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Ways To Give

Gifts of Cash

Outright gifts to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation may be made in the form of cash. A cash gift carries a federal income tax deduction of up to 50 percent of adjusted gross income. When cash gifts exceed 50 percent of adjusted gross income in any one-year, the excess may be carried forward for up to five years. A charitable gift may be deductible from state as well as federal income tax further enhancing cost savings. The advice of your legal counsel should be obtained in all gift considerations.

Gifts of Appreciated Securities

Contribution of appreciated securities, held long-term (those securities owned for more than 12 months), eliminates the tax on capital gains and provides a charitable deduction based on the current fair market value of the securities. Allowable federal income tax deduction in gifting securities is limited to 30 percent of adjusted gross income for that year. Excess may be carried forward for up to five additional years. Securities may also fund a life income arrangement, bypassing or minimizing capital gains tax and generating an immediate income tax deduction, as well as regular quarterly payments. It is important to note that gifts of appreciated assets, under the tax law passed in January 1993, are no longer subject to The Alternative Minimum Tax.

Outright gifts of cash or marketable securities are encouraged as the most immediately beneficial to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation.

Gifts of Closely Held Stock

(Family-Held Business)

If you give closely held stock to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation, you can avoid the capital gains tax on the appreciation of the stock and obtain an immediate income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the gift. This deduction is limited to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income in that year. However, you may carry over, for up to five additional years, the deductibility on contributions that qualify under the 30 percent limitation rule.

Life Insurance

Should you have a life insurance policy that has outlived its original purposes, you might wish to consider putting the money to work for the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation. You can amend the existing policy so that the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation is named owner and irrevocable beneficiary; or you can take a policy on which you have paid some of the premiums and give it, claiming an income tax deduction on the present value of the policy (close to the cash surrender value) at the time the gift is made. In this situation, you can also continue to pay the premiums and claim continuing tax deductions, or you may decide to make additional outright gifts over and above your annual gifts to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation, and be eligible for income tax deduction.

Gifts of Real Estate

Gifts of real estate can generate significant tax benefits, and help avoid estate settlement problems. The gift may be a home or vacation property, a farm or ranch, a commercial building, subdivision lots, or undeveloped land. The entire property or a fractional interest (part of the property) may be given.

Individual financial needs and goals will determine the method most appropriate.

  • An Outright Gift deeds the property to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation.
  • A Retained Life Income Plan sells gifted property to fund a Charitable Remainder Trust with the income going to you and, if desired, a second beneficiary for life. Ultimately, the assets of the trust pass to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation. An income tax deduction is realized when the gift is made.
  • A Retained Life Tenancy Gift transfers ownership of a personal residence, vacation property, farm, or ranch to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation, but leaves the right to use the property for lifetime. A charitable income tax deduction is granted when the gift is made. Ultimately, the property goes to the organization.
  • A Charitable Lead Trust sets aside income-producing property, generates income for a period of time to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation and finally transfers property to your children or grandchildren with significant tax savings. This technique is especially valuable for minimizing the gift and estate tax cost of passing to heirs real estate that will increase in value.

Gift Arrangements

The following gift arrangements may be used for gifts to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Foundation. Our staff are prepared to discuss these options in general terms with our donors. However, donors are advised to consult with their accountants and tax attorneys in determining which gift options are most suitable for each donor.

Life Income Trusts

A trust arrangement enables you to make a major gift to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation during your lifetime and receive the income from cash, securities or other property given. The income from these trusts is available to you, or a named income beneficiary, during your lifetime and if desired, for the lifetime of a second income beneficiary. At the time you give, you will receive an immediate charitable deduction on your income tax (with carry forward for five years) and capital gain is avoided.

Charitable Lead Trust

You can make a significant contribution to a charitable lead trust during your lifetime, managed by your named fiduciary trustee, to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation and at the same time pass assets on to future generations. The lead trust generates an income stream from assets, placed in trust, which is directed to the institution for a period of years. This dependable, annual income allows the institution to continue and expand programs in the present, while designating to your heirs the trust assets at end of term. A gift to a charitable lead trust may enable a donor to make a large, deferred gift to both the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation and his or her heirs at a very low gift and/or estate tax cost.

Gift and estate taxes, as a result of making this gift, are markedly less than would be the case if the same assets were transferred either during a lifetime or by bequest.

Gift Annuities

A Charitable Gift Annuity promises future ownership of assets to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation while you retain a source of income for life. You make a gift of cash, stock, or other assets to the institution, in exchange for a guaranteed income for life. Income may be paid to two life beneficiaries. Annual fixed income payment amount is determined by age(s) at the time the gift is made and the amount of the assets given.

A gift annuity qualifies you for a charitable income tax deduction in the year of the gift. Establishing a gift annuity to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Foundation requires a minimum gift of $5,000, or more.

Bequests: Gifts By Will

A bequest is not subject to federal, estate, or state inheritance taxes. The value of the bequest is deductible in determining the taxable estate, and there is no limit on the amount of the deduction. Whether a donor is writing a will for the first time, revising an existing will, or adding a codicil, an attorney should always be consulted to determine the type of bequest best suited to estate plans.

Bequests may be written in absolute dollar amounts, as a percentage of estate value, contingent upon other terms or circumstances, or as a residual of an estate.

Additonal information on planned giving may be obtained at: http://www.endowmontana.org/links.html

*Donate to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Foundation
and help us preserve the magic that is Montana!
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Foundation
P.O. Box 200701 • Helena, MT 59620-0701
406.444.6759
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