Leaving a Legacy that lasts
Planned Giving with CCA
Planned Giving
Leave a Legacy for Colorado's Canyons
The landscapes we love deserve champions for generations to come. By including Colorado Canyons Association (CCA) in your estate plans, you can help ensure that future generations continue to enjoy, learn from, and care for these spectacular public lands of western Colorado.
A planned gift is one of the most meaningful ways to support CCA's mission while creating a lasting legacy of conservation, education, stewardship, and community engagement.
Whether you are creating your first will or updating an existing estate plan, a planned gift can be simple to arrange and may provide valuable tax benefits for you and your family.
Create a Free Will Online
FreeWill provides a free, easy-to-use online estate planning tool. In about 20 minutes, you can create a legally valid will and, if you choose, include a gift to Colorado Canyons Association.
There is no cost to use the service, and there is no obligation to leave a gift to CCA.
Through FreeWill, you can:
Create a legally valid will at no cost
Name guardians for minor children
Designate beneficiaries for assets
Protect the people and causes you care about most
Include a charitable gift to CCA if it aligns with your values
A Gift That Fits Your Goals
Many supporters assume that planned giving is only for those without heirs. In reality, many donors choose to leave a percentage of their estate to charitable organizations while still providing for their loved ones.
You may choose to leave:
A specific dollar amount
A percentage of your estate
The remainder of your estate after other gifts have been distributed
Specific assets such as real estate, investment accounts, or other property
Even a small percentage can make a lasting difference for the canyons, rivers, trails, wildlife habitat, and educational programs that CCA supports.
Potential Tax Benefits
Charitable bequests may offer tax advantages depending on your individual circumstances and the size of your estate.
For some donors, gifts made to qualified nonprofit organizations can:
Reduce estate taxes that may otherwise be owed by heirs
Allow more of an estate to support both family members and charitable causes
Simplify the distribution of assets
Because every situation is different, we encourage you to consult your attorney, tax advisor, or financial planner about how a charitable gift may fit into your overall estate plan.
Giving Through Your IRA or Retirement Account
If you are age 70½ or older, you may be able to support CCA directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).
A QCD allows eligible individuals to transfer funds directly from their IRA to a qualified nonprofit such as Colorado Canyons Association.
Potential benefits may include:
Satisfying all or part of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), if applicable
Excluding the distributed amount from taxable income
Supporting conservation and education programs today
Making a meaningful impact during your lifetime
Retirement accounts can also be designated to beneficiaries in your estate plan, which may provide additional tax advantages compared to leaving those same assets to heirs.
As always, consult your tax advisor or financial professional to determine what strategy is best for your situation.
Let Us Know About Your Legacy Gift
If you have already included Colorado Canyons Association in your estate plans—or are considering doing so—we would love the opportunity to thank you and learn more about your intentions.
Sharing your plans is entirely voluntary and does not create any legal obligation. It simply helps us plan for the future and recognize your generosity.
For more information about planned giving opportunities, please contact:
Morgan Rossway, Development & Communications Manager
morgan@canyonsassociation.org
970-263-7902 (office)
Thank you for helping protect and celebrate Colorado's National Conservation Areas for generations to come.