Planned Giving

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is pleased to help you make a gift that suits your wishes. We will work with your advisors to define the best vehicle for your gift -whether you make your gift now or later.

Give Now

Checks should be made payable to Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast and mailed to:

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast
Attention: Albert Joerger
PO Box 902
Osprey, FL 34229-0902

A gift of appreciated stock or Mutual Funds can provide you with a charitable tax deduction and eliminate capital gains tax. Upon receipt, the stock will be sold and used to further the mission of the Foundation. It is important to contact albert@conservationfoundation.com for specific instructions before transferring stock.

Write a check, transfer a gift of stock or mutual funds and make a difference in protecting our bays, beaches and barrier islands today.

Major Gifts

Palmer Circle

Major donors are invited to membership in the Palmer Circle, named in the spirit of conservation demonstrated by some of the Gulf Coast's earliest residents. Families like the Scherer's and Palmer's legacy of land led directly to the conservation of special places like Historic Spanish Point, Myakka River State Park, Jim Neville Marine Preserve, Oscar Scherer State Park, Palmer Point Beach, Lido Public Beach and other treasured open spaces.

Naming Opportunities

Several naming opportunities are available for programs and structures on the preserves.
Artist in Residence Program
Carraige House at Bay Preserve at Osprey
Environmental Policy Maker in Residence
Blue Cottage at Bay Preserve at Osprey
Music on Little Sarasota Bay
Performance Pavilion
If you are interested in learning more, call Albert Joerger at 941.918.2100.

A Conservation Easement

There are several advantages to the donor who makes a gift of a conservation easement:

A landowner retains ownership of the land and may continue to live on it, sell it, or pass it to heirs,
An easement can be written to meet the needs of the landowner, while protecting the property’s resources,
The donation is a tax-deductible gift, provided that the easement is perpetual and is donated for “conservation purposes,”
An easement can lower estate taxes, sometimes enabling heirs to keep the land in their family, and
An easement may lower property taxes since the assessed value of the land may be decreased.
Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast encourages all donors to consult with an attorney or tax professional.

A Gift of Land

Under special circumstances, a landowner may want to make an outright donation of land to Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. Communities across the country are enjoying nature preserves, trails, recreation areas, and other open space because of the foresight and generosity of landowners who have made such gifts. There are two significant advantages to the landowner:

The gift may provide a substantial income tax deduction based on the fair market value of the land as determined by a qualified appraisal, and
The capital gains tax is eliminated. Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast encourages all donors to consult with an attorney or tax professional. For more information on making a conservation gift, please contact Sean Byrne, Director of Land Protection at 941.918.2100.

Planned Gift Options

Charitable Gift Annuity

A charitable gift annuity is a simple contract between you and Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast that offers a tax-advantaged way to provide for income during retirement. In the future, your gift provides support for the Foundation's mission.

You can begin to receive income right away, or at a predetermined future date. You also can decide when the income payments begin within a future time frame, determined when you make your gift. In any case, your income is taxed at a favorable blended rate.

IRA or Retirement Plan

Naming Conservation Foundation as a partial or full beneficiary of the remainder of your IRA or retirement plan can make a very meaningful gift. Distributions from retirement plans at the death of the survivor of the account-holder can be subject to both income and estate taxes. In some cases, taxes might leave less than 30% of the plan’s balance for your children or other heirs.
However, if you name the Foundation as the beneficiary, you avoid both income and estate taxes so 100 percent of the plan’s balance will be used to protect the unspoiled landscapes of Florida’s Gulf Coast for future generations.

Bequest

If you wish to make a bequest after your lifetime, the Foundation can provide you or your attorney with specific language and of course, your donations will be exempt from estate tax.