Legacy Giving

John Willits Legacy Circle

Named for the man who planted thousands of trees across Clallam County and helped lead North Olympic Land Trust for over 20 years, the John Willits Legacy Circle connects you with the impact of your gift and a like-minded community dedicated to the future of this place.

By pledging a legacy gift you become a member of this place-defining circle, and will be:

Honored with a tree added to the Legacy Grove at the Lyre Conservation Area
Invited to the annual John Willits Legacy Circle celebration.

So simple, yet so powerful, each legacy gift is like the trees John Willits planted, holding soil in place, saving water and sheltering new life.

Click here to learn more about legacy giving and the John Willits Legacy Circle.

In Memory

We are humbled that the following individuals, who have regrettably passed, chose to leave a legacy of conservation for future generations by including the Land Trust in their estate plans:

Jim Bates
Reva Bates
Jany Baymor
Nancy Bryant
Suzanne Flemming
Harriet Hochstedler
Don Naddy
Lois Schaefer
John Willits
Jane Willits
Anonymous

A Bequest In Your Will

The most common planned gift to North Olympic Land Trust is a simple bequest, added to a will or living trust. You do not have to rewrite your current documents. You simply add an amendment, called a codicil, to your will or living trust. Your bequest is entirely under your control during your life and becomes irrevocable only at death.

Here is an example of simple bequest language:

“I give devise and bequeath _______ percentage (__%) of my residuary estate to North Olympic Land Trust a non-profit 501©(3) located in Port Angeles, Washington, (tax I.D. #91-1500378) for the benefit of its general purposes (or specify North Olympic Land Trust program you wish to support).”

“I give devise and bequeath _______________dollars ($_____________) from my residuary estate to North Olympic Land Trust a non-profit 501©(3) located in Port Angeles, Washington, (tax I.D. #91-1500378) for the benefit of its general purposes (or specify a North Olympic Land Trust program you wish to support).”

Using bequest language, you can also give securities, real estate or other assets through your will or revocable trust.

If you don’t have a will, there’s no time like the present to prepare one. That way, you control your estate and can make revisions if you change your mind or your circumstances change. We encourage you to work with a qualified probate attorney.

Other ways you can give

In addition to adding North Olympic Land Trust to your will or living trust, there are other simple ways to write the Land Trust into your estate plan:

Traditional IRAs and qualifying 401(k) or 403(b) Plans: Your plan allows you to simply fill in the blanks (online or on paperwork they supply) to name North Olympic Land Trust as a primary or contingent beneficiary for all or a portion/percentage of your 401(k) or 403(b) plan: North Olympic Land Trust, tax ID 91-1465078
Bank Accounts: Title or “retitle” a bank CD, checking or savings account”: Payable on Death (POD) to North Olympic Land Trust, tax ID 91-1500378
Brokerage Accounts: Title or “retitle” a brokerage account: Payable on Death (POD) to North Olympic Land Trust, tax ID 91-1500378
Life Insurance Policies or Commercial Annuities: Simply fill in the blanks on the beneficiary designation form provided by the insurance company: North Olympic Land Trust, tax ID 91-1500378 as a beneficiary for all or a portion/percentage of the amount
Charitable Trusts: Please consult your attorney
Annuities: Please consult your attorney

Please consider naming North Olympic Land Trust as a beneficiary in your estate plans, and we hope you will let us know if you do!

For more information, or to discuss including North Olympic Land Trust in your estate plans, contact Alex Wilson, Development Director, at alex@northolympiclandtrust.org or call (360) 417-1815 ext. 3.

Gifts of Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds

Appreciated securities, on which an individual might accrue a hefty capital gains tax, are easily donated, and can often provide you with exceptional tax savings. When you donate appreciated securities to North Olympic Land Trust, your gift will be exempt from capital gains tax on the appreciation, and you will usually receive an income tax deduction on the full value of the gift.

Charitable Remainder Trust

Providing for loved ones and fulfilling your philanthropic goals does not have to be an “either/or” proposition. Charitable remainder trusts provide for and maintain two sets of beneficiaries. The first is the income beneficiaries who receive income from the trust for life, or a term of years. This can be anyone – you, your spouse, a child, a sibling etc…. The second could be North Olympic Land Trust.

Life Insurance Policies

Many individuals have life insurance policies that can be used to benefit charities when the insured dies or, in some cases, during the insured’s life. Such policies, if left to non-charitable beneficiaries at the insured’s death, will in most cases pass free of income tax, but they will be subject to estate taxation in the donor’s estate, thereby reducing what these non-charitable beneficiaries receive. For this reason, life insurance policies are often excellent assets to use for charitable giving.

The very brief information provided here is intended to be general and educational in nature. It isn’t a substitute for legal or tax advice. Please consult an independent legal and/or tax advisor for specific advice about your individual situation.