Leave a Lagacy
Leave a Legacy: Make a Lasting Impact
Planned giving is one of the most impactful ways you can support Mahoosuc Land Trust’s mission. Becoming a member of the Legacy Circle will provide you with the confidence that MLT’s mission will continue for generations to come. Planned gifts are used to sustain the mission of MLT to help ensure the future of conservation in the Mahoosuc Region.
Ways To Make a Planned Gift
Retirement Assets
One of the simplest and most tax-wise ways to include Mahoosuc Land Trust in your estate planning is through your Individual Retirement Account (IRA), 401k, 403b, or other retirement plan. These gifts simplify your planning, and your heirs may benefit from a reduced estate tax burden. Completing a beneficiary designation form requires minimal paperwork and often can be accomplished directly on the retirement plan provider’s website. MLT may be designated as a primary or contingent beneficiary.
Note: Depending on your age may be eligible to make outright gifts during your lifetime to Mahoosuc Land Trust directly from an Individual Retirement Account which may also reduce your Required Minimum Distribution, thus potentially reducing income taxes. Please consult your tax advisor.
Making a Bequest
Bequests–through a will or other estate planning tool–are the most frequent types of planned gifts received by Mahoosuc Land Trust. Bequests can be designated or undesignated, according to your wishes and the priorities of MLT. Your attorney or will preparer may find this Language For Wills helpful.
Life Insurance Policies
Life insurance policies are another simple way to designate Mahoosuc Land Trust as a primary or contingent beneficiary. You may also donate a policy that is paid-up, or one with ongoing premium payments. MLT will not commit to making premium payments on policies from its own funds; however, if you continue to make premium payments on a policy after MLT owns it, those payments may be tax-deductible. Please consult your life insurance provider and tax advisor for more information.
Life-Income Gifts and Trusts
Life-income gifts enable you to make a legacy gift to Mahoosuc Land Trust while providing you or another beneficiary with income for life. Several gift options include charitable gift annuities, deferred charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts. A charitable gift annuity provides an immediate gift to MLT while providing a secured income stream for an individual during their lifetime. If you are age-eligible you may be able to establish a charitable gift annuity with assets from your Individual Retirement Account while avoiding income taxes. If you have already established a charitable trust, please consider adding MLT as a beneficiary. MLT does not act as a trustee on trust arrangements. Please consult with your advisor to further explore these options.
Personal Property
Your art collection, valuables, and other cherished personal property that you have acquired over a lifetime may be able to be donated to MLT. When you donate gifts of tangible and intangible personal property you may receive an income tax deduction by removing the asset from your taxable estate or potentially reducing capital gains tax.
Gifts of Real Estate
Learn more about gifts of real estate here
We are here to help!
Although we cannot provide tax or legal advice, we are happy to provide information on options to help you and your advisors integrate your charitable giving into your overall tax, financial, and estate planning. Anyone who makes a bequest or planned gift is considered a member of MLT’s Legacy Circle and can be done anonymously.
Mahoosuc Land Trust's tax identification number is 01-0447619.
For more information on leaving a legacy through planned giving, contact Kirk Siegel at 207-824-3806, or kirk@mahoosuc.org, or Georgia Grzywacz at (207) 381-4882 or georgia@mahoosuc.org.