Ways to Give to the Greenbelt Land Trust

Over the last 15 years the Greenbelt Land Trust has been very successful in our mission to conserve significant natural areas, restore rare habitats, establish and maintain trails, and provide hands-on opportunities for our members to learn and participate in stewardship activities. With your support we can continue this important work in our community.

Year-end giving is as simple as (1) making a charitable gift, and (2) saving on your taxes. Tax laws intentionally encourage charitable giving. Because of the income tax charitable deduction, individuals who make a gift by December 31st, and itemize, may significantly reduce their income taxes for 2004. We would like to make it even easier for you with this summary on some of the best ways to give.

Now is the time to share in our common values and to look to the future. Make a donation today that will benefit both the community and your family.

Cash Donations

There is no easier way to garner a charitable deduction for 2004—and support the Greenbelt at the same time—than by simply writing a check! Make sure your envelope is post marked by December 31st to qualify as a 2004 gift (even if it is not received by us until the first week of 2005).

Credit Card

It is now possible to make a charitable donation with the click of a mouse. Simply click on this link Donate Now, it will take you to the website of Network for Good, an organization who will process and distribute your on-line credit card donation safely and securely. (Network for Good will take a 3% processing fee.)

Monthly Donation

Join the monthly donor program and contribute each month with an electronic funds transfer from your bank. Be assured that your membership to the Greenbelt is always current by automatically contributing on a monthly basis.

Workplace Giving

Make a cash donation through a charitable giving campaign at your workplace, through Earth Share of Oregon. You can participate if you work at Hewlett Packard, CH2MHill, City of Corvallis, OSU or other state or federal employees, Benton County, and First Alternative Coop.

Stock Donations

Year-end 2004 may be an excellent time to consider a charitable contribution of stock. Donations of stocks, bonds and mutual funds can be a valuable gift and can provide an income tax deduction for the full value of the donation. You can also benefit by avoiding paying capital gains taxes on the increase in value of your stock.

Members have given stock that they no longer wished to hold. The Greenbelt sold such stock and put the proceeds towards our land conservation and habitat restoration programs.

Life Income Donations

IRA

Name the Greenbelt as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k) or other retirement plan. Such a gift avoids the income tax that is otherwise due on most retirement plan funds, and provides a gift that will go towards the efforts of the Greenbelt. As a beneficiary of your IRA, the Greenbelt can receive contributions (monthly/annual) as you draw from your account, as well as the balance of the account upon your death.

Charitable Remainder Unitrust

A charitable remainder unitrust is a gift plan defined by federal tax law that allows you to provide income to yourself or others for life or a term of years while making a generous gift to the Greenbelt Land Trust. As a unitrust donor, you irrevocably transfer assets, usually cash, securities, or real estate, to a trustee of your choice (for example, the Greenbelt Land Trust or a bank trust department). By creating a charitable remainder unitrust you may receive significant tax benefits. In the year you make the donation, you can take an income tax charitable deduction. If you fund your trust with appreciated property, you can avoid or defer capital gain taxes you would have paid had you sold the asset.

Real Estate Donations

The Greenbelt accepts gifts of real property including vacation homes, rental properties, farms and commercial buildings. The proceeds from the sale of real estate will go towards our land acquisition program. These gifts can provide you with significant tax and financial advantages. If you feel the land you are donating has conservation value, we will evaluate it’s attributes with you at the time of donation.