Consider Including Acadia Wildlife In Your Estate Plan
A bequest is a legacy gift, which can be given in the following ways:
- A specific amount of money, securities, or item of property
- A percentage of your estate
- The residue of your estate after providing for their loved ones
- Listing Acadia Wildlife Center, as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy, pension fund or bank account
How do you put AWC in your will?
To include AWC in your will, simply call your attorney (or your local Bar Association for the name of an attorney in your area that specializes in Wills and Estate Planning if you do not already have one). If you already have a Will, you can amend it without rewriting it entirely by adding a simple document called a codicil. A codicil could be the quickest, easiest and least expensive way to include AWC in your existing Will.
Suggested Wording for your Will:
I give, devise and bequeath to Acadia Wildlife Center, a Maine nonprofit charitable organization, located at 49 Black Dog RD, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, the sum of $________________ (or a designated portion of the residue of my estate) to be used by AWC to further its mission of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation and environmental education in Maine.
Important information your attorney will need:
Legal name: Acadia Wildlife Center
Legal address: 49 Black Dog RD, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609
AWC is a non-profit charitable organization
AWC's EIN number is 01-0495974
AWC's 501(c)(3) status under the Internal Revenue Code provides a tax savings for you and your estate
What are the benefits of a bequest to you?
Planning for your estate is an important process, yet it is estimated that 70% of Americans do not even have a Will. Having an estate plan provides the benefits of:
- Peace of Mind — An estate plan is designed to help you provide for those you love and protect both you and your family.
- Provision — You have spent most of your lifetime gathering assets and making plans. With an estate plan, you can give loved ones the property you have acquired in the right way, at the right time, and at minimal cost.
- Protection — A good plan will also protect you in your senior years. It may be important to designate a specific person to manage your property, help doctors and other medical staff with important decisions, and make certain that you are receiving the best possible care. An estate plan can increase your lifetime security and also achieve your goals for family and charity.
- Additionally, an updated Will can allow you to transfer specific property or assets as well as direct the residue of your estate. For those with larger estates, there could be substantial estate tax savings.
- Ultimately, an estate plan can ensure that you are able to fulfill your dream of leaving behind a legacy for family and charity that gives added meaning to your life.
How would my bequest benefit AWC?
Your legacy gift gives AWC long-term security by ensuring that our critical work of protecting the wildlife of Maine and educating future generations continues uninterrupted. The entire scope of our work requires foresight and prolonged support, made possible and strengthened through the provision of legacy gifts for all of AWC's projects.
If you wish to guide your legacy towards a specific project or part of AWC's work, you may consider a directed donation or endowment fund. An endowment fund would allow you to apply restrictions to the amount and timing of funds spent, thereby allowing you to direct your gift towards your greatest passion. To learn more about these options, please contact our Executive Director, Tony Mullane, at tony@acadiawildlife.org
