How Do I?

A woman facing the camera smiles with her arms on the top of a shovel.

This summary chart will give you a quick overview of many of the planned giving options available to you. Another page to consider if you are exploring Planned Giving for the first time is our Planned Giving factors. Please keep in mind that your individual circumstances need to be considered before taking any action. As with all tax and estate planning, please consult your attorney or estate specialist.

If your goal is to	Then you can	Your benefits may include
Make a quick and easy gift.	Simply write a check now, or give through our secure online process.	An income tax deduction and immediate impact for us.
Avoid tax on capital gains.	Contribute long-term appreciated stock or other securities.	A charitable deduction plus no capital gains tax.
Defer a gift until after your lifetime.	Put a bequest in your will (give us cash, specific property, or a share of the residue of your estate).	Your donations are fully exempt from federal estate tax.
Avoid the twofold taxation on IRA or other employee benefit plans.	Name us as the beneficiary of the remainder of the retirement assets after your lifetime.	It lets you leave your family other assets that carry less tax liability.
Give your personal residence or farm, but retain life use.	Create a charitable gift of future interest, called a retained life estate.	It gives you tax advantages plus use of the property.
Make a large gift with little cost to you.	Contribute a life insurance policy you no longer need.	Current and possibly future income tax deductions.
Secure fixed payments for life while avoiding market risks.	Create a charitable remainder annuity trust.	It gives you tax benefits and often boosts your rate of return.
Give income from an asset for a period of years but retain the asset for yourself or your heirs.	Create a charitable lead trust.	Asset is returned to the donor or heirs with federal estate tax savings and income tax deductions for income donated.
Payments for life with a hedge against inflation over the long term.	Create a charitable remainder unitrust.	Variable payments for life plus tax benefits.
Make a revocable gift during your lifetime.	Name us as the beneficiary of assets in a living trust.	Full control of the trust terms for your lifetime.

How is the Society Funded?

Your generosity helps ESA meet the challenges of the future and inspire a new generation of leaders with the skills to shape the agenda for ecological science through the next century.

Our Fund for the Future currently has three primary giving opportunities.

Two are focused on development of a new generation of ecologists. Fund for the Future supports the award-winning SEEDS program and the Les Real and Jim Brown Student Travel Fund for students to attend ESA’s annual meeting. Your contribution allows students to take advantage of new opportunities which forward ESA’s role as the advocate for ecological science in America.

Contribute to our general Fund for the Future or select from any of our targeted donation funds and endowments linked to below.