle events, make sure to check the box next to "I'd prefer to remain anonymous," but leave a note saying you'd like to be included in Land Trust Legacy events.
Once you've completed the form, please return it by mail or email to our Conservation Project Manager, Alyssa LoGalbo ([email protected]). We want to honor you in whatever way makes you feel comfortable!
I'm not interested in making a legacy gift, but I would like to make a donation that maximizes my tax benefits. What should I do?
There are other types of tax-savvy donations that can provide tax benefits to you now. Below are some examples that can maximize gift benefits. We advise you to speak with your financial advisor to determine what type of gift is best for you.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): If you are over 70 ½ and have an IRA, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) might be an excellent option for your charitable giving. QCD's are direct transfers from your IRA account to a qualified charity, like the Land Trust. A QCD gift counts towards your annual required minimum distribution (RMD) AND excludes the gift amount from your taxable income. Making a QCD gift can help you reduce the impact on certain tax credits and deductions (like Medicare and Social Security).
Many IRAs are eligible for QCDs. However, there are some general requirements:
Real Estate: Donating real estate is a way to make an extraordinary and transformative gift that can also provide you with potential tax benefits such as avoiding capital gains tax and even provide an income tax charitable deduction. The Land Trust accepts two types of real estate gifts: donation of fee title or conservation easement of open space or agricultural lands, which the Land Trust will retain and conserve.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): If you are over 70 ½ and have an IRA, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) might be an excellent option for your charitable giving. QCD's are direct transfers from your IRA account to a qualified charity, like the Land Trust. A QCD gift counts towards your annual required minimum distribution (RMD) AND excludes the gift amount from your taxable income. Making a QCD gift can help you reduce the impact on certain tax credits and deductions (like Medicare and Social Security).
Many IRAs are eligible for QCDs. However, there are some general requirements:
- You must be 70½ or older.
- QCDs are limited to the amount that would otherwise be taxed as ordinary income (excluding non-deductible contributions).
- The max gift an individual can make that qualifies for a QCD is $100,000 (this includes the sum of all QCDS made to one or more charities in a calendar year). If married and filing jointly, your spouse can also make a QCD gift(s) from their IRA for an amount up to $100,000 within the same tax year).
- To have your QCD count towards the current year's required minimum distribution (RMD), your QCD must come out of your IRA by your RMD deadline (usually December 31).
Real Estate: Donating real estate is a way to make an extraordinary and transformative gift that can also provide you with potential tax benefits such as avoiding capital gains tax and even provide an income tax charitable deduction. The Land Trust accepts two types of real estate gifts: donation of fee title or conservation easement of open space or agricultural lands, which the Land Trust will retain and conserve.
