Planned Giving Circle
Coastal Prairie Conservancy’s Planned Giving Circle recognizes visionary donors for their commitment to the future impact of the organization. A planned gift is a charitable commitment that is generally fulfilled in the future, often through a will, trust, retirement account, life insurance policy, or other estate-planning arrangement.
Your Legacy Matters
When you include the Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) in your estate plan, your generosity preserves coastal prairies, wetlands, farms, and ranches to benefit people and wildlife forever. Thank you for ensuring that CPC can impact those we serve well into the future.
Why Tell CPC About Your Gift?
If you have already included a planned gift to the Coastal Prairie Conservancy in your estate plans, we hope you’ll consider letting us know.
You do not need to provide every detail of your estate plan. Simply letting us know about your intentions is a meaningful way to help us recognize your generosity and helps us understand your wishes and work to honor your gift as you envision. Any details you share will be kept strictly confidential, and sharing your plans is voluntary and nonbinding.
Where to Begin
We recommend speaking with an estate attorney and financial advisor to discuss your goals and estate planning needs. While the Coastal Prairie Conservancy cannot provide you with legal or financial advice on what giving options you should pursue, we welcome the opportunity to discuss how your planned gift can support CPC’s future work.
For more information, watch the webinar “Estate Planning for the Conservationist.”
Below we have also outlined common planned gifts.
Beneficiary Gifts
Beneficiary gifts are among the simplest ways to make a planned gift and generally pass directly to your chosen beneficiary without going through probate.
Common beneficiary gifts include:
• IRAs and other retirement accounts
• 401(k), 403(b), and similar retirement plans
• Life insurance policies
• Annuities
• Certain bank and investment accounts with payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designations
Bequests
Bequests are outlined in a will and are made by designating a specific dollar amount, a particular asset, or a fixed percentage of your estate. Sample bequest language follows:
“I give, devise, and bequeath to the Coastal Prairie Conservancy [EIN:76-0377029] , ___% of my estate (or the sum of $____, or a description of the specific asset), for the benefit of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy to be used for the following purpose: ___ (state the purpose). If at any time in the judgment of the trustees of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy it is impossible or impracticable to carry out exactly the designated purpose, they shall determine an alternative purpose closest to the designated purpose.”
In addition to general bequests, there are also types of residuary or contingency bequests.
Charitable Trusts
Charitable trusts are planned giving tools that can allow you to support the Coastal Prairie Conservancy while potentially providing tax or financial benefits for you and your family.
Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) provide income to you or your beneficiaries for life or a set term, with the remainder going to the charity.
Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs) provide income to the charity for a set term, after which the remaining assets pass to your heirs.
Land and Other Assets
A gift of land, securities, or other assets can greatly benefit the Coastal Prairie Conservancy and may be used directly in our work or sold with the proceeds advancing our mission and programs. A gift of real estate, undeveloped land, or other tangible assets such as a vehicle can provide meaningful support to CPC.
Conservation Burial
The Blazing Star Sanctuary, which is located within the CPC’s Katy Prairie Preserve, has been dedicated as a green cemetery. The sanctuary is the first certified conservation cemetery in Texas.
Through Blazing Star Sanctuary, families can choose an end-of-life option that directly contributes to prairie restoration and long-term ecological stewardship. Visit NaturesBurial.org to learn more about the values and benefits of conservation burial and how it helps safeguard the coastal prairie.
Blended Giving Options
Blended giving is a philanthropic strategy that combines immediate (outright) donations with planned (deferred) donations. This approach allows donors to make an impact now while also planning for future contributions.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a distribution of funds from your IRA directly to a qualified charitable organization, such as the Coastal Prairie Conservancy. By donating directly from your IRA, you can support our mission and current programs while potentially receiving tax benefits.
Learn more at https://www.coastalprairieconservancy.org/qcd.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We would love to hear from you. You can complete our Planned Giving Intention Form or contact our team directly. You do not need to provide every detail of your estate plan. Simply letting us know about your intentions is a meaningful way to help us recognize your generosity and ensure we can honor your wishes.
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No. Sharing your plans with us is completely voluntary. You are welcome to make a planned gift without notifying Coastal Prairie Conservancy. However, letting us know gives us the opportunity to thank you and make sure we understand how you would like your gift to support our mission.
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Absolutely not. We do not need to know the value of your estate or the amount of your planned gift. If you choose to share additional information, that is entirely up to you. The future value of many planned gifts cannot be known today either.
We are grateful simply to know that you have chosen to include Coastal Prairie Conservancy in your plans.
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We use it to document your intentions, communicate with you about your planned gift, and support responsible long-term planning. If you have a particular program, preserve, or area of our mission that you would like your gift to support, sharing that information allows us to better understand and honor your wishes.
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No. Letting us know about your plans does not create a legal obligation and does not replace or change your estate-planning documents. Your estate plan remains under your control, and you can change your plans as your circumstances or wishes change.
We also understand that estate plans can change. We simply appreciate the opportunity to understand your intentions and stay connected with you.
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Planned gifts are an important part of building a lasting future for conservation. Knowing that supporters have made these commitments helps us understand the resources that may become available in the future and plan thoughtfully for the long-term care of conserved lands, habitats, and other priorities.
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We will respect your wishes regarding recognition. If you choose to share your planned gift with us, you can also let us know whether you would like to be recognized as a member of the Planned Giving Circle or prefer to remain anonymous.
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Legal Name: Coastal Prairie Conservancy
Entity Type: 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Public Charity
Address: 5615 Kirby Drive, Suite 867, Houston, TX 77005
Federal Tax ID (EIN): 76-0377029
Contact Us About Planning Your Legacy
We look forward to speaking with you about leaving a legacy with the Coastal Prairie Conservancy. Please reach out to Advancement Director, Jenny Claycombe, at jenny@coastalprairieconservancy.org.