Planned Giving

PLAN YOUR LEGACY

A planned gift to the Southeast Alaska Land Trust is a flexible and creative way to give charitably while meeting your personal, family, or financial goals. This can be an especially meaningful way to help SEALT continue to conserve open space, preserve wildlife habitats, maintain access to recreation lands, and more. No matter your financial circumstances and charitable goals, there are giving options to meet your needs.

A group of hikers walks through the woods

A group of hikers enjoying the Moraine Edge conservation property, in Juneau.

GIVING FROM YOUR WILL OR LIVING TRUST

The most popular and easiest method of leaving a legacy gift is to include the Southeast Alaska Land Trust in your will or living trust. It takes only a simple designation and does not affect cash flow during your lifetime. You can modify your bequest at any time. This offers you great flexibility as you plan for the legacy you want to leave behind.

HOW

1. Include a bequest to SEALT in your will or trust

2. Make your bequest unrestricted or direct it to a specific purpose at SEALT (e.g. a specific property or fund)

3. Choose a specific amount or percentage of your balance to donate.

Your bequest to support our mission should be thoughtfully planned, and you should choose the type of bequest (residual, specific, or contingent) that best suits your personal objectives. We are happy to work with you in planning a bequest that is meaningful, economical, and effective.

Sample bequest language:

“I give ___ (dollar amount or % of estate) to the Southeast Alaska Land Trust, a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Alaska, Tax Identification Number 92-0156402. I request that the Southeast Alaska Land Trust use these funds for [ongoing operations and conservation work, fund, property, etc.].”

(Please note: Each state has its own particular rules that are to be applied to planned giving documents, and because the requirements for the gift to take effect vary depending on where you reside now or in the future, we strongly recommend that you have appropriate language drafted by an estate planning professional. The language we set out above is merely an example of language that has worked in prior situations, but might not for your circumstances; thus we do encourage you to consult with a lawyer or CPA who can be sure your intentions are given effect as you wish. We thank you again for your generosity.)

Wildflower

Dwarf Fireweed growing in the Tongass National Forest.

GIVING FROM YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN

Regardless of age or marital status, this is an easy and meaningful way to make a planned gift. With an IRA, you can readily name any beneficiaries you want, including friends, family members, a trust, or a charity like the Southeast Alaska Land Trust. For a 401(k) or another workplace plan, you must get your spouse’s written permission to leave it to anyone else. For either, you can easily change a beneficiary at any time. A charitable designation to the Southeast Alaska Land Trust through your retirement accounts may provide the greatest tax benefit for your heirs while helping secure the future of Alaska’s most special land and waterways.

 

OUTRIGHT GIVING

An IRA Rollover, or Qualified Charitable Distribution, is a gift made directly from your qualified IRA that can lower your taxable income.

 

  • This gift may only be made by donors age 70.5 and older, from qualified IRA accounts
  • Charitable giving (up to $100,000 per tax year) counts towards your Required Minimum Distribution
  • Pay no income tax on the amount withdrawn for your gift
  • Give above your deductible charitable limit of 50% of adjusted gross income

NAMING SEALT AS A BENEFICIARY

Name SEALT as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(K) or other qualified plan, and designate SEALT to receive all or a portion of the balance of your plan through your plan administrator.

 

  • The balance in your plan reverts to SEALT after your lifetime
  • Your gift to SEALT is not taxed for income or the estate because SEALT is a tax-exempt organization
  • Your may continue to take regular lifetime withdrawals and may remove SEALT as a beneficiary if your circumstances change

Beneficiary details

Donors may name SEALT as a beneficiary of their IRA or other qualified retirement plans. This will accomplish a charitable goal while realizing significant tax savings. Consult with a tax advisor to inquire about specific benefits. It can be costly to convey retirement plan assets to individual heirs because of substantial income and estate taxes due upon distribution. By naming SEALT, donors maintain complete control over the asset while living, and upon their death, a percentage or all of the plan passes to support SEALT without estate or income taxes. This is an easy gift that should not cost you any attorney fees. Simply request a change of beneficiary form from your plan administrator, complete the form to return to the administrator and send a copy to SEALT. (Contact SEALT for bequest language).

GIVING APPRECIATE SECURITIES

  • Transfer appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares you have owned for one year or more to SEALT
  • SEALT sells your securities and uses the proceeds to support our conservation work or a specific program designated by you
  • You receive an immediate income-tax deduction for the fair market value of the securities on the date or transfer, no matter what you originally paid for them, and you pay no capital gains tax on the transfer

LIFE INSURANCE

  • Existing or Employer-Provided Policy | Name SEALT as a full, partial, or contingent beneficiary
  • New Policy | You can fund a future gift for SEALT and deduct premium payments
  • Paid-Up Policy | Gift SEALT a policy for which you no longer need coverage

Charitable Gift Annuity

  • A donor agrees to irrevocably transfer money or property to SEALT, and SEALT agrees to make regular fixed annuity payments to one or two specified beneficiaries for life.
  • If SEALT agrees to accept property, then it might sell the land subject to a conservation easement to generate the proceeds needed to make the annuity payments.
  • Gifts usually qualifies for a charitable income tax deduction at the time of the gift, based on the value of the assets less the expected value of the annuity payments.

POOLED INCOME FUND

  • A donor transfers money or securities to SEALT, which are pooled with similar gifts from other donors, then invested.
  • Each donor receives a pro rata share of the income fund’s dividends and interest earnings every year for life. The income is taxed as ordinary income to the beneficiaries.
  • When a beneficiary dies, SEALT removes assets from the fund equal to the beneficiary’s share of the fund and uses them for conservation purposes.

A grassy field with trees and sunshine

A beautiful autumn day on the Montana Creek conservation property, in Juneau.

Charitable Remainder Unitrust

  • A donor irrevocably transfers money, property, or both to a financial trust with the stipulation that funds in the trust will go to SEALT at the end of a specified term.
  • If the property has conservation value, then an easement can be conveyed before being put into the charitable remainder unitrust.
  • The trustee (financial trust) sells the land and invests the proceeds from the sale.
  • One or more beneficiaries specified receive annual payments based on a percentage for a fixed term or for life, then the trustee turns the remaining funds in the trust over to SEALT.
  • Gifts qualify for a charitable income tax deduction when the assets are put in the trust based on the value of the assets less the expected value of the payments.

 

Charitable Lead Trust

  • Operates conversely to a charitable remainder unitrust by providing a stream of income for a specified period of time to SEALT.
  • A donor transfers money, property or both to an irrevocable trust managed by a financial professional—payments are made to SEALT for a term or for life.
  • At the end of the term, the assets in the trust either revert to the donor or pass to the donor’s beneficiaries.
  • A charitable lead trust can provide both gift and estate tax deduction, and offer savings of capital gains taxes when the trust sells appreciated assets.

Have questions?

We would love to talk to you about your planned giving options. Please contact us by phone or email at: (907) 586-3100 or info@sealt.org.

The Southeast Alaska Land Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Contributions are 100% tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

The Southeast Alaska Land Trust’s tax identification number is: 92-0156402.

The Southeast Alaska Land Trust does not provide legal or tax advice. The foregoing general information is not intended and cannot be used by any person for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed with respect to the matters addressed. You should seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.