Leave a Legacy
Visionaries have positively impacted The North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville from its founding in 1986 until today. By making a bequest or establishing a planned gift, you can extend your commitment to The North Carolina Arboretum Society beyond your lifetime. Planned gifts, whether large or small, reflect an extraordinary and forward-looking sentiment, ensuring that future generations will continue to experience and enjoy plants, gardens, trails, conservation, education and all that the Arboretum makes possible year in and year out.
Bequests
Many people make a planned gift through a bequest in a will or estate plan. Here is some suggested language to consider:
For unrestricted bequests: “I give, devise and bequeath to The North Carolina Arboretum Society, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806-9315, Tax ID 56-1712373, for its general purposes [a specific % or specific dollar amount] of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate.”
For restricted bequests: “I give, devise and bequeath to The North Carolina Arboretum Society, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806-9315, Tax ID 56-1712373, for the purpose(s) of _________________, [a specific % or specific dollar amount] of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate.”
We also recommend that the following language be added to restricted bequests: “If, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of The North Carolina Arboretum Society, all or part of the gift cannot appropriately be used in the manner herein described, the Board may use the gift for other purposes as nearly aligned to the donor’s original intent as the Board deems appropriate under the circumstances.”
Beneficiary Designations
Another popular and relatively simple way to make a planned gift is to designate The North Carolina Arboretum Society as a beneficiary of all or part of a retirement plan (e.g., 401(k), IRA or Roth IRA) or a life insurance policy. Most companies have a standard form available for making such designations. The form will ask for basic information such as the beneficiary’s name, address and Tax ID number (e.g., The North Carolina Arboretum Society, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville NC 28806-9315, Tax ID #56-1712373).
The North Carolina Arboretum Society encourages all prospective planned giving donors to seek independent professional counsel (e.g., attorney, financial adviser and/or accountant). Contributions to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
The North Carolina Arboretum Society has established an honor society to recognize the thoughtful generosity of Arboretum friends who, through their estate plans, have pledged future gifts to the Society. We would be happy to add your name to this list – or keep your name anonymous if that is what you prefer.
We look forward to working with you and your financial advisers to help you achieve your personal philanthropic and financial goals, while also advancing the mission of The North Carolina Arboretum Society.