Make the most of your appreciated stock gift by using these 3 easy steps.

1. Send the following language to your stockbroker : I would like to transfer # of shares: ___________. Name of stock: ____________________________________

to LightHawk, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with which I am associated. (Federal ID #84-0852104)

The transfer should be made from Account number: _________________________

Account name:  _______________________________

To the following: Vanguard, For Benefit Of: LightHawk, DTC number: 0062, Account Number: 85654498

2. Notify LightHawk at [email protected] or (970) 797-9355. LightHawk’s policy is to sell stock donations upon receipt; your notification will allow us to do this promptly.

3. Receive your acknowledgment letter and enjoy the tax deduction, knowing LightHawk will put your investment to work to make a difference for conservation.

Whether you are making an outright gift or a planned gift, LightHawk welcomes many types of assets. Options include cash, publicly traded securities, non-publicly traded assets, real estate, retirement plans, life insurance policies, and other possibilities. 

• Cash
• Gifts from Donor Advised Funds
• Publicly Traded Securities
• Real Estate
• Retirement Plan Gifts
•  Life Insurance
• Personal Property

A bequest is a gift from your estate—a transfer of cash, securities, or other property made through your estate plans. You can make a bequest to LightHawk by including language in your will or living trust leaving a portion of your estate to the university, or by designating LightHawk as a beneficiary of your retirement account or life insurance policy.

Remembering LightHawk with a bequest from your estate will help sustain and strengthen the our conservation initiatives in years to come. Some of the advantages of creating a bequest include:

·      A bequest costs nothing now, yet gives you the satisfaction of knowing you have provided for LightHawk in the future

·      You retain control of and use of your assets during your lifetime

·      You may modify your bequest if your circumstances change

·      Gifts to LightHawk from your estate are exempt from federal estate taxes

·      If you let LightHawk know of your plans, we will be able to thank you now and recognize you as a member of our Legacy Society.

Bequests are gifts left in your will. Setting up a bequest is very easy to do. One sentence in your will can make a lifetime of difference. To leave a gift in your will, simply share this sentence with your attorney or financial planner: “I bequeath $________ or ________% of my estate to LightHawk, PO Box 2751, Grand Junction, CO 81502.

Naming LightHawk as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy allows you to leave a legacy of conservation and reduce estate taxes. It allows you to make larger gifts than you might otherwise afford, while generating current tax benefits.

Please consider letting us know if you have included LightHawk in your estate or financial plans by filling out our Planned Gift Notification Form.  We realize that many people prefer to keep their bequest and planned giving intentions private, but we would love to be able to acknowledge your gift in a way that best honors your intentions.

This form is non-binding and strictly confidential- unless you give us permission to publicly acknowledge your generosity. We collect this information in order to build momentum and provide inspiration for others – powerful leverage for our planned giving program which makes your gift even more meaningful.

If you have already made a gift, or want more information about becoming a Legacy Donor to LightHawk, please contact our Chief Executive Officer at (970) 797-9355.

A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes. Many individuals use charitable trusts to leave all or a portion of their estate to charity at the end of their life, both for philanthropic purposes and for certain tax benefits.

There are two basic types of charitable trusts. The first is a “lead” trust, where the charity is paid first, and the remainder goes to beneficiaries or back to the donor. The second is a “remainder” trust, where the charity is paid last, after other beneficiaries have received payments. Payments may be fixed amount, or a percentage of principal. Depending on the size,  of the trust, this may translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars in estate and income tax savings.

There are a variety of trust and annuity arrangements that can benefit you and LightHawk. All have tax benefits, some provide lifetime income to the donor or designated individual, while others provide support to LightHawk for a period of time with the remainder going to heirs.

You can make a very meaningful gift simply by naming LightHawk as beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other retirement plan. Giving retirement assets in this way is quite easy. Just contact the institution holding your retirement plan, request a change of beneficiary form, fill the form out completely and return. (LightHawk, PO Box 2751, Grand Junction, CO 81502, Tax ID: 84-0852104). Typically naming a beneficiary in this way does not require drafting or amending a will or trust.

The tax advantage stems from the fact that most retirement plans (other than Roth IRAs) are subject to income taxes—and possibly estate taxes—if left to an individual beneficiary; however, a charity that is named as the beneficiary does not pay income or estate taxes on the distribution. Thus, the full value of what is distributed can be used by LightHawk as a gift from your estate.