Planned Gifts: Also called ‘Legacy Gifts.’ Includes a variety of methods by which a donor can leave money/assets to a non profit organization during his or her lifetime or at their death; or a way to invest money so the donor receives benefits during their lifetime and then bequeaths the remaining funds to the nonprofit.

Annual Gift: An unrestricted donation made on an annual basis.

Appreciated Securities: Stock and/or bonds that have increased in value since they were acquired.

Asset: Any item of economic value owned by an individual or corporation, especially that which could be converted to cash.

Beneficiary: The person or charity identified/named to receive the benefits of a gift.

Bequest: Personal property gifted (bequeathed) through a will. Download our bequests language to give to your financial advisor.

Donor Advised Fund: A giving vehicle administered by a public charity and created for the purpose of managing charitable donations on behalf of an organization, family, or individual. This fund offers the opportunity to create an easy-to-establish, low cost, flexible vehicle for charitable giving as an alternative to direct giving or creating a private foundation.

Endowment: A pool of assets held by a nonprofit organization and invested to provide annual income for the organization.

Estate: The total of a person’s assets or wealth.

Estate Planning: The overall planning of the distribution of a person’s assets, including such aspects as creation of a will and/or trusts, tax planning, gift designations, and determinations of beneficiaries and power of attorney, among others.

Estate Tax: A tax on an individual’s transfer of property or interests at the time of death.

Five Rivers Society: A group of individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to the mission of the Deschutes Land Trust with an annual gift of $1,000 or more.

Gift Annuity: An agreement whereby the donor transfers cash to the charity in exchange for a partial tax deduction and a lifetime stream of income from the charity. When the donor passes away, the charity keeps the gift.

Irrevocable: An agreement that cannot be changed or dissolved by a grantor.

Lead Trust: A donor transfers property to the lead trust, which pays a percentage of the value of the trust assets, usually for a term of years, to the charity. At the end of the trust terms, the remaining assets in the trust and any growth it has realized are passed to the donor's heirs.

Remainder Uni-Trust: Cash, securities, real property, or other assets that are transferred into a trust. A designated trustee manages the trust assets and pays you (or a designated beneficiary) a variable income for life or for a term of years. When the trust terminates, the remaining assets in the trust are transferred to the charity.

Revocable: The ability to change or dissolve an agreement at any time by the grantor. Charitable bequests, certain living trusts, and beneficiary designations through a retirement plan or life insurance policy are all revocable.

Taxable Estate: The total value of a deceased person’s assets that are subject to taxation, minus liabilities and tax-deductible bequests.

Trust: An arrangement whereby property is held by an individual or institution for the benefit of others.

Will: A person’s statement to the public regarding the disposition of his, her, or their property at death; also called “last will and testament.”

Download this Glossary of Planned Giving Terms.

Note: The Deschutes Land Trust can provide information about how your planned gift can support the organization but cannot provide legal or tax advice. We encourage all supporters to seek independent financial and/or estate planning assistance.