Giving at a major gift level ($5,000 or more) to the West Virginia Land Trust is not a decision that can be made over night. There are many questions that you need to ask yourself, for example:

• What do I want to support?
• How can I help?
• What are my tax implications?
• What makes me want to support the WVLT?
  • A special place?
  • A memory?
  • My future generations?

If you have an interest in supporting the WVLT in a significant way, through a major gift, we would like to speak with you and hear more about your ideas. Our staff know the funding priorities of our organization and we will be able to create a giving opportunity tailored to fit your needs.

You have the ability to make a lasting impact on your home state through a planned gift. This type of charitable planning lets you support the protection on West Virginia’s special places far into the future, while providing tax and other benefits to you.

• Name the West Virginia Land Trust as a beneficiary of your will or living trust
• Name the West Virginia Land Trust as a beneficiary of your qualified retirement plan (IRA, 403(b), 401(k)
• Name the West Virginia Land Trust as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy

How it Works:
Name the West Virginia Land Trust in your will, living trust, or a beneficiary of your plans. You may designate your gift for a particular purpose that is important to you, or allow us to use the gift where the need is greatest at the time it matures. You may also indicate a set amount, a percentage or the remaining balance to benefit the West Virginia Land Trust.

Benefits:

• Your assets remain in your control during your lifetime
• You can modify your gift at any time to address changing circumstances
• You can direct your gift to a particular purpose (be sure to check with us to ensure your gift can be used as intended)
• Under current federal tax law there is no upper limit on the estate tax deduction for your charitable gifts

Please let us know if you have designated the West Virginia Land Trust in your will, so we can thank you while you are alive!

Why give stocks or mutual funds?

If you intend to make a contribution to the West Virginia Land Trust, giving shares of stock or mutual funds may allow you to take full advantage of your investment earnings by avoiding the tax on your capital gains. In addition, a gift of stock held more than one year may qualify for a charitable income tax deduction equal to the security’s full fair-market value. If you were to sell the stock to obtain cash for a charitable gift, you may be required to pay tax on your capital gains.