How many times has the majesty of our ancient Georgia mountains caused us to pause and reflect that one day we won’t be here, but these mountains and these forests will.

Or will they? Do you want to know that after you’re gone, your money will continue to help protect, preserve, and restore our beloved Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests?

Planned giving is a powerful way to leave a legacy behind that says, I CARE about this forest. I VALUE its preservation. I SUPPORT its defenders.

And while your gift is designed to ensure your values live on after you, some planned giving options may have immediate benefits in the now, such as: reducing your income tax liability; increasing your current income or that of a designated beneficiary; avoiding capital gains tax; and/or passing assets on to family members while paying less tax.

Always consult with your attorney or tax advisor for the various tax benefits and restrictions that may apply to your specific situation. GFW staff are available to you and your advisors to answer questions or help arrange a planned gift to Georgia ForestWatch.

That said, there are many ways to make a planned gift.

If you are age 70-1/2 or older and own a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA, you can instruct the institution that holds your IRA to pay your minimum annual distribution directly to Georgia ForestWatch as the charity of your choice. In fact, you’re allowed to make a charitable gift up to $100,000 directly from your IRA to the charity of your choice and the gift (including required minimum distribution) could bypass your income moving forward.

Another easy way to donate using your retirement plan is by designation of beneficiary. While leaving other major beneficiaries such as family members in place, donors can instruct the plan administrator to allocate a percentage of benefits to Georgia ForestWatch.

The “IRA Rollover” provision was extended permanently when The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (H.R. 2029) was signed into law on December 18, 2015. The standard qualifications have not changed.

People aged 70 1/2 or older, who own a traditional or Roth IRA, are allowed to make a charitable gift of up to $100,000, directly from their IRA to qualified charities. GFW is qualified and your gift to us (including you required minimum distribution) is deducted from your income subject to federal tax, so you pay no tax on the amount you give.

But plan ahead! To gift Georgia ForestWatch with your Required Minimum Distribution on a one-time or annual basis, you need to tell your IRA manager to send the check directly to us, made out to Georgia ForestWatch. The check will not identify you as the donor, and your IRA manager can’t identify it without your permission, so please also tell your manager to include contact information with the gift, and let staff at GFW know that we should watch for it to arrive.

An important note. The provision in the Appropriations Act that allows rollover gifts from IRA accounts does not apply to 401(k) plans or other tax-favored retirement planning vehicles. Rollover gifts cannot fund gift annuities or other life income gifts. Also, there is no corresponding charitable tax deduction for rollover gifts because they are not counted in income. Please consult your financial planner or tax adviser for more details.

Always consult with your attorney or tax advisor for the various tax benefits and restrictions that may apply to your specific situation. GFW staff are available to you and your advisors at (706) 867-0051 or info@gfw.org to answer questions or help arrange a planned gift to Georgia ForestWatch.

Gifts by Life Insurance are convenient and incur only a modest annual cost. You can use a paid-up policy you no longer need or purchase a new policy to make your gift.

By using a paid-up life insurance policy you no longer need or buying a new policy to make your gift, you can make a substantial gift to Georgia ForestWatch for a relatively modest annual cost. Some examples:

Georgia ForestWatch as Beneficiary
You can name GFW as beneficiary of a life insurance policy, while you retain ownership of the policy and access to its cash value. However, by retaining ownership and ability to change the beneficiary, you are not eligible for an income tax charitable deduction for the value of the policy.

Georgia ForestWatch as Owner
By assigning a paid up insurance policy to Georgia ForestWatch as its owner, you can claim a federal income-tax charitable deduction for the policy’s fair-market value or the net premiums paid, whichever is less. If the policy is not paid in full, your subsequent premium payments on behalf of GFW are also deductible; or, you can make annual contributions directly to GFW to enable us to pay subsequent premiums.

Survivorship Life Insurance
This form of insurance (aka “second-to-die insurance”) covers two people’s lives and policy benefits can be made payable directly to GFW, on the passing of the second insured. This form of life insurance costs less than others, allowing you to make a larger charitable gift than might otherwise be practical.

Always consult with your attorney or tax advisor for the various tax benefits and restrictions that may apply to your specific situation. GFW staff are available to you and your advisors at (706) 867-0051 or info@gfw.org to answer questions or help arrange a planned gift to Georgia ForestWatch.

