Tax-wise giving
Charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts are all ways to give back while realizing significant tax savings. We’ve provided some simple summaries of these options below, but given the complexity of these gifts, we encourage you to contact us to find the option that works best for you.
Charitable gift annuities
Donate to the Vermont Land Trust and receive income for life
When you set up a charitable gift annuity with us, you donate cash, stock, or property worth $15,000 or more and we pay you, or a loved one, a fixed amount for the rest of your life.
You may also take a charitable income tax deduction at the time of the gift. If your gift is funded with stock or property that has increased in value, a charitable gift annuity can also limit capital gains taxes.
You must be 65 or older to receive income from a charitable gift annuity, but you can set up one at any time and defer the income until age 65 or later.
We can run a calculation based on your age and the amount you contribute. We’ll be able to tell you how much you would receive annually and what the tax benefits would be.
Contact ChristaCharitable remainder trusts
Donate to the Vermont Land Trust through a trustee and receive income for life
With a charitable remainder trust (CRT), you donate cash, stock, or property that is managed by a trustee who invests the proceeds to generate income. You, and any other beneficiaries, then receive income for life. Afterward, the remaining funds are donated to us.
Because of the management requirements, we only recommend charitable remainder trusts for gifts over $100,000 and beneficiaries who are under 75.
However, if you meet these criteria, and at least 10% of your gift will ultimately pass to us, it could be a good option for you. You will also receive the added benefit of a charitable income tax deduction.
We can run a calculation, based on your age and the amount you contribute, to see how much you will receive annually and what the tax benefits will be.
Contact ChristaCharitable lead trusts
Provide for loved ones and VLT
With a charitable lead trust, you can support our work now and for years to come, while preserving an inheritance for your heirs.
Interest from appreciating assets, such as stock, is paid to us over a period of time, or for the remainder of your life. The longer the length of time, the better the gift tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining assets return to you, your family, or other beneficiaries.
You can fund a charitable lead trust in several ways, but rapidly appreciating assets offer the most benefit. When transferred to a charitable lead trust, these assets are frozen in value for transfer-tax purposes. At the end of the trust’s term, all appreciation that takes place in the trust will pass tax-free to your beneficiaries.
Because of the management requirements of these trusts, we recommend that donors use them when the gift is at least $100,000. Contact us to see if a charitable lead trust might work for you.
Contact Christa
