Bequests are one of the easiest ways to make a gift to Texas Land Conservancy. A bequest directs money or other property to go to specified individuals or organizations upon your death. Unlike some other planned giving options, bequests allow you to change your mind at any time. Property left to charities (such as Texas Land Conservancy) is deductible from your taxable estate and may result in substantial tax savings.

When you make a planned gift, you automatically become a member of TLC’s Legacy Circle and join a community of Texans who have already made a commitment to enhancing the quality of life through land conservation. Legacy Circle members are invited to and honored every year at our annual fall dinner for members of the Ned Fritz Society – those donors who donate $1,000 or more each year to Texas Land Conservancy.

“Dorothy and I have truly enjoyed our involvement with TLC and the partnership that has developed through placing a conservation easement on our ranch. When it came to designating beneficiaries in our will, it was an easy decision to include TLC. Our hope is that this generous gift will ensure a lasting legacy.” -Chuck Snakard, long time TLC member and owner of Chalk Mountain Ranch

Over the years TLC has been the beneficiary of numerous planned gifts, whether it is land, life insurance policies, stocks, or cash. To join the TLC Legacy Circle or for more information about planned giving, please contact us.

IN YOUR WILL OR LIVING TRUST 

Below is some sample language you may use to direct a bequest of money, stocks, bonds, land, tangible personal property, or other assets to Texas Land Conservancy. We urge you to consult with your financial and legal advisers before creating a will or revocable trust.

SAMPLE LANGUAGE

I give, devise, and bequeath to Texas Land Conservancy, a nonprofit charitable organization with  offices in Austin, Texas, the sum of $____________ (or describe any real or personal property), to be used for its general purposes.

The suggested wording for leaving all or a part of the balance of the estate after debts, burial costs, probate expenses, and specific bequests have been satisfied might be:

I give, devise, and bequeath to Texas Land Conservancy, a nonprofit charitable organization with offices in Austin, Texas, all (or ____%) of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, to be used for its general purposes.

IT HELPS TO INFORM US 

We encourage you to share your estate plans with us. This helps us to better assess our financial picture and make informed decisions. Contact Maren McLaughlin-Klotz to start the conversation at 512.301.6363. We promise to honor any request for privacy.

IF A BEQUEST INVOLVES REAL ESTATE

It is very important for you to meet with our staff while the will is still in preparation, so that we can discuss your intentions and determine that we can meet them. If you intend to bequeath a conservation easement, we need to verify that accepting the easement conforms to our policies and discuss what restrictions you want to see placed on the land. We will then draft the easement for you and your attorney to review. Please contact Maren McLaughlin-Klotz (512.301.6363) to learn more.

IN AN INSURANCE POLICY OR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT 

It’s easy! All you have to do is contact the life insurance company or IRA provider and request a “change of beneficiary” form. Please note, if you wish to leave money to your heirs and to Texas Land Conservancy it may be better to name us as the beneficiary of your IRA and leave other assets to individuals. This is because non-spouse beneficiaries who inherit a traditional IRA must choose between two options: liquidate and pay taxes on those assets within five years of the owner’s death, or “stretch” their required minimum distributions out over their lifetime.

GIVE BY MAIL OR PHONE

Our online donation processing system is completely secure. However, if you would prefer to call in or mail a donation, please send a check (payable to Texas Land Conservancy) to the following address:

Texas Land Conservancy
P.O. Box 162481
Austin, TX 78716

OR

Contact our Development and Communications Director,
Maren McLaughlin-Klotz
512.301.6363

 When you give land to TLC, you are creating a permanent legacy and helping ensure a healthy future for Texas lands.

Most people know that TLC accepts donations of land and conservation easements — gifts that protect our forests, rivers, marshes, prairies and working lands for future generations. We also accept gifts of other real estate — such as homes or investment properties — which are intended to be sold by TLC to support our land protection mission. With the donor’s permission to sell the property, the TLC can convert the value of that real estate into strategic purchases of more conservation land across the state.

Making a gift of real estate to TLC can provide you significant income, estate and capital gains tax benefits, ease the demands of owning property, and even provide you with lifetime income. The option you choose will depend on your personal circumstances — we can help you find the right option for you. Here are several options:

• Making an outright gift allows you to receive the maximum charitable income tax deduction and avoid capital gains taxes.

• Giving TLC a remainder interest in your property allows you to receive a tax deduction at the time of the gift and continue enjoying the property during your lifetime.

• Establishing a charitable remainder trust with real estate allows you to avoid capital gains taxes, obtain a tax deduction at the time of the gift, and receive income for the rest of your life.

Your gift helps permanently protect our state’s extraordinary open space lands and can provide you with many benefits as well.

Support Texas Land Conservancy’s work by making a gift of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. A gift of appreciated securities provides significant benefits, including an immediate charitable deduction for the full market value of the stock and avoidance of capital gains taxes that would normally be due upon sale.

HOW TO GIVE STOCK:

1. Instruct your broker to transfer shares to Texas Land Conservancy.

2. Contact us at 512.301.6363 or development@texaslandconservancy.org to provide information about your gift. Donor information is not always included when stock gifts are received, so we appreciate notification about a forthcoming gift.

3. The proceeds from your gift will support TLC’s work.

People age 70½ and older can donate up to $100,000 directly to TLC from their individual retirement accounts (IRAs) without it being counted as taxable income. The gift can be used as your required minimum distribution. Your financial institution needs to issue the check directly to us, and the gift must be made by December 31 of the tax year. Contact your provider or visit their website to obtain a simple form to fill out.

Many companies offer programs that will match your charitable gift, and in some cases double or triple your gift amount. Some also match gifts for retirees, members of the board or spouses. Your employer might offer this benefit—ask them today!

If you are a regular online shopper, don’t forget that purchases made through Amazon.com’s AmazonSmile program can help support the nature of Texas!

Simply visit smile.amazon.com, search for Texas Land Conservancy, and select us as your charity of choice. Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of your purchase price to TLC at absolutely no cost to you.

You can easily give back while you shop year round!

Once you’ve selected Texas Land Conservancy as your charity of choice, you can make it so all of your online shopping trips support the land, water, and wildlife of Texas–you just need the Smile Always Chrome plugin.

1. Search for the plugin.

2. Click the button in the top right corner that says “add to chrome”.

3. Click the “Add extension” button.

You can see the extension “SA” in the top right corner of your web browser.

Now when you type in Amazon.com it will automatically go directly to Amazon Smile and show your charity of choice as Texas Land Conservancy! Yay!