Planned Gifts

We have protected Washington’s environment for more than fifty years, and we will be here for many years to come! 

On this page you will find several different ways to make a planned gift to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund, where you can leave a lasting legacy to protect Washington’s environment. We are available to work with you and your advisor to determine the one that is right for you and your specific situation.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about making a planned gift to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund, please contact our Donor Relations Director Paul Balle at 206.631.2621 or via email at paul@waconservationaction.org. He would be happy to send you information on planned gift options to consider and/or schedule time to meet with you personally.

Please note: whenever you’re contemplating making these kinds of estate/planned giving decisions, it is always wise to first consult with your estate attorney or tax/financial advisor.

When you do decide to include Washington Conservation Action Education Fund in your estate plans, please let us know, as we value the opportunity to express our gratitude to you! 

Retirement Plan Assets: IRA’s and more

You can choose to give to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund (or any charitable 501c(3) organization) from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) during your lifetime, after you turn 70 ½. You can also choose to make Washington Conservation Action Education Fund a beneficiary of your IRA or other retirement account in your will; or designate us as a beneficiary with the financial institution where you hold the account.

Making charitable gifts from your IRA:  

If you have a traditional (non-Roth) IRA, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that you start making annual distributions from that account starting when you are 73 years old (according to the new Secure 2.0 Act, that was passed in 2022). Unfortunately, these distributions (called Required Minimum Distributions) are taxed as income at your current tax rate when you take them. However, if you make part or all of this distribution to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund (or another charitable organization), the portion that goes to charity is tax-free! Distributions from your IRA going to charity are called Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD’s), and you can donate up to $100,000 (for an individual with an IRA account) or up to $200,000 (for a couple, if each is distributing from their own IRA) each year.

As noted above, you can start making charitable gifts from your IRA after you turn 73.

If you’re required to start making IRA distributions (that is, you’re 73 years or older) we recommend that you first make your charitable distributions from your IRA, before taking the rest of your required annual distribution from your IRA. (The IRS is very particular about these things!)

Talk to your advisor to make sure this approach is right for you. If you’re good to go, contact your IRA institution for their Qualified Charitable Distribution form. 

You may need this information when filling out the QCD form:

Organization: Washington Conservation Action Education Fund
Federal Tax ID: 91-0839385
Contact: Paul Balle, Donor Relations Director
Direct Phone: 206.631.2621
Direct email: paul@waconservationaction.org 
Address: 1402 Third Ave, Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98101

Designating Washington Conservation Action Education Fund in your will or with your financial institution: 

You can designate Washington Conservation Action Education Fund as the beneficiary of your IRA in your will; you can also designate Washington Conservation Action Education Fund to receive other retirement assets such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans in your will. Washington Conservation Action Education Fund will receive the funds upon your passing. 

You can also specify that Washington Conservation Action Education Fund is the beneficiary of your retirement account directly with the institution that holds the account. Often, you can make this designation right online.

If needed, you can use our address and Federal Tax ID provided above. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Paul.

Bequest: leave a gift to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund in your will

Bequests are the most popular type of deferred gift. You can include a gift in your original will or living trust or add one later by an amendment. The gift can be a percentage of your estate, a specific piece of property, or a specific amount of money. A bequest gift is very flexible and allows you to retain control over your assets should you need them during your lifetime. As you consider a bequest to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund, you and your attorney may find it helpful to have the following wording for different types of bequest provisions. Sample bequest language is below.

Specific sum of money

“I give to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund, or its successor organization, the sum of [insert here the exact dollar amount].”

Specific property such as real estate, stocks, bonds, works of art, or other items

“I give to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund, or its successor organization, [insert here a description of the particular property].”

Rest and residue of estate after paying debts, taxes, expenses, and other bequests

“I give to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund, or its successor organization, all [or a stated percentage] of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate.”

Contingent bequest if you are not survived by certain individuals

“If [name/s of primary beneficiary/ies] do/es not survive me, or shall die within ninety (90) days from the date of my death, or as a result of a common disaster, then I give to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund, or its successor organization, [insert here the exact dollar amount, description of property, or percentage of residual estate].”

Please note: This wording is intended to be used as sample wording only and is provided solely as a courtesy for our donors to share with their attorney. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice.

Outright Gifts

An outright gift may include a gift of real estate, closely held stock, life insurance, commercial annuity, and other valuable, useful, or historically significant property.

Tangible Personal Property

Washington Conservation Action Education Fund can receive gifts of personal property – such as artwork, books, and coin collections, etc.

Life Insurance Gifts

You might have a paid-up life insurance policy that you no longer need. You can make a gift by transferring the policy outright to Washington Conservation Action Education Fund or naming Washington Conservation Action Education Fund as a beneficiary, similar to retirement assets. Or you might think about taking out a new policy benefiting Washington Conservation Action Education Fund and receive tax benefits with each premium paid.

Charitable Lead Trust

A charitable lead trust pays Washington Conservation Action Education Fund an income for a designated period of time. After that time, the trust principal reverts to you or other beneficiaries. With a lead trust, your gift makes a difference now while potentially reducing the cost of transferring assets to your family or another beneficiary.

Charitable Remainder Trust

A charitable trust is another way to make a gift and receive income for life. Your payments can be either fixed or variable in amount.

Our commitment to accountability

Washington Conservation Action Education Fund maintains a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the highest possible ranking. The Washington Conservation Action Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, all contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our tax number is EIN – 91-0839385.