Giving

The Prairie Land Conservancy is laying the groundwork to make certain that in the future, Western Illinois is a place where family farms, critical habitats, open lands, wetlands, and forests are preserved. When you support the PLC, a lifelong, decisive difference for the land we love will be made. The work we do cannot be done without the generosity of PLC members and donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations. You can choose to support Prairie Land Conservancy in several ways annually or over time. Your donation can include bequests, lifetime planned gifts, and gifts of cash, land, or securities. The method of giving you choose may offer substantial financial advantages to you and your family. The act of contributing to preserve land for future generations to enjoy is quite profound and a legacy for all to remember. The PLC would like to work with you to show you the benefits of planning and the tax advantages of these choices. You should discuss any planned giving with your attorney, accountant or other financial advisors. You can make tribute gifts: in memory of a loved one or in honor or someone still living! These gifts can be dedicated to a project or to our general endowment fund using any of the gift options described below:

Cash

Cash is the easiest and most common way to support PLC's annual work. You may make a one-time contribution or make a pledge over a period of years. Because Prairie Hills RC&D, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, your gift will be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. If you have decided to make a cash gift, please send your check, payable to Prairie Land Conservancy, a division of Prairie Hills RC&D, 321 W. University Drive Macomb, IL 61455. If you would like to pay your gift over a period of time, we can send friendly reminders.

Gifts of Land

Prairie Land Conservancy has accepted gifts of land. The property may have a conservation value and you will receive a tax deduction for its unrestricted value. This will maximize your charitable income tax deduction if you so choose. If the land has extraordinary natural resources, a land management plan can be written so that we can make certain that the owner's wishes are implemented.

Gifts of Appreciated Assets: Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, & Other Publicly Traded Securities

When you consider a charitable gift, look at your assets (such as stock or land) that have appreciated over the years. With a gift of appreciated assets, you avoid capital gains tax. This can be an important financial benefit for many donors!

Giving rather than selling your appreciated assets puts you in control of distributing your property. You choose who will receive it, rather than sacrificing much of its value to capital gains tax. Such a gift will also make you eligible for an income tax deduction!

Giving Land While Continuing to Live On It

As a landowner, you can donate your land and continue to live on it. A gift of remainder interest or a gift of land with a "reserved life estate" title to your property transfers to PLC after you pass on. A remainder interest gift typically entitles you to an income tax deduction for the "present value" of PLC's remainder interest. The land is not subject to later estate taxation. You continue to use the property during your lifetime.

Gift With Life Income

There are several kinds of gifts that not only support the PLC’s work, but also provide a lifetime income for you or a loved one, which may also reduce your taxes. Such life income gifts are knows as “charitable remainder trusts” or “charitable gift annuities”. These gifts are worth exploring since they offer great financial benefits for many people. In fact, these types of gifts may increase your annual income. You can use cash, land or other assets to establish a gift with a life income. And such gifts will often slash your capital gains taxes, federal estate tax and inheritance tax, and may provide a charitable deduction for your income taxes.

Retirement Accounts

When your retirement plan proceeds or IRA pass to heirs other than your spouse, as much as 80 percent of the assets may be lost to income tax, excise tax, and estate tax! By arranging now to give your pension plan assets or IRAs to fund the PLC, you can reduce your federal and state death tax and help your beneficiaries avoid federal and state income tax. For large estates, you may be able to avoid the additional 15 percent excise or "success" tax on pension plans and IRAs in excess of $750,000.

Life Insurance

If you'd like a simple and relatively inexpensive way to make a substantial gift to the PLC, life insurance may help you to give more than you could otherwise afford. You can make PLC the owner and beneficiary of a paid-up policy you now own or a new policy you purchase, or you can make PLC one of the beneficiaries of an existing policy. These gifts avoid estate taxation on the life insurance death benefit after your passing-- and they may, in some cases, create a present income tax deduction as well.

 

Bequests

Leaving a gift in your will is a simple way to provide a living legacy to the PLC and western Illinois’ natural places after your death. With a bequest, all your assets remain available to your during your lifetime. For some people, a bequest may reduce estate taxes. Many people view their bequest as a way to "endow" their annual membership. (For example, a bequest of $5,000 to the PLC’s endowment will produce about $250 in interest each year - similar to a $250 annual membership that continues beyond your lifetime.)

There are several ways you can name the Prairie Land Conservancy as a beneficiary in your will. You may choose to give specific assets, a portion of your estate, or your residual estate after payment of other bequests. You can state how you would like your gift to be used: for a specific purpose that you name, or "wherever the need is greatest" so the PLC can choose a use that matches its mission.

Prairie Land Conservancy makes every effort to give you accurate information. You should also consult your trusted professionals for legal, financial, insurance, or estate planning advice. The staff of PLC is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services.

Federal Tax ID #37-1206873