Gifts Through Your Will or Estate Plans

How It Works

1. You designate a particular asset or a percentage of your estate to TNC by including a bequest provision in your will or revocable trust. You can do this while creating your will or trust, or you can amend an existing one with a simple document. TNC can be either a primary or a contingent beneficiary.
2. Unless you specify otherwise, your gift will be used to support our top global priorities. If you wish to designate your gift to a particular program or geographic area, please contact us for assistance developing the language and to ensure that we can honor your wishes. 
3. You inform TNC of your commitment, which helps for planning and ensures your wishes can be fulfilled. This is especially important for gifts of real estate, business interests or other specialized property.
4. TNC receives the gift after your lifetime and applies it to the purpose(s) you specified. Unrestricted charitable gifts are used to support top conservation priorities worldwide.
5. Your distribution is fully deductible for federal estate tax purposes, and there is no limit on the deduction your estate can claim. In addition, the gift is usually exempt from state inheritance taxes.

Benefits

• Your gift costs you nothing now. You retain control of your assets and can modify your gift at any time. Your gift can remain anonymous if you choose.
• Your gift may provide tax savings or help reduce the tax burden for your heirs.
• You can direct your gift to a particular purpose (be sure to check with TNC to ensure your request is understood and that your gift can be used as you intend).
• You can leave a gift in honor or memory of someone who inspired your love of nature.
• You qualify for Legacy Club membership.
• You will be helping to protect nature for future generations.

More Information

• Please talk with us as you are drafting your will or trust if you want to restrict the use of your bequest. The more narrowly you restrict its use, the greater the risk that the program you want to support won't be as vital when we receive your gift in the future.
• Similarly, please let us know in advance if you intend to bequeath real estate, a business interest or other specialized property.
• The remaining balance in your retirement plan can makes a tax-wise gift and can be donated to charity. Use your plan's successor beneficiary form to avoid having it included in your taxable estate.
• There are several types of bequests with different ways to control how your estate is distributed. Contact us for more information.

Naming TNC as a Beneficiary

The remaining balance in your retirement plan makes a tax-wise gift, but don't direct it to us through your will or trust—that will include the plan in your taxable estate. Instead, use your plan's successor beneficiary form.

Similarly, you can also name TNC as primary or contingent beneficiary of your life insurance policy and may be able to minimize taxes.

If you wish to name The Nature Conservancy in your estate plan, we should be named as:

The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under the laws of the District of Columbia, with principal business address of 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1606.

Our tax identification number is: 53-0242652  |  Date of incorporation: October 11, 1951