Audubon Missouri: Support

Regardless of your age or income, you can benefit from financial and estate planning. Philanthropy can be an important tool in your planning strategy. Audubon offers several gift arrangements through which you can invest in Audubon’s mission now when you can enjoy the satisfaction of such a decision, while you receive secure lifetime income, an attractive rate of return, and substantial tax savings.

It is truly a winning arrangement, for you and for the natural world. You win by receiving secure income at an attractive rate of return and substantial tax savings. Our natural world wins because you will be making an eventual gift to Audubon – one of the most effective organizations dedicated to protecting birds, other wildlife, and habitat at the local and global level.

Make a Bequest to Audubon Missouri
A bequest in your will is often the most direct and most significant way to make a planned gift to Audubon Missouri. The type of bequest depends on individual circumstances but may take the form of specified amounts of cash, securities, life insurance, real estate or other property.

Another option is to bequeath a percentage of your estate to Audubon Missouri along with other beneficiaries, or to give the residual after other bequests have been fulfilled. If you are interested in updating your will or adding a codicil to include Audubon Missouri as a beneficiary please consult with your attorney.

I bequeath to the National Audubon Society, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, with its principal offices located at 700 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, the sum of $_____________(or ____% of my residuary estate) for the ongoing environmental conservation and education programs conducted by its Missouri State Office.

Additional Information for Your Attorney
Legal name: National Audubon Society, Inc.
Headquarters: 700 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Tax ID #: 13-1624102
The National Audubon Society is a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization as described in sections 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) and 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Lillian Annette Rowe was a New Jersey teacher who never dreamed that she would someday play an important role in protecting birds. Ms. Rowe included a modest bequest to Audubon in her will that enabled the National Audubon Society to purchase land along Nebraska’s Platte River. The Platte River is an essential “refueling stop” for 80% of the world’s population of migrating Sandhill Cranes and dozens of other species of waterfowl. This land was the initial purchase of what was to become the Lillian Annette Rowe Sanctuary. Each spring thousands of visitors come to Rowe to rejoice in the sight of the first steps of the crane mating dances and the sound of ten thousand cranes cooing and trilling as they return to their roosts on the river. This is one of the world’s great wildlife gatherings.

Lillian Annette Rowe’s story illustrates how important bequests have been to the National Audubon Society. For almost a century, these gifts have helped Audubon purchase wildlife sanctuaries, build nature centers, open field offices, and conduct environmental education programs for adults and schoolchildren. Your bequest to Audubon Missouri ensures a measure of immortality in that you will be investing in the only thing that is truly timeless – our natural world.

Gifts of Life Insurance
If you no longer need as much life insurance as you did when you purchased your policy, you may designate Audubon Missouri as a beneficiary. At the time of death, life insurance policies designated to Audubon Missouri are tax-deductible and the estate tax is reduced by the value of the policy. You may also donate the policy to Audubon and receive an immediate income tax deduction.

Retirement Plans
Friends of Audubon are often surprised to learn that they can use their retirement plan assets to make a gift to Audubon Missouri. The easiest way is to make Audubon Missouri the beneficiary of all or a portion of your IRA or other qualified retirement plan.

If you name someone other than your spouse or a charitable organization as the beneficiary of your retirement plan at your death, the assets may be subject to multiple taxes including estate and income taxes. Your heirs may be left with less than 25 cents on the dollar from your plan.

This tax ‘bite’ makes retirement plans one of the most tax disadvantaged assets to pass on to heirs, but provide one of the best tax benefits to you in making a gift to Audubon Missouri. Invest in Audubon Missouri and let the benefits flock to you!

Alternatives to a Bequest can pay you Lifetime Income and Save Taxes
You can support Audubon Missouri with a tax-advantaged gift that pays you or a loved one income for life. You can give a variety of assets including:

Creating a future gift for Audubon Missouri and directing how your gift will be used

Audubon has been entering into life income gift agreements for over twenty-five years. We have over $6,3000,000 in annuities, and over $10,000,000 in unitrusts. State Street Bank and Trust Company in Boston, Massachusetts professionally manages Audubon’s charitable assets. State Street is one of the largest managers of charitable gift assets in the country, and has provided excellent service to Audubon donors for many years. Its clients include many major universities, and several of our sister environmental organizations.

By making a life-income gift, you would help yourself and Audubon Missouri’s protection of the natural world for future generations. You can secure a reliable income with an attractive rate of return and substantial tax savings. After your lifetime, the funds remaining from your gift will be distributed to Audubon Missouri to help protect birds, other wildlife, and their habitats here in Missouri. The participants in our life income gift program enjoy a deep sense of satisfaction. Many tell us that their gifts are a continuation of a lifelong commitment to Audubon and its principles. Audubon offers gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. [Minimums: $10,000 and age 50.]

Charitable Gift Annuities
A charitable gift annuity is a simple agreement between you and Audubon by which Audubon pays you and/or another beneficiary a fixed annual income for life. Part of your income may be tax-free, increasing the overall return to you, or taxed at the more favorable capital gains rate.

When you establish an annuity, you are entitled to an immediate federal income tax deduction for a portion of your gift. With a gift of appreciated stock or other marketable securities, you can avoid the 20 to 28 percent capital gains tax. You can also realize significant estate tax savings.

Charitable Remainder Unitrusts
Charitable remainder unitrusts also enable you to contribute to Audubon while providing an income for yourself and/or another beneficiary for life or a term of years. This individually managed trust may be tailored to suit your objectives: you may build a retirement account, generate a higher income from assets you currently own, or provide for your spouse, family members, or other beneficiaries.

When you establish a unitrust, you can receive an immediate federal Income tax deduction for a portion of your gift. With a gift of Appreciated property, you can avoid the 20 to 28 percent capital gains tax. You also can realize significant estate tax savings.

The George Bird Grinnell Society
Please let us know if you have included Audubon Missouri in your estate plans, so that we may thank you and add your name to The George Bird Grinnell Society. Membership is also offered to those individuals who make a life income gift. Members of this honorary group receive an Audubon calendar each year, recognition in our annual report, and occasional invitations to special events.

For more information about these tax-wise giving tools contact Ken Buchholz, Audubon Missouri:

Ken Buchholz
Director of Development
Audubon Missouri
7127 Cornell Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63130
Bus: (314) 368-7639.
You may also email us at kbuchholz@audubon.org