Thousand Islands Forever
Land conservation is an investment in our future. Leaving a legacy is one of the most valuable.
Enduring gifts you can ever give. For this reason, we invite you to join others by including the Thousand Islands Land Trust in your estate plan and become a recognized member of the Thousand Islands Forever Legacy Program.
Once our natural lands are developed, they’re gone forever. If we don’t act now, the resources our community treasures may vanish before future generations can experience them. Legacy gifts are vital to TILT and the River communities, helping us ensure that the places we protect today remain safe for tomorrow.
Thousand Islands Forever celebrates members with the foresight and generosity to include the Thousand Islands Land Trust in their planned giving. These gifts make a lasting commitment to conservation, ensuring that our most cherished open spaces are protected for present and future generations.
Have you already included the Thousand Islands Land Trust in your estate plans?
TILT Thousand Islands Forever Legacy
Planned Giving – A Legacy That Lasts Forever
Bequests
A bequest is the most common way to benefit family, friends and charities like the Land Trust. You can leave a specific sum or percentage of your estate.
Receive Income from your Lifetime
By making an irrevocable gift to a Charitable Remainder Trust, you can receive income for your lifetime. The remainder reverts to the Land Trust after your lifetime or after a fixed period of time.
Your planned gift to the Thousand Islands Land Trust is a powerful and meaningful way to create your legacy. You will be remembered as someone who helped the Thousand Islands Forever.
Thank you for your consideration, the Thousand Islands Land Trust is grateful. We look forward to discussing your planned gift with you.
To make a gift to TILT through any of these vehicles, please be sure to include your financial advisor, tax advisor and/or attorney in your planning.
Will or Revocable Living Trust
Like a Will, a Living Trust is created with your legal counsel. Unlike a Will, a Living Trust is not subject to probate; this protects the privacy of your last wishes.
Life Insurance
Naming the Land Trust as a beneficiary of an existing or new policy makes a generous bequest. Naming TILT as a beneficiary on your financial accounts—such as retirement plans, bank accounts, and life insurance policies— costs nothing and doesn’t require a will or lawyer.
You add us as a beneficiary the same way you would add a loved one, or you can add us in addition to loved ones. All you need to do is contact your account provider and request a “Change of Beneficiary” form (you might find this on the provider’s website).
Retirement Plans
Some IRA providers will let you donate to us through an online form on their website. You’ll need this information to complete your donation:
Option 1: Donate online
Some IRA providers will let you donate to us through an online form on their website. You’ll need this information to complete your donation:
Our legal name: Thousand Islands Land Trust, Inc.
Our mailing address: 135 John St Clayton, NY 13624
Our federal tax ID number: 22-2629183
The key thing to remember is that IRA donations need to come to TILT directly from your IRA provider, otherwise they will be counted as taxable distributions to you.
Option 2: Donate by mail
See if your IRA provider offers a mail-in form
Real Property
Gifts of non-conservation real estate can give a major boost to our land conservation efforts.
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) offer a simple and tax-efficient way to support the Thousand Islands Land Trust as part of your legacy. You can contribute to a DAF during your lifetime and recommend grants to the Land Trust over time, ensuring that your support for land conservation continues long into the future. The Thousand Islands Land Trust is a 501c3 nonprofit, EIN: 22-2629183
Stewardship Endowments: Taking care of the land forever
Each acre conserved by the Thousand Islands Land Trust comes with a “forever” responsibility and cost. For those of us who care deeply for our wild and beautiful lands, there is a way to help assure ‘forever stewardship’.
A planned gift, from your estate or your assets provides us with meaningful support and provides you with the knowledge that you are giving long term care to our protected places. TILT’s Stewardship Endowment provides the financial ability to assure the highest quality,professional land conservation and stewardship for all Thousand Islands Land Trust conserved properties.
Common Questions About Bequests:
Do I need to have a will?
Only if you wish to have a say in how your estate — everything you’ve accumulated during your lifetime — is distributed. Without a will your estate will go to Probate Court and a judge will determine who receives your assets.
Do I need to use a lawyer?
There are a variety of resources available for creating a will without legal counsel. However, using a lawyer will ensure your document is properly completed and valid where you live.
What are the different types of charitable bequests?
A bequest is a gift you provide through your will, trust, or financial account (for example, a retirement plan, life insurance policy, or bank account). You can choose to provide a fixed amount of money, a specific item(s), or a percentage of the remainder of the estate after all other obligations have been satisfied.
What types of assets does the Land Trust accept?
The Land Trust accepts cash, securities, personal property, and real estate.
Do I have to rewrite my will to make a gift to TILT?
Not necessarily. You can name Thousand Islands Land Trust as a beneficiary on financial accounts, retirement accounts, and insurance policies. You can also add a codicil to update rather than rewrite the entire document.