Miles Glacier, Copper River, Alaska © Pete Lavigne

Bequests & Planned Giving

Where there's a will, there's a way. By including The Rivers Foundation of the Americas in your will you could protect a river for years.

The Leave a Legacy Program

The Rivers Foundation of the Americas is pleased to announce our participation in the Leave a Legacy Program. The goal of the Leave a Legacy Program is simple: A campaign to help educate people from all walks of life as to the possibility and importance of making a charitable bequest in their will to the charity of their choice. It is not to highlight any one nonprofit in our area.

We have all heard stories of how a charitable bequest benefited a nonprofit in our area. We want you to know that the Rivers Foundation of the Americas can receive and will benefit from these types of gifts. The more people who become aware of this valuable type of giving the more it can impact the nonprofits like us.

Americans are very generous people. Annually, we donate billions to charities - and the amount increases about 10% each year. However, less than 6% of this donated money comes through bequests from wills or estate gifts. In the years ahead, over $10 trillion nationally will be inherited by middle-aged children from their parents. Both these heirs and charities can benefit from a charitable gift to nonprofits. Such gifts provide a decrease to ultimate Estate Tax collected by the government.

Many of us are able to give generously of our time and sometimes of our talents and treasure during our lifetime. With a thoughtful, well-planned gift such as a bequest by will, we can discover ways to make a significant gift to charities like ours. Gifts may be in the form of money, property, investments or a portion of an estate. Tax benefits for you, your estate, and ultimately your heirs may be a result of this type of gift. We encourage you to consult your attorney, accountant or financial advisor to help determine the type of gift that is right for you.

To ensure that your gift reverts to the Rivers Foundation of the Americas, we suggest the following wording be included in your Will or any Trust document:

“I devise to (or Upon the Dissolution of this Trust) (or make as Beneficiary) Rivers Foundation of the Americas, an Oregon Non-Profit Corporation, IRS EID #: 93-1310665 the sum of $____ (or the __% of the Estate) (or all the rest, residue and remainder of my Estate or Trust) to be used for carrying out its mission. (or specify a bequest to one or more of our three River CPR(tm) endowment funds: Conservation Endowment, Preservation Endowment, Restoration Endowment)”

Structuring an Estate Plan

The most important part of an Estate Plan is your own preparedness before writing or updating an actual plan. A poorly conceived Estate Plan can lead to added taxes, unhappy heirs and could possibly eliminate your charitable intents, such as a bequest/provision to the Rivers Foundation of the Americas.

Some basic rules of Estate Planning:

1. Choose Your Advisors. Retain advisors familiar with and who can clearly explain changing IRS regulations. A lawyer, CPA or Financial Planner specializing in estate and tax law should be able to explain the ramifications of types of Planned Gifts to reduce your estate taxes and benefit charities you support in easy to understand terms.
2. Come Prepared. Have your accounts and paperwork in order. Failure to give your advisor updated records - assets, accounts, life insurance, and personal property of value can result in unclaimed funds that would benefit your heirs and charities of your choice.
3. Give Thought on the Executor. Choose a Personal Representative that you trust and that will be able to complete the task of inventory, managing and acting in your best interest. Name an alternate also, in case that person cannot serve when time comes to execute your Estate Plan.
4. Anticipate Problems. Conflicts may arise from your Estate Plan. Leave directives to sell your personal property rather than have squabbles between your heirs on who should receive what items. Seek advise from your advisor on common difficulties.
5. Keep it simple. Your Estate Plan can be streamlined by thoughtful planning and guidance from professionals familiar with roadblocks that have happened to other poorly planned Estates.
6. Leave a Legacy. If you care about the Rivers Foundation of the Americas, plan to help "Endow An Annual Gift" to us in your Estate Plan. Simply multiply by '20' the annual donation you would like us to receive and make that provision or Bequest in your plan.

We encourage you to consult with your insurance, legal, or financial advisor on the feasibility of any type of Estate Plan that would benefit both you, your heirs and the Rivers Foundation of the Americas.

Updating Your Will

Once you have established your Estate Plan, it is tempting to file it away until it is needed. Instead, your Will, letters of instructions and documents need to be reviewed over the years. These plans should change to accommodate changes in your family, marital relationships, your financial assets and changing laws.

• Why Do I Need A Will? Making a Will shows awareness of the importance of proper planning. Your loved ones' needs can be met in ways best suited to each individual. Taxes and estate settlement costs also can be minimized with a valid and current Will.

