Planned Giving

 

What is a planned gift? Simply put, it is a gift made through your estate–either in your will or by designating the Conservancy as the beneficiary of an account. You retain control of your assets during your lifetime, allowing you flexibility if your needs should change. Making a gift to the Conservancy can reduce the amount of your estate subject to taxation. To honor the generous gift that made the Conservancy’s Mt. Pleasant farm possible, individuals who designate the Conservancy in their estate plans will be included in the Ruth and Frances Brown Society.

For more information about including the Howard County Conservancy in your estate please contact us. Gifts to the Howard County Conservancy are deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Please consult your tax adviser for more details.  Download our full brochure.

Bequests

One of the most common ways to make a planned gift is through your will. You can specify an amount or a percentage of your estate or a percentage of the remainder of your estate. In addition to making gifts of cash or securities, you also can bequeath real estate. For your convenience, the Conservancy can provide you with sample language that you can share with your attorney as a starting point.

Types of Bequests

  • Specific Bequest–designates a set amount that will be given from your estate
  • Percentage of Estate–designates a set share or percentage of your estate
  • Residuary Bequests–either all or a percentage of the remaining estate after all other directives are satisfied
  • Contingent Bequest–the bequest occurs only if the named beneficiary(ies) do not survive you Most people make their bequests unrestricted to allow the Conservancy to use the funds where they are needed most when received. If you wish to designate your bequest for a specific purpose, please discuss this with Conservancy staff prior to making the designation to ensure that your bequest fits with our mission.

Beneficiary Designations

The easiest way to include the Howard County Conservancy in your estate is by designating us as either the primary or contingent beneficiary of an account, such as a bank account, brokerage account, IRA or retirement account. The process is simple. Just request paperwork to change the beneficiary from the company that holds the account.

For more information including sample wording for your will, please contact Lauren Nelson at 410/465-8877 or via email.