Given the opportunity, most of us would like to leave a legacy that gives meaning to what we valued most during our lifetime. Imagine the satisfaction of knowing that because of your generosity and planning, you are major part of maintaining Skagit Valley as the most important agricultural valley in Puget Sound.

This section has been designed to help you with your decision to leave a gift to Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland (SPF) using a thoughtful and planned approach. It offers some strategies and resources that, when combined with your financial and estate objectives can create the most attractive tax and income benefits. This is good for you, good for SPF, and great for the Skagit Valley.

  • You can make a bequest by including language in your will that names Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland as the beneficiary of your estate, or you can designate a fixed percentage, specific dollar amount, or a particular asset of your estate to SPF. I’m still

    You can bequeath all or a percentage of your residuary estate to SPF after you have provided for all other beneficiaries with specific bequests.

    You can name SPF as a contingent beneficiary by stipulating that SPF receive all or a portion of your estate if your named beneficiaries do not survive you.

    You can make SPF the remainder beneficiary of a trust that you establish in your will. This trust could provide income to one or more beneficiaries during their respective lives. SPF would then receive the principal of the trust at the death of the last surviving beneficiary.

    If you are considering a bequest to SPF, meeting with your attorney to draft or update your will is typically the first step. Below is some information that you or your attorney may find helpful with your estate planning.

    Sample Testamentary Language:

    A general bequest: “I give (_____dollars) (or a specific asset) (or ____percent of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate) to Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, Mount Vernon, Washington.”

    A bequest for a specific purpose: “I give (_____dollars) (or a specific asset) (or ____percent of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate) to Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, Mount Vernon, Washington, to be used for the following purpose: (state the purpose, such as to a fund to protect farmland or to provide unrestricted support.)”

    Because the needs and challenges facing Skagit agriculture and SPF vary over time, we would ask that you consider the gifting language in your will state any specific purpose for your gift as a preference, with the final determination left to the discretion of the SPF Board of Directors.

    Good Tax News: A bequest to SPF qualifies your estate for a charitable deduction equal to the entire value of your bequest.

  • Name SPF as a beneficiary of your tax-deferred retirement assets and reduce your income tax or estate tax burden.

    To make SPF a beneficiary, simply contact the particular asset plan administrator and request that SPF be named or added as a beneficiary. Asset plans with beneficiary designations may include your mutual fund, retirement account, charitable trust, or life insurance policy.

    Good Tax News:

    If you designate all or a part of your retirement plan to SPF, the amount of this gift is included in your taxable estate but is fully deductible as a charitable gift.

    Generally, the full amount of your gift made through a beneficiary designation can be received by SPF and used for charitable purposes with no income tax due. The same asset, if left in your estate and not given to charity, may be subject to both income and estate taxes.

    Non-retirement assets are the least susceptible to taxation and are often better assets to leave to family members.

  • You may use cash to fund a life-income vehicle (an annuity or similar) that ultimately benefits SPF. Cash gifts are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by law.

  • A gift of stock is a great way to help avoid capital gains taxes, receive an income tax deduction, and support the work of Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland. 

    Your support will make a big difference and will help protect the farmland in one of the most important agricultural valleys remaining in Puget Sound.

    Support SPF’s work by making a gift of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds and reap the benefits. Not only will you be helping to conserve land but a gift of appreciated securities offers you significant benefits. These include an immediate charitable deduction for the full market value of the stock and avoidance of capital gains taxes that would normally be due upon sale. You must have held the stock for at least one year. For more information on making a stock transfer, Please contact the SPF office for forms you can give your broker.

  • When planning your IRA withdrawal strategy, if you are at least 70½, you may want to consider making a charitable donation through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). You can make a QCD directly to Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland without the gift counting as income for federal income tax purposes. Contact your IRA plan provider to learn their procedures.

  • What better way to honor a special person or occasion (perhaps a birthday, wedding anniversary or holiday) than by supporting the work of Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland. An honorarium provides a significant way to bring recognition to a living friend or loved one by helping a cause that has a real and immediate impact in the community. Once the donation is made, SPF will send a letter to the honoree acknowledging your contribution. You will also receive a letter confirming your donation.

    To make a donation in honor of someone, please add the honoree’s name plus the name and address of who should receive the Acknowledgment Card to the appropriate fields below when giving an online donation or include in the envelope when mailing in a gift. All gift amounts are confidential unless otherwise requested.

  • Nothing can ever replace the loss of a friend or loved one, but we can commemorate their life with an everlasting tribute reminding us that they are not forgotten. Memorial donations are typically made in memory of a deceased family member, friend or coworker. A memorial donation is a fitting way to remember a special person while at the same time helping others. SPF responds to memorial donations by sending a letter to the deceased’s family acknowledging the donation. We will send notification to the donor acknowledging the gift has been received and notification has been sent to the deceased’s family.

    To make a donation in memory of someone, please add the person’s name to remember plus the name and address of who should receive the Acknowledgment Card to the appropriate fields below when giving an online donation or include in the envelope when mailing in a gift. All gift amounts are confidential unless otherwise requested.

    An online gift can be made in honor or in memory of someone by simply indicating that intention on the donation form.

    All Memorial and Honorarium gifts are directed our Farmland Preservation Fund to be used to protect farmland in SPF Board of Director designated priority areas.

  • Legal Name of Corporation: Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland

    SPF Federal Tax Identification Number: 91-1484503

    Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2405, Mount Vernon, WA 98273

    Street Address: 414A Snoqualmie Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273

    Phone: 360.336.3974

    This information is not intended to provide specific advice about your estate plan or to recommend a specific course of action. We suggest you consult your professional advisers before taking any action, then contact SPF to learn more about these giving strategies.