Lasting Gifts

Preservation now and forever
Since 1958, the Montana Wilderness Association has been a leader in winning permanent protection for Montana’s renowned wild landscapes. Still at stake are nine million acres of pristine roadless public lands in Montana that remain vulnerable to unbridled motorized recreation, and loss or damage related to logging, mining, and energy development.

Future investment is the purpose of the Montana Wilderness Association’s Forever Wild Endowment. The principal is held in perpetuity, and the income generated from the investment helps to finance the day-to-day protection of Montana’s wildlands and waters, wildlife habitat, quiet trails and outdoor traditions.

Through a gift to the Forever Wild Endowment you can make an investment in wilderness protection that also provides you with financial benefits. It is essential that you speak with knowledgeable financial advisers and insurance agents to decide which gift is best for you and your family. While we cannot give tax or legal advice, we can help you and your advisers explore gifts that will keep Montana lands and waters Forever Wild and enable you to take advantage of the Montana Endowment Tax Credit and other tax benefits. For more information, please contact Turn on JavaScript! at (406) 443-7350 ext. 110

Planned Giving options including Bequests, Annuities, Charitable Trusts, Life Estate Gifts, and Life Insurance Gifts are described below.

Bequests: The simplest and most common Planned Gift is made through your will. Bequested gifts may be cash, stock, real estate or a percentage of your estate as a whole. A bequest is distributed upon the death of the donor and is not subject to estate taxes.

If you have already included the Montana Wilderness Association in your estate plans and would like to make us aware of your decisions, please notify Norane Freistadt, Development Director. Expressing our appreciation and acknowledging your commitment are very important to us!

Annuities: A gift annuity allows you to make a substantial gift to the Montana Wilderness Association's Forever Wild Endowment and receive payments for life, plus immediate tax benefits. With a gift annuity, you give cash or other assets to the endowment and, in exchange, receive fixed payments in quarterly installments. The size of the payment depends on the size of the gift and your age. Payments may be made to you, a spouse or other beneficiary.

Charitable Trusts: Charitable trusts are established with cash or other assets through the Montana Community Foundation or a trust company on behalf of the Montana Wilderness Association Forever Wild Endowment. The trust pays income to you or your beneficiary for life or for a specific term. Under the provisions of a Remainder Trust, the Forever Wild Endowment would be named as the remainder beneficiary of the trust. Under the provisions of a Lead Trust, the income is directed to the Forever Wild Endowment and the trust's assets are returned to you.

Life Estate Gifts: While retaining the lifetime right to use and enjoy your residence, farm or ranch, you can make a significant donation to Montana Wilderness Association’s Forever Wild Endowment by deeding your property to the Endowment upon death.

Life Insurance Gifts: Substantial gifts can be made through life insurance policies, with a range of tax benefits. Consider purchasing a new policy and naming the Montana Wilderness Association's Forever Wild Endowment as the owner and beneficiary. You can also transfer ownership of an existing policy to the Endowment. Your insurance agent will know which works best for you.