“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 an easy way to support what we do and can be tax deductible. Simply fill out our online donation form and you’ll be ready to roll.
Donating appreciated assets, like stocks and bonds, is one of the smartest gifts to make. You give us a vital infusion of funds, conserve your cash reserves, and avoid capital gains tax. To get started, contact our financial advisors at RBC Wealth Management.
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 marketable 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. Revenues generated from the sale of these items will go toward vital projects.
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is an investment account created 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 are invested for tax-free growth, and you can recommend grants to your favorite IRS-qualified public charities, at any time. Learn more.
When you take distributions from your traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) it counts as “income” for tax purposes. A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a way to give those funds directly to a charity. If you are 70 ½ years old or older, you can distribute up to $100,000 every year from your IRA directly to Five Valleys, bolstering our work and reducing your taxable income. Learn more.
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, appreciated assets like stocks and bonds, and real estate. Incorporating Five Valleys into your will need not be costly or complicated, and can be accomplished by simply adding these two sentences:
Sample language to include Five Valleys in your will:
You can also dedicate all or a portion of your retirement plan, life insurance, bank, and/or investment account to Five Valleys. You simply need to designate Five Valleys as your beneficiary with the company that manages your plan or account. This is usually as easy as finding the beneficiary designation form on your account manager's website and typing in our name (Five Valleys Land Trust, Inc.), address (120 Hickory Street, Suite B, Missoula, MT 59801), and our IRS Tax ID number (23-7182055).
You will continue to benefit from these plans during your lifetime. Because we are a nonprofit, when you name Five Valleys as a beneficiary we realize 100% of the value. If you name your heirs as a beneficary, your gift to them will be reduced by taxes.
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 federal charitable tax deduction and a state tax credit. 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 (DAF) is a popular option that provides the maximum tax advantage for the gift. When the gift annuity is relinquished by the donor, often after five years, the balance - which has been invested over time - is transferred to Five Valleys’ endowment.
Learn more about Deferred Gift Annuities and how they can support Five Valleys' Endowment or provide tax credits through the Montana Endowment Tax Credit.
"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