You may identify Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA as the beneficiary of a certain amount, specific asset, or percentage of your estate under your Will or Revocable Trust. Although you will not receive any tax benefits during your lifetime, following your passing, your estate may be eligible to take income and estate tax charitable deductions for the testamentary bequest to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA.

Sample language to bring to your attorney: I give and devise to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA, Inc. (Tax ID #30-0224549), located in Laguna Hills, CA the sum of $______ (or %) to be used for its general support (or for the support of a specific program).

You can designate the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA as a partial, contingent or sole beneficiary of your IRA or other qualified retirement plans, such as your 401(k), 403(b), Keogh or profit-sharing pension. Designating SWT USA as a beneficiary of your retirement accounts is a tax-efficient way to maximize support for SWT USA, as the amount distributed to our organization will not be subject to income tax and will qualify for the estate tax charitable deduction. In addition, if you are over 70½ years old, you can take advantage of a simple way to benefit SWT USA and receive tax benefits in return. You can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution of up to $100,000 per year from your IRA directly to SWT USA without having to include the amount distributed as income for federal income tax purposes. No charitable deduction may be taken, but such distributions will qualify for all or part of the IRA’s required minimum distributions.

You can designate Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA as the beneficiary of all or a percentage of your life insurance policy proceeds, which will be deductible for estate tax purposes following your passing. You may also irrevocably transfer ownership of a paid-up life insurance policy to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA during your lifetime and may take an income tax charitable deduction for the current value of the policy.

A simple way to provide for the future of elephants is by making the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA the “pay on death” beneficiary of the account. Charitable contributions made in this manner are treated the same as testamentary bequests for tax purposes.

Final distribution of contributions remaining in a donor advised fund is usually governed by the terms of the agreement at the time the fund was created. You can name Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA as a successor beneficiary or designate SWT USA to receive a portion of the remaining account value, leaving the balance for your family or friends to continue your legacy of philanthropy.

If you would like to benefit Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA while obtaining an upfront income tax charitable deduction, and also potentially benefitting family members, you may consider a lifetime gift to an irrevocable charitable lead or charitable remainder trust. These trusts are structured to make distributions to charity either during or at the end of the trust term and also may support individual beneficiaries at certain times. You should discuss these and other more advanced planned giving opportunities with your tax advisors.