“We can think of no better way to fund the legacy of preserving in perpetuity the magnificent natural environment we enjoy here in the Missoula area. It has been our privilege and pleasure to do our small part to ensure we all have open space, hiking trails, productive farms and ranches, clean water and wildlife to enjoy.”
Your financial support is an investment in the future of our waters, wildlife habitat, working farms and ranches, and recreational pursuits. Whether you make a one-time donation, monthly contribution, or a gift in your will, your support is critical to help us protect the amazing places we all love. Contact us.
Gifts or cash, checks, or money orders are the easiest way to support what we do and are tax deductible. Simply fill out our online donation form and you’ll be ready to roll.
Marketable securities, like stocks and bonds, are popular ways to make gifts. By making a gift of stock you give us a vital infusion of funds for our projects and conserve your cash reserves. We will be happy to work with your financial planner to make it an easy process.
Gifts of real estate can be very beneficial to Five Valleys, whether it be conservation lands or property that can be sold with the proceeds funding our highest priorities. When you donate real estate, 100% of its value benefits Five Valleys since no capital gains will be assessed, while you receive an income tax deduction and avoid estate taxes.
Giving personal property, such as cars, boats, and works of art is yet another way to help Five Valleys protect the lands and waters you love. The revenues generated from the sale of these items will help support vital projects.
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is an investment account for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations you care about. When you contribute cash, securities, or other assets to a DAF, you are generally eligible to take an immediate tax deduction. Then those funds can be invested for tax-free growth, and you can recommend grants to any eligible IRS-qualified public charity at any time.
When you take distributions from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) it usually counts as “income” for tax purposes. Qualified Charitable Distributions, also called IRA Charitable Rollovers, are an exception. If you are 70 ½ years old or older, you can distribute up to $100,000 every year from your IRA to Five Valleys without counting the distribution as personal income.
Your will affirms, honors, and protects what matters most to you. One of the simplest ways to support Five Valleys' work into the future is by naming us in your will or trust. You can give almost any kind of asset, including cash, marketable securities like stocks and bonds, and personal property such as cars, boats, and works of art. Gifts of real estate can benefit Five Valleys whether it be conservation lands or property that can be sold with the proceeds funding our highest priorities. Incorporating Five Valleys into your will need not be costly or complicated, and can be accomplished by simply adding two sentences to your will:
Sample language to include Five Valleys in your will:
“I give, devise and bequeath [the sum of ____ dollars] or [___% percentage of the full/residue of my estate] or [the residue of my estate] or [an accurate description of securities, real estate of other tangible property given] to Five Valleys Land Trust, a non-profit corporation, organized and established under the laws of the State of Montana, with a principal business address of 120 Hickory Street, Suite B, Missoula, Montana, 59801 for its general purposes without restriction. Five Valleys Land Trust’s Federal Tax identification number: 23-7182055."
You can also leave all or a portion of your retirement plan to help fund the mission of Five Valleys. You simply need to designate Five Valleys as your beneficiary with the company that manages your plan. This is usually as easy as finding the beneficiary designation form for your account on their website and typing in our name and address. You will continue to benefit from these plans during your lifetime. By naming Five Valleys as beneficiary you can avoid both income and estate taxes.
Gifts of life insurance enable you to make a gift by transferring ownership of a new or existing policy to Five Valleys. The process to set this up is simple and inexpensive. The gift is valued at the cash surrender of the policy.
Simply naming Five Valleys as the full or partial beneficiary of your bank or investment account means those funds can go directly toward our efforts.
A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) involves the irrevocable transfer of assets to a trust. In return, an income is paid, at least annually, to you and/or your beneficiaries, for life or a term of years. At the end of the designated time, the remainder of the funds goes to Five Valleys.
A Charitable Lead Trust is the inverse of a Charitable Remainder Trust - Five Valleys receives the income interest for a term of years with the remaining principal passing to the donor or a beneficiary at the end of the term.
A Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) is simple to set up and provides you with a guaranteed fixed income for life, as well as a charitable tax deduction. CGAs involve a gift of cash or securities in exchange for an annual payment for the life of either one or two beneficiaries. The remainder goes to Five Valleys’ Endowment with their passing. In order to focus on our core mission of protecting the lands, waters and wildlife of Western Montana, we partner with the Montana Community Foundation to administer this tool.
For donors who do not wish to receive income payments, a Deferred Gift Annuity is a popular option that provides the maximum tax advantage for the gift. When the gift annuity is relinquished by the donor, the balance - which has been invested over time - is transferred to Five Valleys’ endowment.
"I love the recreational opportunities our beautiful open spaces in and surrounding Missoula provide to us all year. It’s truly magical to be able step out of the door of my home or office and onto open space within minutes. Access to the outdoors has become a crucial aspect of our lives, as we head to the hills and the trails as a way to support our mental and physical fitness, and to embrace the space. These reasons are why I am a donor to Five Valleys Land Trust."
“Leaving funds to Five Valleys and making them a beneficiary of my IRA account gives me the satisfaction of feeling that after I die, I will still be helping the land and community I love.”
Interested in talking with someone about the best type of gift for you?
For more information about an outright gift, please contact Ramey Kodadek at 406-549-0755, ext. 201, or ramey@fvlt.org
Email Ramey
For more information about making a legacy gift, please contact Minette Johnson at 406-519-5191 or minette@fvlt.org
Email Minette