Imagine your legacy helping to conserve the lands and waters of the Finger Lakes region.
Join the White Pine Society
Named for the tallest tree in the northeastern forest, the White Pine Society recognizes members who make a planned gift to the Land Trust.
“Though my wife and I live 3,000 miles from the shore of any Finger Lake, the spacious rolling hills and sparkling waters of central New York captured my heart many years ago. I made a bequest to the Finger Lakes Land Trust because it has proven so capable of protecting those lands, which I hope will serve to inspire future generations.” – G. Morsello
Contact us about the White Pine Society
A Gift That Costs You Nothing in Your Lifetime
Bequest: Include a bequest in your will or revocable trust, or name the Land Trust as the beneficiary of part (or all) of a retirement account or life insurance policy. Estate gifts allow you to keep control during your lifetime while providing future support for the Land Trust.
Ask your lawyer or financial advisor about the advantages of naming the Land Trust as a beneficiary of retirement accounts – the Land Trust will pay no income tax on retirement plan distributions, allowing you to leave more of your non-retirement assets to loved ones.
A bequest in a will or trust can be as simple as “I give $XXX [or, I give Y% of my Residuary Estate] to the Finger Lakes Land Trust, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization with offices at 202 East Court Street, Ithaca, NY 14850.”
To name the Land Trust as a beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy, you will need to file a Change of Beneficiary form with the company holding the account or policy.
Gifts That Pay You Income
Life-income gifts such as charitable remainder trusts can provide donors with an income stream, significant tax savings, and the satisfaction of providing the Land Trust with long-term resources.
Charitable Trust: Transfer cash or stock to establish a charitable trust to provide life income and receive a charitable deduction.
Gifts of Assets
Cash: A gift of cash is an easy way to reduce your taxes.
Gifts of Appreciated Stock: Provide support for the Land Trust while decreasing the out-of-pocket cost to you by avoiding capital-gain tax.
IRAs: Your retirement-plan benefits are likely a significant portion of your net worth. And because of special tax considerations, they could make an excellent choice for funding a charitable gift. Offset taxes on mandatory IRA distributions by contributing them to the Finger Lakes Land Trust.
For more information about the White Pine Society, please contact the FLLT office at (607) 275-9487. Our Tax ID (EIN) Number is 22-2983688.
The information contained on this page is for general information and education purposes only. Please seek the advice of an attorney for information most relevant to your situation.
