Legacy Giving

You can leave a long-lasting legacy by remembering the Trout Lake Nature Center with a gift from your estate. We encourage supporters to consider leaving bequests or gifts after your death to the Trout Lake Nature Center as part of your overall financial and/or estate planning. Bequests may be complex and you should involve the input of your attorney and/or financial advisor. If you are interested in leaving a legacy gift, please contact us for more information on the following giving options.

Gifts from Will or Trust

Include a bequest to Trout Lake Nature Center Inc. in your will or trust. You can direct that your bequest be used for the general support of our work or for a specific purpose you designate at Trout Lake Nature Center Inc. Whatever your objectives, we will be happy to work with you in planning a bequest that will be satisfying, economical and effective in carrying out your wishes in our important mission.

IRA Charitable Gifts

Individuals age 70.5 and older can distribute up to $100,000 each year from their IRAs to the Trout Lake Nature Center Inc. and other charities without counting the distribution as income. This is a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) or sometimes called an “IRA Rollover”, a gift made directly from your qualified IRA can lower your taxable income.

Gifts of Appreciated Stock

Support the Trout Lake Nature Center’s work by making a gift of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. In addition to making a difference for wildlife, ecosystems and the environment, a gift of appreciated securities offers you significant benefits. These include an immediate charitable deduction for the full market value of the stock and avoidance of capital gains taxes that would normally be due upon sale.

Named Beneficiary

Name the Trout Lake Nature Center Inc. as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k) or other qualified plan. Designate Trout Lake Nature Center Inc. to receive all or a portion of the balance of your plan through your plan administrator. The balance in your plan reverts to Trout Lake Nature Center Inc. after your lifetime. Your gift to Trout Lake Nature Center Inc. is not taxed for income nor for the estate because Trout Lake Nature Center Inc.is a tax-exempt organization.

Please notify Trout Lake Nature Center Inc. if you have chosen to name this organization as a beneficiary. Indicate a specific amount, or a percentage of the balance remaining in your estate or trust. Some of our friends prefer to bequeath a certain percentage of the remainder of their estate—the amount that remains after paying all debts, costs, and other prior legacies.

Endowment Fund

Established by our Board of Directors to develop a sustainable funding source for the Trout Lake Nature Center, our endowment began with a simple bequest to the Trout Lake Nature Center. As with all endowment funds, donations and bequests are placed into the endowment fund and protected so they will grow. When the fund becomes large enough, the interest created will be used to fund operations and programs as a more reliable source of long-term funding. Donating to the Endowment Fund is an excellent way to make a lasting contribution to the Trout Lake Nature Center.