Ways to Help

Planned Giving

Ways for you to extend your giving and realize a tax advantage through Planned Giving, from legacy giving to lifetime income gifts.

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 ways to invest in Audubon's mission now when you can enjoy the satisfaction of such a decision.

Make a Bequest to Audubon Washington

A bequest in your will is often the most direct and significant way to make a planned gift to Audubon Washington. Another option is to bequeath a percentage of your estate to Audubon Washington or to give the residual to Audubon after other bequests have been fulfilled.

If you are interested in updating your will or adding a codicil to include Audubon Washington as a beneficiary, please consult with your attorney. The following sample paragraph may be helpful to your attorney:

I give the sum of $_________ (or all or _____% of the residuary of my estate), to the National Audubon Society, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation chartered under the laws of New York State, with its principal offices located at 225 Varick Street, 7th Floor, New York, New York, 10014, for its Audubon Washington state program. If Audubon Washington is no longer in existence at the time of this gift, National Audubon shall apply this gift to its national program activities.

Additional Information for Your Attorney:
Legal Name: National Audubon Society, Inc.
Headquarters: 225 Varick Street, 7th floor, New York, NY 10014
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.

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 Washington as a beneficiary. At the time of death, life insurance policies designated to Audubon Washington will reduce the taxable estate by the value of the policy. You may also donate the policy now to Audubon and receive an immediate income tax deduction.

Gifts of Retirement Plan Assets

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

Lifetime Income Gifts

You can support Audubon Washington with a tax-advantaged gift that pays you or a loved one income for life. You can give a variety of assets including cash, appreciated stocks, and other assets.

Benefits can include:

  • Option for regular income payments for you (and/or your spouse)
  • Immediate federal income tax charitable deduction
  • Eliminating or reducing capital gains tax on appreciated property
  • Reducing estate and gift taxes and probate costs
  • Creating a future gift for Audubon Washington and directing how it will be used

Audubon has entered into life income gift agreements for more than twenty-five years. We have over $6.3 million in annuities, and over $10 million 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 major universities, and several of our sister environmental organizations.

By making a life-income gift, 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 to help protect birds, other wildlife, and their habitats here in Washington.

How you can help, right now