Planned Giving: Leave a Legacy for the Land

Suppose you love the prairies, woods, and waterways of west-central Indiana and want your generosity to endure. In that case, a planned gift to Ouabache Land Conservancy (OLC) ensures these special places and the people who cherish them will thrive for generations. Whether through a bequest, charitable trust, or beneficiary designation, your planned gift helps OLC continue its mission of saving land, restoring ecosystems, and connecting people to nature.

Why Planned Giving Matters:

Land trusts like OLC depend on gifts planned today to protect land forever.

  • Your estate plan can include a specific gift amount, an asset, or a percentage of your estate — and still allow you to maintain control during your lifetime.

  • A planned gift can deliver real benefits: peace of mind, potential estate-tax advantages, and the satisfaction of making a lasting impact.

  • When you give this way, you become part of our legacy of stewardship, investing in the places, wildlife and people of this region.

Your Planned Gift Options

Bequest

A bequest is one of the simplest ways to leave a gift to OLC - a gift made through your will or revocable trust that names the Ouabache Land Conservancy as a beneficiary. You can choose to give a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or particular assets.  At your passing, your bequest supports lasting conservation without affecting your finances today.

Suggested wording:

“I give to Ouabache Land Conservancy, tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the sum of $______ (or __% of my estate) to be used for its general purposes.”

Charitable Trust

A charitable trust allows you to support OLC while meeting personal financial or family goals. Under Indiana law, charitable trusts benefit the public or charitable organizations such as OLC.

There are several forms, including:

  • Charitable Remainder Trusts, which can provide income to you or your loved ones during life, with the remainder benefiting OLC.

  • Charitable Lead Trusts, which direct income to OLC for a period of years, then return the remaining assets to your heirs.

These trusts may offer income or estate-tax advantages while creating a sustainable source of support for local conservation. OLC can work with you and your advisors to ensure your trust aligns with your values and goals.

Beneficiary Designation

A beneficiary designation lets you name OLC as the beneficiary of a retirement plan, life insurance policy, bank account, investment account, or donor-advised fund. Because these assets transfer directly to OLC, they often bypass probate and make planned giving simple and flexible. You can update designations at any time, making this one of the easiest ways to leave a meaningful legacy for land and wildlife.

If you have included Ouabache Land Conservancy in your estate plans, please let us know; we’d be honored to thank you during your lifetime.

Disclaimer: Ouabache Land Conservancy does not provide legal, financial, or tax advice. The information on this page is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your attorney, financial planner, or tax advisor to determine the best approach to make a planned gift based on your personal circumstances and to ensure compliance with all applicable federal and Indiana laws. OLC is a nonprofit corporation under Indiana law, EIN 80-0334071. Gifts are deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.