A planned gift is your lasting contribution to wildlife and VCE. A gift from a will or estate is an enduring benefit for wildlife and conservation. It can also be your legacy.
VCE honors donors who have made planned gifts with membership in the Bicknell's Legacy Society. Named for one of VCE's signature wildlife research subjects, the Bicknell's Thrush, the Legacy Society reflects our gratitude for your lasting contribution.
A planned gift, however modest or grand, is the ultimate expression of your passion, your legacy for wildlife, and your deep commitment to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies’ work. As a token of our appreciation, VCE’s Bicknell’s Legacy Society members receive a unique metal print of a Bicknell’s Thrush on a nest in Vermont, a quiet addition to your home or office.
Including VCE in your estate plans may be easier than you think. Here are some options:
- Bequest – Include a provision in your will designating either a specific amount or a percentage of your estate to VCE. A bequest can include cash or personal property and is a way of making a significant gift to VCE that costs nothing in your lifetime.
- Beneficiary Designation – Designating VCE as a beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy is easy and can provide tax savings for your estate.
- Life-Income Gifts – Life-income gifts such as charitable annuities and trusts can provide you with a regular income stream, significant tax savings, and the satisfaction of providing VCE with vital long-term resources. VCE has partnered with the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) to establish and administer these instruments on our behalf. VCF’s charitable giving advisors can help you create gifts that accomplish your philanthropic goals while meeting your personal income needs.
Please contact Susan Hindinger, VCE’s Executive Director, for more information about including VCE in your estate plans. You can reach her by email or phone (802.649.1431 x203).
If you have already provided for VCE in your estate plans, please consider letting us know. We will welcome you as a member of the Bicknell’s Legacy Society, and the information will help us to plan for the future.
