Your Legacy, Our Shared Future

 

Join the Legacy Giving Circle

Legacy gifts (also known as planned gifts) are a powerful way to ensure New Jersey’s spectacular landscapes remain protected forever. There is no greater gift you can leave for future generations than the promise of clean water, fresh air, and preserved open space.

 

At The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, we are committed to enduring conservation. This means the lands, waters, forests, and farms we save today are managed and protected in perpetuity. By including The Land Conservancy in your will or living trust, you provide for your loved ones while ensuring your passion for the land becomes a permanent part of the communities we call home.

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Why Join the Legacy Giving Circle?

The Legacy Giving Circle is an honorary society celebrating those who have made a lifetime commitment to our mission. By joining, you become a “game-changer,” providing the vital financial bedrock that allows us to act with lightning speed when precious, vulnerable land suddenly becomes at risk.

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Your future commitment can have an immediate impact right now.

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The $1,000 Challenge: Impact Today for a Greener Tomorrow

Thanks to the visionary generosity of two dedicated couples, we have launched a special challenge to grow our Circle and accelerate our work.

• The Challenge: For every supporter who notifies us that they have included The Land Conservancy in their estate plans, our challengers will donate $1,000 immediately to our current land protection projects.

• The Result: By simply documenting your intent today, you unlock "real-time" funding to save New Jersey’s most at-risk landscapes right now.

 

To trigger the $1,000 match and join the Legacy Giving Circle: 

1. Download and complete our Bequest Intention Form.

2. Return it via mail or email to our development team.

3. Wear your complimentary Legacy Pin with pride, knowing you’ve protected New Jersey’s land twice over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Join the Circle

Securing the future of the Garden State is easier than you might think. Whether you are adding a simple codicil to an existing will or naming us as a beneficiary of an IRA or life insurance policy, your legacy can start today. There are a wide range of gift options that qualify for the Bequest Challenge:

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1. Simple Bequests

This is the most common qualifying gift. It involves naming the organization in your will or living trust.

• Specific Bequest: Leaving a set dollar amount (e.g., $10,000).

• Residuary Bequest: Leaving a percentage of what remains in your estate after other obligations are met (e.g., 10% of the residue).

• Other real assets of virtually any type.

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2. Beneficiary Designations

These are often the easiest to set up because they do not require changing a will; you simply update a form with your account custodian.

• Donor Advised Funds (DAFS): Designate what happens to remaining funds after death. Charities can get a lump payment or regular distributions, or another person or charity can take over as the "advisor" who suggests where those charitable funds go.

• Retirement Accounts: Naming the nonprofit as a beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), or 403(b).

• Life Insurance: Designating the organization as a beneficiary of a policy.

• Financial Accounts: Using "Payable on Death" (POD) or "Transfer on Death" (TOD) designations on bank or brokerage accounts.

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3. Life Income Gifts (Irrevocable)

These are "blended" gifts where you give an asset now but receive income from it for the rest of your life.

• Charitable Gift Annuities (CGA): A contract where you trade an asset for a fixed lifetime payment stream.

• Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT): A trust that pays you income for a term of years, with the remainder going to the charity.

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4. Other Assets

• Real Estate: Leaving a home, farm, or land through a retained life estate or a will.

• Business Interests: Bequeathing shares in a closely held company.

 

 

Let’s Start a Conversation

To learn more about the Legacy Giving Circle or the details of the $1,000 challenge, please reach out to us. We are here to help you match your philanthropic goals with the needs of New Jersey’s environment.

Amber Ray, Vice President of Development, can be reached at (973) 957-7195 or aray@tlc-nj.org.

 

Note: We recommend consulting with your financial and legal advisors when making these important decisions for the future.