Planned Giving to Yellowstone

By making a planned gift you are creating a lasting investment that will help preserve Yellowstone National Park forever. Planned gift opportunities, many of which are listed below, can range from bequests to donor advised funds. In addition to supporting the mission of Yellowstone Forever, a planned gift can provide substantial tax advantages, especially on gifts of stocks and real estate.

The benefits may include:

An income tax deduction
Reduced capital gains taxes
Reduced probate costs and estate taxes

Planned Giving Opportunities

Bequest

A bequest is the simplest planned gift to implement or change should you ever need the assets during your lifetime.

A gift to Yellowstone Forever in your will or living trust allows you to retain your assets during your lifetime.

A bequest may be right for you if you:

Would like to make a gift to Yellowstone Forever.
Want to retain the flexibility to change your mind.
Want continued access to your assets, in case you need it.
Are concerned about outliving your resources.

How it works:

You make Yellowstone Forever a beneficiary in your will or trust, or a designated beneficiary of your retirement plan, life insurance policy, or another asset.
Yellowstone Forever receives your gift when your estate is settled.

Drafting information

The following information is intended to help you and your attorney in drafting a bequest.

Legal Name: Yellowstone Forever
Address: 222 East Main Street, Suite 301, Bozeman, MT 59715
Tax Id#: 47-5427975
Nonprofit status: Active and in good standing

Sample language

Unrestricted Gift: A gift that can be used where the need is greatest

I give, devise, and bequeath to Yellowstone Forever, Bozeman, MT, (insert dollar amount) Dollars* to be used for its general purposes.

Residuary Bequest: Leaves any remainder after all other bequests have been paid

I give, devise, and bequeath to Yellowstone Forever, Bozeman, MT, (insert percentage amount) percent of the residue of my estate to be used for its general purposes.

Contingency Gift: Takes effect only if a primary intention can’t be met

In the event that (insert name) predeceases me, I give, devise, and bequeath his/her bequest or share to Yellowstone Forever, Bozeman, MT, to be used for its general purposes.

*Rather than leaving a dollar amount, you can include language that refers to a percentage of your estate or a description of the property you wish to give.

Beneficiary Designation

A beneficiary designation is an easy way to specify the individuals and charities you want to support by specifying the percentage of the assets you want each beneficiary to receive.

You could use this method when giving the following assets.

Retirement Assets

An alternative to a bequest gift is to designate Yellowstone Forever as the beneficiary of your retirement assets. This method is as simple as filling out a new beneficiary form from your retirement plan administrator.

Life Insurance

To use your life insurance policy to make a gift, complete and return to the insurance company a form designating that Yellowstone Forever receives all or a portion of the benefit associated with your life insurance policy. You may also transfer ownership of the policy, which will result in an immediate income tax charitable deduction and potential tax savings in the year you make the gift.

Commercial Annuity Contracts

You can name Yellowstone Forever to receive all or part of the remaining value at the end of the annuitant’s lifetime by designating it as a beneficiary on the appropriate form from the insurance company.

Bank Accounts

To direct all or a portion of what remains in a checking or savings account to Yellowstone Forever, you can fill out the appropriate beneficiary designation form provided by your bank.

Investment Accounts

You can direct your investment company to transfer to Yellowstone Forever some or all investments held in your account. Please check with your broker or agent to find out more about the process of doing this.

Unrestricted gifts give Yellowstone Forever the greatest flexibility to use funds where they are most needed. As per the Yellowstone Forever Institutional Funds and Restricted Donations Protocol, all unrestricted planned gifts will be treated as additions to the Yellowstone Forever endowment fund.

Yellowstone Forever will honor a donor’s stated intent for the use of a gift. Bequest provisions designated for a specific program or activity require additional language.

Please note that donors are strongly urged to obtain the assistance and advice of competent and independent professional advisors, including, but not limited to, tax, financial, and legal advisors in matters pertaining to their donations, including potential tax and estate planning consequences.

For clarity’s sake, Yellowstone Forever cannot serve as both the donor’s advisor, legal or otherwise, and the recipient of the donor’s donation. Further, Yellowstone Forever cannot provide legal or tax advice to donors. Donors and potential donors should not rely on any legal or tax information, conclusions, or commentary provided by Yellowstone Forever.

Additionally note that Yellowstone Forever, as the official education and fundraising partner of Yellowstone National Park, regularly engages with the National Park Service about prospective donations intended to support park priorities.