Retirement Accounts
Naming the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) as a beneficiary of your IRA/other retirement plan, brokerage accounts, life insurance policy, bank accounts, CD, and any other managed account is an easy, fast, and tax-wise way to make a future gift to the ATC to support our mission to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
Retirement accounts are subject to multiple types of taxes and therefore are the best assets to leave to a charity, as 100 percent will be paid out without taxes taken out. So don’t leave your IRA to the IRS. These legacy gifts play a significant role in supporting our mission.
Benefits of This Gift
- You do not need an attorney; simply complete your managed account beneficiary form.
- These assets will not be included in your taxable estate if designated to the ATC.
- Avoid the double taxation your retirement savings would incur if you designated your heir as beneficiary. You may be able to escape both income AND estate taxes levied on the residual left in your retirement account. Because the ATC is a non-profit organization, we won’t pay income tax on the distribution, nor will the gift be subject to estate tax. The entire amount comes to us, and your heirs will benefit from a reduced estate tax burden.
- Continue to take withdrawals during your lifetime.
- Change the ATC as beneficiary if your family circumstances change.
How to Do This Gift
- Request or download a beneficiary form from your account manager.
- Name the ATC as a partial, contingent, or sole beneficiary of your account using:
Legal Name: Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Inc. and/or Federal Tax ID #: 52-6046689
- If you are married, you will need to complete a spousal waiver form.
- With a 401(k), ask if there is an extra step.
- Naming a beneficiary of your retirement account in your will is not sufficient. You must complete your retirement account beneficiary forms, as these override what is in your will.
- Most importantly, notify the ATC that you have named us, so we are sure to receive your gift and have it on file, as many retirement account managers are delaying the disbursement.
Other Accounts
- For life insurance policies, simply name the ATC as a full or partial beneficiary.
- For bank and brokerage accounts, your financial institution can assist you in the easy process of naming the ATC as a Transfer of Death (TOD) or Paid on Death (POD) beneficiary of your account.
- For these accounts, be sure to include our Federal Tax ID# and legal name: Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Inc. Federal Tax ID #: 52-6046689
Notify Us
Notifying the Appalachian Trail Conservancy of your intended gift will help us plan for our future work. Click here to complete a Legacy Confirmation Form.
Send the signed form via email to hhackett@appalachiantrail.org or mail it to:
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
PO Box 807
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 52-6046689