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Leaving a Legacy in Your Will

 
NICHES Land Trust was founded with that hope that natural areas and native habitats could be protected for generations to come. Today, we continue that legacy and invite you to consider a planned gift so we can continue conserving land for the future.

We are grateful to the community members who had the foresight to create a plan to protect the environment in Northcentral Indiana. August is National Make-A-Will Month, which offers a offers a gentle reminder of the importance of planning your legacy. Through gift planning, you have an opportunity to ensure that NICHES Land Trust can continue to protect, restore, and sustain nature for generations to come. There are many way to include NICHES Land Trust in your estate.

While we strongly suggest you consult your personal legal or financial advisor, there are also online resources you can consider. For example, our friends at the Land Trust Alliance partner with the online platform FreeWill that can guide individuals through planned and stock gifts, including revocable living trusts.

Ways to Give

• Bequests
  Making a bequest has no out-of-pocket cost, and the value of the bequest can reduce your taxable estate. In your Will, you can leave a parcel of land, a specific sum or a percentage of your estate; which creates a bequest in proportion to the value of your estate. Sample Bequest Language:
  I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to NICHES Land Trust, Inc., a non-profit corporation in Indiana, for its general purposes ____ dollars or ____ percentage of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate.
  
  
• Charitable Remainder Trust
  A Charitable Remainder Trust allows you to make contributions to the trust and be eligible for a partial tax deduction, based on the CRT’s assets that will pass to charitable beneficiaries. You can receive interest income for your lifetime (or a fixed period of time) and designate the remainder to NICHES Land Trust.
  
  
• Revocable Living Trust
  Like a bequest in a Will, a Living Trust is created with your legal counsel. Unlike a Will, the Living Trust is not probated; this protects the privacy of your last wishes.
  
  
• Life Insurance and Retirement Plans
  Naming NICHES Land Trust as a beneficiary of an existing or new policy makes a generous bequest at minimal cost. When you also name NICHES as the owner of the policy, you receive an immediate charitable deduction and premium payments are deductible. You can name NICHES as a beneficiary of your IRA through a cash bequest or a Charitable Remainder Trust.

"Spending time at NICHES properties has given us much joy. NICHES brings together dedicated people of all ages with a common purpose: restore and preserve the natural landscapes that characterize our Hoosier heritage. We are grateful for the opportunity to support the missions of NICHES and by doing so contribute our small share to these important projects and lessen our negative impact on our planet Earth."
— Lenard Miller and Dianne Talbot

Your gift shows a commitment to local conservation, and your legacy will provide opportunities for others to experience the wonders of the natural world. Thank you for considering a life-planning gift to NICHES Land Trust. If you would like more information about making a planned gift, please contact NICHES Land Trust's Development Director, Ann Fields Monical at (765) 423-1605 or by email.

 

Note: The information provided above is not intended to take the place of counsel from legal and/or financial advisors.