Make A Bequest

You can help safeguard the flock – join the Crane Legacy Society today.

Like the vigilant crane – we all understand the importance of planning for a secure future. The International Crane Foundation has worked tirelessly for decades to safeguard the natural treasures needed by all of Earth’s inhabitants. Planning for a legacy gift now will make a difference for generations to come.

The Crane Legacy Society was established as a way for us to show our tremendous gratitude to those individuals who made the meaningful decision to make a legacy gift to the International Crane Foundation. Society members receive a lifetime membership and will receive invitations as guests to exclusive gatherings to celebrate cranes and conservation and to recognize your future gift.

Please note that the International Crane Foundation, like all charitable organizations, is prohibited from giving tax or legal advice. Please consult with your financial or estate advisor about which legacy gift is the best fit for you.

For more information about legacy gifts and the Crane Legacy Society, please contact Hannah Field, Planned Giving Coordinator, at 608-356-9462 ext. 117.

Charitable Bequest

A bequest is a gift made through your will or living trust. There are several types of bequests you can make to ensure your gift will be made in a way that honors your legacy. You can direct a gift of a specific dollar amount, or property such as stock, to be donated to the International Crane Foundation, or you can select a percentage of the value of your estate to be given. Your intent to make such a bequest to the International Crane Foundation can be made clear in your will or living trust by including the following language:

I bequeath _______ (dollar amount or % of estate) to the International Crane Foundation, a nonprofit organization existing under the laws of Wisconsin and with a principal business address of E11376 Shady Lane Road, Baraboo, WI 53913-0447; and a federal tax identification number of 39-1187711.

In order to join the Crane Legacy Society, we request that you share your estate plans with us to ensure that your wishes will be met, so that we may properly express our gratitude during your lifetime, and so that you may assist us with our long-term planning efforts. To document your bequest with the International Crane Foundation, please contact our development offices at 608-356-9462. Please know that documenting your bequest is not binding or irrevocable – you still have the liberty to revise your estate plans as your circumstances change.

Charitable Gift Annuities

The International Crane Foundation partners with the Madison Community Foundation (MCF) to offer charitable gift annuities to supporters who wish to impact our work and receive a stable stream of income from their investments. A charitable gift annuity allows you to transfer an asset (cash, appreciated stock or other property) to the MCF for the benefit of the International Crane Foundation. In return,  you will receive fixed cash payments for your lifetime and/or that of your spouse or another individual beneficiary. Your payments begin immediately. In addition to an immediate charitable deduction, part of your payments will be tax-free. After the last annuity recipient dies, the remaining assets will be transferred to the International Crane Foundation. If you fund an annuity with appreciated stock, you will also save on capital gains.

Click here to learn more about MCF’s annuity program and rates.

Beneficiary Designation

Consider naming the International Crane Foundation as a beneficiary of your IRA, pension plan, or donor-advised fund. Retirement plans may be subject to estate taxes after death and income tax as the funds are received by a beneficiary, diminishing the ultimate value of the inheritance. By naming the International Crane Foundation as a beneficiary, both of these taxes may be avoided, allowing you to leave your family other assets, which may incur less tax liability.

Charitable Remainder Trust

A charitable remainder unitrust is similar to an annuity trust but is more flexible and offers potentially higher income possibilities. Like an annuity, an immediate charitable deduction is available. However, unlike the fixed payments from an annuity trust, the annual income from a unitrust is a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets as revalued each year. Additional contributions may be made to the trust at any time. Because the income payments are tied to the changing values of the trust assets, your payments will fluctuate. As the value of the trust grows over the years, your payments will increase. However, if the value of the trust assets declines, your payments will decrease.