The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

If you want to support the Nature Now campaign today and maximize your charitable deduction, consider making an outright gift by check or credit card. These cash-based gifts are the simplest asset to donate. It is also the easiest for The Nature Conservancy to accept and quickly put to good use protecting our natural resources. 

But that option is not right for everyone, so here are a few more giving options to consider. 

• A stock gift is one of the easiest gifts to make and an excellent way to minimize taxes and support The Nature Conservancy at same time.  Donors receive a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock on the date of their gift. Neither the donor, nor the Conservancy, is liable for capital gains tax on the sale of the securities as long as the stock has been held for more than one year. For those donors with losses, they can sell the stocks, take the loss as a tax deduction, then use the sale proceeds to make a gift and get the charitable tax deduction for doing so.
• Gifts of real estate can be excellent ways to support The Nature Conservancy. Over the years, the Conservancy has received property ranging from vacation homes to apartment complexes. Some donors made a property gift with a Retained Life Estate, allowing them to give now, receive income tax benefits in the present, and still retain the use of their property during their lifetime and the lifetime of a spouse or other individual. Ultimately, assets like these are sold with the proceeds being used to protect critical habitat. 
• For those interested in leaving a legacy for conservation, a bequest is the easiest way to do so. Bequest donors retain control over their assets during their lifetimes and the ability to change the terms of the bequest if needed. Bequests can be in the form of a specific dollar amount, a percentage of the estate, real property or tangible personal property such as art. 
• Designating the Conservancy as beneficiary of a retirement plan, insurance policy or bank account is another way to leave a legacy gift.
• Charitable gift annuities are a great option for many people. They provide a fixed income payment for life, which is not tied to the stock market. Using appreciated securities to fund the gift, often enables the donor to make a larger gift, realize annual payments greater than their stock dividends, and mitigate the impact of capital gains. Rates are based on age; a charitable gift annuity for someone age 70 currently pays a return of 5.1 percent.

If you are thinking about making any of these gifts to the Nature Now campaign and would like more information, please contact Gloria Karbo, Senior Associate Director of Philanthropy, at (612) 331-0753 or gkarbo@tnc.org.

Nature Now is a $30-million campaign to protect the forests, rivers, lakes, prairies and other special natural places in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota that we love – and need.