BEQUESTS

BequestsA BEQUEST IS A GIFT from your estate. American Land Conservancy can accept many types of gifts, including cash, securities, and real estate. Your gift can be a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate. A bequest may reduce your estate taxes while supporting your vision of conserving our precious natural heritage.

 A BEQUEST is an ideal planned giving option if you want to:

  • Leave a permanent legacy supporting your commitment to land conservation.
  • Ensure your heirs receive lifetime income from your estate while the remainder goes to your choice of fund or issue area of interest.
  • Earn a full charitable deduction on estate taxes.
  • Create your bequest from a variety of assets.

A BEQUEST is a flexible and efficient vehicle that can be composed of a variety of gifts, such as:

  • Cash
  • Securities (publicly and closely held)
  • Life insurance
  • Retirement plan beneficiary designations
  • Real estate
  • Bargain sales

CASH: Gifts of cash are acceptable in any form. Checks may be made payable to American Land Conservancy.

SECURITIES: ALC accepts both publicly traded securities and closely held securities.

  • Publicly traded securities, include marketable securities, such as stock shares, mutual fund shares, and bonds.
  • Closely held securities include debt and equity positions in non-publicly traded companies and interests in limited partnerships (LPs) and limited liability companies (LLCs), or other forms of ownership.

A gift of securities can result in valuable tax benefits to the donor. American Land Conservancy staff and our professional consultants can assist you in receiving the maximum tax benefits as the law allows.

LIFE INSURANCE: You can name ALC as a beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of your life insurance policies. ALC can also be named as the owner of whole life insurance policies.

RETIREMENT PLAN BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS: You can name ALC as beneficiary of your retirement plans, such as pension plans, annuity contracts, 401(k) plans and Individual Retirement Accounts.

REAL ESTATE: Gifts of real estate may include developed property, undeveloped land, or a remainder interest in a personal residence, farm, or vacation home. (See Donations of Land and Real Estate)

BARGAIN SALES: A bargain sale is a hybrid of a gift and a sale. While any asset can be the subject of a bargain sale, real estate is the most commonly transferred asset. You can sell a property to ALC below market value; the difference between the fair market value and the selling price of the property may be claimed as a tax deduction. ALC will enter into a bargain sale arrangement in instances where the transaction will further its mission and purposes, and approval given by ALC’s Board of Directors.

To learn more about Planned Giving with American Land Conservancy, please contact us at plannedgiving@alcnet.org or by phone at (415) 912-3660.