  Statistics show that almost half of all Americans die without valid Wills. The unfortunate result is often wasted time and money for the surviving families. If you die without a valid Will or Estate Plan any property you own in your name is distributed according to state laws. Your Will lets you expand beyond this circle of relatives to include designated gifts to particular family members or friends and to make a charitable bequest to non-profits such as the Rivers Foundation of the Americas.

• When Should I Update My Will? Your Will assures that your wishes are followed when you die. If your family increases, or decreases, or your financial assets change, it is important that your Will reflect the current situation. Ideally, your Will and Estate Plan should be reviewed each year. It is a wise habit to ask your attorney to assist you in this regular process. You may need to update your affairs more frequently if your family, finances or charitable wishes change.

  No matter who you verbally tell of your new intentions about how you wish your funeral arrangement, financial assets and estate handled, it will make no difference to the probate court.

  Sometimes your personal situations are dramatically changed, but your family or beneficiaries can have their situation change. A regular review of your Will and your designated recipients can adjust for others life situations changing. A review can also be viewed with the changes in estate taxes that can dramatically affect the total worth of your assets passed through your Will.

• Is It Hard To Update My Will? Updating your Will need not be a time-consuming or costly process. If often requires only the addition of an amendment to your existing Will.

  The amendment to your Will is called a Codicil. It is a supplement to your Will that can modify, further explain, add, delete or revoke provisions in your valid Will. A Codicil is a legal document and should be written by your attorney in accordance with the state laws. If you need to adjust many parts of your Will according to your new wishes, interests and family situation, it may be best to have a new Will drafted. Both Codicils and new Will documents should be drafted by your attorney.

• How Can I Include Rivers Foundation of the Americas in My Will? Charitable bequests by Will can be an important source of help to Rivers Foundation of the Americas. There are several ways you may include when you update your Will:

  1. An outright bequest can be made for either a set amount or a percentage of your estate or percentage of any remainder after other distributions.

  2. Rivers Foundation of the Americas can receive your household furnishings or other valuables.

  3. Gifts by Will can be designated for a particular endowment fund at Rivers Foundation of the Americas, or left as unrestricted and used for the greatest need.

  4. To ensure that your gift reverts to RFA, we suggest that the following wording in your Will or Trust document:

     “I devise to (or Upon the Dissolution of this Trust) (or make as Beneficiary) Rivers Foundation of the Americas, an Oregon Non-Profit Corporation, IRS EID #: 93-1310665, the sum of $____ (or the __% of the Estate) (or all the rest, residue and remainder of my Estate or Trust) to be used for carrying out its mission. the sum of $____ (or the __% of the Estate) (or all the rest, residue and remainder of my Estate or Trust) to be used for carrying out its mission.”

Life Income Gifts

• Charitable Remainder Trusts: A charitable remainder trust is a separate trust established by a donor with a trustee of the donor's choosing. Two highly structured plans are describe in the Tax Reform Act of 1969: the Charitable Remainder Unitrust and the Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust. In each case, the donor make an irrevocable transfer of property to the trust; the donor retains the right to receive income and/or create an income interest for another person; the donor receives a partial income tax deduction in the year of the gift; the donor realizes no immediate capital gain tax on the transfer to or subsequent sale by the trust of appreciated property; and, at the end of the trust, usually at the death of the last income beneficiary, the remaining trust assets are added to or used to add to endowment funds RFA.

• Charitable Lead Trust: Under a charitable lead trust, the initial income beneficiary is RFA, but its interest terminates at a specified time and the trust continues for the benefit of or terminates in favor of one or more individuals, such as the donor's children or grandchildren.

• Charitable Gift Annuity: A charitable gift annuity is a contract between the donor and RFA. The donor transfers property (cash or marketable securities) to RFA in exchange for a fixed dollar payment to be received quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. The donor can name him/herself sole annuitant or designate another annuitant, either solely, concurrently, or consecutively. The donor may designate that, upon the death of the last annuitant, the unused portion be added to RFA's endowment funds.

Legal Requirements

If you intend to make a gift to RFA, please notify Peter Lavigne, President and CEO by calling (503) 274-7704. If necessary, we will talk with you and your legal advisor to structure and complete the type of gift that will benefit both you and our services and programs.

To ensure that your Planned Gift reverts to the Rivers Foundation of the Americas, please use the following designation language on any document:

1. Legal Name: Rivers Foundation of the Americas, Inc.

2. Tax Id Number: 93-1310665.