planned giving

By making a commitment to Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy as part of your estate plan, you will become a member of the Oak Legacy Society, joining other thoughtful supporters who have made a gift to our future and to the permanence of land conservation in southwest Michigan.

Together, we can leave a legacy of nature for many future generations of people and wildlife to enjoy.

You can help by making a planned gift to Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy.

Ways to give through your estate plan

Planned gifts can come in many forms – from bequests to IRA distributions to gifts of land and property. 

You can name Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy as a beneficiary of a portion of your retirement assets, estate, specific assets, or of your residual estate.  The following are some of the most tax-efficient ways to make a bequest, while keeping the flexibility to make modifications should your circumstances change:
Wills or Trusts
You can make a bequest gift by naming Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy in your will or trust.
Retirement Plans
You can name Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy as a full or partial beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan, thereby avoiding the income tax liability incurred when most retirement accounts pass to individuals.
Life Insurance Policies
You can name Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy as a primary or contingent beneficiary.
Real Property or Development Rights
Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy accepts gifts of all types of property, from condos or townhouses that can be sold to further SWMLC’s mission, to land that can be conserved as nature preserves or conservation easements.

Benefits of making a planned gift

The Opportunity to Leave a Legacy
You have the satisfaction of knowing that your values and your love of nature will live on long after you.
Cash-Flow Friendly
Support SWMLC in a meaningful way without losing access to funds during your lifetime.
Potential Tax Savings
A planned gift can reduce income taxes and avoid capital gains during your lifetime. It can also reduce or eliminate estate taxes where applicable.
Avoid Probate
A properly structured planned gift can also allow some or all of your assets to avoid the expense and complication of the probate process.
Changeable
Most planned gifts may be modified at any time if your wishes or circumstances change.
Directed Giving
You can direct your gift to support one or more particular programs, or to be used where it’s needed most, such as:
•   Sustain SWMLC Endowment Fund
•   George Lauff Land & Stewardship Endowment Fund
•   Monitoring
•   Stewardship
•   Land Acquisition
•   General Program

Photo, Caitlin Eyvaz

Sample bequest language

If you would like to name Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy in your will or estate plan, we should be named as:
Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, a Michigan nonprofit corporation, with a principal business address of 8395 East Main St., Galesburg, MI 49053. 
Our federal tax ID number is 38-3038708.

Help us to plan

If your plans already include a gift for Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, we would love to hear from you. We will honor all requests with anonymity and you can always modify your gift if your circumstances change.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss how you can accomplish your goals to leave a lasting gift.

Whatever the gift, we are immensely grateful for the foresight and commitment of those who leave planned gifts to further the cause of conservation even beyond their lifetimes.

“ The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”

— Nelson Henderson

membership

donate

planned giving

current
appeals

Sustain SWMLC

honor gifts
and memorials