Colorado’s Lasting Legacy
We created the Centennial Society to honor and recognize those who remember Colorado Open Lands in their estate plans. There are many ways to do this. Some have named Colorado Open Lands in their will or living trust, while others have named us as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, IRA or charitable trust.
Many prioritize family and loved ones first, only providing for Colorado Open Lands once those needs are met. Some options preserve maximum control over your assets during life, while others feature powerful tax and financial benefits as part of your philanthropy.
There is significant flexibility in estate planning and it is our pleasure to support you and your advisors in creating a gift that meets your charitable and financial goals.
Every estate gift, large and small, helps strengthen Colorado Open Lands in permanent ways. We would love to help you discover how easy an estate gift can be.
To learn more, please explore the menu below. And if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Alyssa Acosta at aacosta@coloradoopenlands.org or 303-988-2373 ext. 216. All inquiries are held in strict confidence.
Program Designated Gifts – Gifts with this designation are typically given in support of a particular program or project of Colorado Open Lands. This designation is most effective when the program selected is a broad, core strategy of our overall mission such as conservation, stewardship, outreach, or administration.
Endowment Designated Gifts – This gift designation helps build and strengthen a permanent endowment for Colorado Open Lands as it protects our state’s most treasured resources – our land and water. Endowment assets are invested in perpetuity, with annual earnings made available to support our efforts.
Colorado Open Lands is happy to help you and your advisors identify the appropriate designation(s) that best fulfill your philanthropic goals.
Retirement Plan – You can name Colorado Open Lands as a beneficiary of your IRA or company retirement plan. To include Colorado Open Lands, simply request a “beneficiary change” form from your IRA custodian or HR department, complete the form, and then return it according to the instructions provided. Beneficiary change forms are often available online. Life Insurance – You can name Colorado Open Lands as the beneficiary of a new or existing life insurance policy. To include Colorado Open Lands, simply request a “beneficiary change” form from your life insurance company, complete the form, and return it according to the instructions provided. Again, most companies make beneficiary change forms available online. Charitable Gift Annuity – A gift annuity is a simple contract in which Colorado Open Lands agrees to pay you (and/or another person) an income for life, in exchange for a gift you make today. Charitable Remainder Trust – In the right situations, a charitable remainder trust can provide powerful financial, tax, and estate planning benefits. You donate assets into trust for the eventual benefit of Colorado Open Lands. In the interim, the trust pays income to you and/or your designated income beneficiaries. Charitable Lead Trust – A charitable lead trust can provide support for Colorado Open Lands, while transferring assets in the future to your heirs with little or no gift or estate tax. Retained Life Estate – You can donate a residence or property to Colorado Open Lands and still retain the right to live there for the rest of your life. For more information about any of these options, please contact Alyssa Acosta at 303-988-2373 or aacosta@coloradoopenlands.org. All inquiries are held in confidence. There is never an obligation to complete any gift. The future is uncertain. However, you can still create a planned gift today while simultaneously retaining control over these assets for the balance of your life. Such gifts are called revocable gifts. Unless you are confident that you will not outlive your assets, a revocable planned gift is almost always the best option. These gifts are generally one of the following: By naming Colorado Open Lands in your will, living trust or as a beneficiary, you can protect yourself against an uncertain future. Should you ever need these assets, they are available. If not, your gift will come to Colorado Open Lands exactly as you desire. For more information, please contact Alyssa Acosta at aacosta@coloradoopenlands.org or 303-988-2373. Again, there are never any expectations or obligations to complete any gift. The IRS provides important tax incentives to encourage support for charitable organizations. To qualify for any given tax benefit, a gift typically must be irrevocable. Stated another way, a gift must be complete and not subject to any revocation by the donor. Clearly, an irrevocable gift only should be made after proper reflection and consultation with your legal and financial advisors. However, with proper planning, such gifts can provide important income and tax benefits for you and your heirs. Examples of these gifts include Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts and Charitable Gift Annuities. Colorado Open Lands can help you explore the benefits that may result from an irrevocable planned gift. For more information, please contact Alyssa Acosta at aacosta@coloradoopenlands.org or 303-988-2373. Again, there are never any expectations or obligations to complete any gift. It is always appropriate to consult with your professional advisors when considering an estate gift. The following information can help your advisor facilitate your desired estate gift: Legal Name: Colorado Open Lands Mission Statement: To preserve the significant open lands and natural heritage of Colorado through private and public partnerships, innovative land conservation techniques and strategic leadership. Federal Tax Identification Number: 84-0866211 Address: 1546 Cole Boulevard #200 Brokerage Information Charles Schwab & Co., Inc Our Charles Schwab Account number: 1372-3301 DTC number: #0164 Recommended Language for Bequests and Testamentary Gifts: Sample language for a specific bequest to Colorado Open Lands through your will or living trust: Sample language for a residuary bequest to Colorado Open Lands is: Beneficiary Designation A person wishing to support Colorado Open Lands through a retirement plan, IRA, or life insurance policy, should request a Beneficiary Change Form from his/her company or plan administrator. Beneficiary Change forms are typically available online. Please indicate the desired gift amount or percentage and return/submit the completed form. Other Arrangements Colorado Open Lands also encourages estate gifts through other arrangements, including Charitable Remainder and Charitable Lead Trusts. However, Colorado Open Lands is unable to serve as Trustee for these gifts. A donor who wishes to establish a Named Endowment Fund and specify the program or activity that will utilize these funds (may be subject to board approval) should contact Alyssa Acosta at aacosta@coloradoopenlands.org or 303-988-2373 for more information about their options. Typically, these funds are named in honor of the donor, his or her family, or another individual. Colorado Open Lands created the Centennial Society to honor and recognize those who remember us with an estate gift. This provides us with an opportunity to say “thank you” during a person’s life. Colorado Open Lands also recognizes that some donors prefer to remain anonymous regarding an estate gift. We honor and respect these wishes. In addition, we would appreciate the opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation for an estate gift whenever possible. In some cases, a client may allow an advisor to share his/her name with Colorado Open Lands. In others, an advisor can play a helpful role in forwarding a ‘Thank You’ letter to a client, while still preserving his/her anonymity. Please share any guidance. Colorado Open Lands places great importance on thanking people for their confidence and generosity, while respecting their wishes in every instance.
Phone: 303-988-2373
Lakewood, CO 80401 Web: www.coloradoopenlands.org
ATTN: Document Control
P.O. Box 982600
El Paso, TX 79998-2600
“I give to Colorado Open Lands, 1546 Cole Boulevard Suite 200, Lakewood, CO 80401, a Colorado non-profit corporation with Federal Tax ID # 84-0866211, the sum of $_______ [or ______% of my estate; or the property described herein]. I designate this gift for the organization’s general purposes.”
“I give to Colorado Open Lands, 1546 Cole Boulevard Suite 200, Lakewood, CO 80401, a Colorado non-profit corporation with Federal Tax ID # 84-0866211, all [or ____%] of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal. I designate this gift for the organization’s general purposes.”