LEGACY CIRCLE PROGRAM

There are different ways to make a legacy gift. We encourage interested members to talk with their financial advisors to determine which is the most beneficial and meaningful for them. Below are a few examples, as well as their potential benefits.

Gifts from Your Will or Trust (Bequests): You can name the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your will or living trust. They are easy to arrange, cost nothing during your lifetime, and the bequest remains in your control. You can change your mind at any time or modify your gift should circumstances change. 

You can also structure the bequest to leave a percentage of your estate, a specific dollar amount or item (including real estate), or the balance or residue of your estate to the Land Trust. Your bequest is entitled to an estate tax charitable deduction for the gift's total value. All that is needed is a few sentences in your will or trust.   
To include the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your will or trust please use the following language:
"The Land Trust of Santa Clara Valley, a California non-profit corporation, with Business Address of 605 Tennant Ave, Suite H, Morgan Hill CA 95037. Our taxpayer identification number is 77-0471102."

We suggest you specify that your bequest is "used in such a manner as the Board of Trustees of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, in its discretion, determine." If you prefer to restrict your bequest, the Land Trust will work with you to ensure that your wishes will be met.

Over the years, members have made gifts both small and large through their estate. Each gift is unique to the member who made it and will make a meaningful impact on our work for years to come.

Life Insurance: By naming the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your life insurance plan, you'll avoid potential estate taxes and make an extraordinary gift. The process is easy and straightforward and can be done (or undone) anytime using a "change of beneficiary" form from your insurer and without the expense of an attorney.

Retirement Assets: Naming the Land Trust as a beneficiary of your retirement plan is easy and straightforward. Designation can be done (or undone) online without the expense of an attorney. Retirement plan funds can get hit with heavy income and estate taxes if left to family members but are tax-free if left to a charity. By naming the Land Trust as the beneficiary of your retirement plan, the balance will be donated tax-free. Then you can use your will or living trust to pass other assets that are not as highly taxed to your heirs.  
​
Charitable Remainder Trusts: A charitable remainder trust allows you to make a gift while providing payments to one or more people (including yourself) for life or a term of years. It can be funded with any asset (cash, stock, real estate, or business interest). When you set up a CRT, you benefit from an income tax charitable deduction for a portion of the gift amount, and any capital gain associated with assets going into the trust are deferred or forgiven. When the trust ends, the balance remaining will be donated to the Land Trust.