When most people think of making a planned gift to a nonprofit charity, they think of including it in their will.

A gift by Will or bequest is 100% deductible for estate tax purposes, and you should always consult your attorney when drawing up or revising your Will to ensure your intentions are carried out properly.
Georgia ForestWatch is a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our tax identification number is 58-2188475.

The name and address to include in your Will is:
Georgia ForestWatch, Inc.
81 Crown Mountain Place, Building C, Suite 200
Dahlonega, GA 30533

There are different ways to support Georgia ForestWatch in your Will.

• You might leave a specific bequest of a stated dollar amount, property, or securities:
  “I give to Georgia ForestWatch, Inc., a non-profit organization located at 81 Crown Mountain Place, Building C, Suite 200, Dahlonega, Georgia 30533, the sum of ____ dollars (or describe the specific property or security you intend to give).”
• You might make a residual bequest, granting the residue, or portion of the residue, of your estate to GFW after explicit bequests have been made:
  “I give to Georgia ForestWatch, Inc., a non-profit organization located at 81 Crown Mountain Place, Building C, Suite 200, Dahlonega, Georgia 30533, all (or ____ percent) of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal property of whatever kind and wheresoever situated.”
• You might leave a contingent bequest in the event one or more of your other bequests cannot be fulfilled:
  “If any of the above-named beneficiaries should predecease me, I hereby give his/her share of my estate to Georgia ForestWatch, Inc., a non-profit organization located at 81 Crown Mountain Place, Building C, Suite 200, Dahlonega, Georgia 30533.”
• You might leave a life income bequest, giving income to someone close to you with the principal reverting to Georgia ForestWatch after their lifetime.

A Charitable Remainder Trust is a way to make a significant gift to Georgia ForestWatch while providing substantial financial and tax benefits to the donor.

A Charitable Remainder Trust is a way for a donor to make a substantial gift to Georgia ForestWatch, while enjoying significant financial and tax benefits.

In establishing a CRT, you irrevocably donate cash or property to fund the trust. A trustee (you, or someone else) is named to manage assets and earnings, and investment income provides regular annual income to you or the beneficiaries you designate.

Trust payments are made for the lifetime of the beneficiary or for a specific period of time (maximum 20 years). At the end of 20 years or upon the beneficiary’s death, trust assets pass to any charities designated in the trust, such as Georgia ForestWatch.

Potential benefits of a Charitable Remainder Trust include:

• An increase in your current income from appreciated assets;
• A generous income tax charitable deduction for the value of GFW’s remainder interest may be available. Also known as “present value”, remainder interest is based on calculations of the value of what GFW would receive in trust assets when the trust ends. Determined for a set date, when future payments are estimated to be made, present value is also discounted to reflect change in money’s value over time and factors such as investment risk;
• If property is used to fund the trust, capital gains tax on its appreciation is eliminated;
• The value of the remainder interest is deducted from your estate, thereby reducing estate taxes and cost of probate;
• Support for GFW or multiple charities can be combined in a single trust.

CRTs can provide either fixed or variable income to beneficiaries.

For Fixed Income, a Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT) pays a fixed percentage of the trust’s initial fair market value to provide reliable, unchanging income. Market fluctuations will have no effect on payments. On creation of the trust, an annual payout amount (minimum 5%) is set and continues for life of the trust. No additional contributions can be made to a CRAT.

For Variable Income, a Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT) provides fluctuating payments as asset values change and fair market value of the trust is re-valued annually. When the trust is created, you decide what percentage (no less than 5%) of the fair market value you wish to receive as income.

You will need an attorney to draw up your trust, and you will need to select a trustee to manage it. You can serve as your own trustee, or you can hire a bank, trust company, or other financial institution.
Since a Charitable Remainder Trust requires separate management, and often separate investment, it is usually not economical unless the principal initially equals or exceeds $100,000.

Always consult with your attorney or tax advisor for the various tax benefits and restrictions that may apply to your specific situation. GFW staff are available to you and your advisors at (706) 867-0051 or info@gfw.org to answer questions or help arrange a planned gift to Georgia ForestWatch.