Fontenelle Nature Association

Supporters | Fund Development | Membership

Fund Development

Fontenelle Nature Association is a privately funded non-profit organization.

Planning for Year-End Tax Savings
Memorials
Wills
Corporate-Family Days
Trail Kiosks
Other options for Charitable Giving

Planning for Year-End Tax Savings
The simplest way to increase deductions for 2008 is through charitable giving. You can give away, and deduct, up to 50% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), which is your income before taking any itemized deductions.

For gifts of securities and other property, you can deduct up to 30% of AGI - and there is a five-year carryover for all excess contribution deductions. Gifts of securities are easy to make. If you have the certificates in your possession, they can be mailed to our office, unendorsed, with a signed stock power sent separately. If you do not hold the stock certificates, or wish to plan a gift of other assets, please call our office as soon as possible.

Tax Savings from a Charitable Contribution

Gift Tax Bracket

Amount 27% 30% 35% 38.6%

$100 $27.00 $30.00 $35.00 $38.60

$500 $135.00 $150.00 $175.00 $193.00

$1,000 $270.00 $300.00 $350.00 $386.00

$5,000 $1,350.00 $1,500.00 $1,750.00 $1,930.00

(Based on materials provided by R&R Newkirk, Willow Springs, Illinois, 2002)

With the recent trends in the market, many of us are experiencing securities that have gone down in value. In this case, you might consider selling the stock first and then contributing the proceeds to the FNA. Your capital loss can be used to offset some of your capital gains or other income, and you will receive a charitable deduction in the bargain.

In most cases, the assistance you provide for programs here at the FNA will be much greater than the cost of the gift to you - with proper planning. If you have questions about making a year-end charitable contribution to the FNA, please contact Laura Shiffermiller at
(402) 731-3140, ext. 234 or email at lshiffermiller@fontenelleforest.org.

If you would like to make a contribution, please send your check made out to "Fontenelle Nature Association" or securities and signed stock power to:

Development Office, Attn: Laura Shiffermiller
Fontenelle Nature Association
1111 N. Bellevue Blvd.
Bellevue, NE 68005

The Giving Tree

Memorials
The memorial program at FNA is intended to recognize notable events in life. That may be a birth in your family, a wedding, a special anniversary or the passing of a relative or dear friend.

The FNA will send a card noting your intentions to the individual you wish to honor or a designated family member. The donation you
send will go into scholarship funds we maintain at FNA for low-income or at risk children to be able to participate in educational programs and day-camps at our nature centers.

The Giving Tree is located in the foyer of the Katherine and Fred Buffett Forest Learning Center.

A memorial may be made at any time and is 100% tax deductible. Please fill out the form below and enclose your memorial gift. Please mail your request to:

Development Office
Fontenelle Nature Association
1111 N. Bellevue Blvd.
Bellevue, NE 68005

Include:

Name
Address
City, State, and Zip
Email address
In honor of
What card should be sent

If you have questions about memorials, please contact Laura Shiffermiller at (402) 731-3140, ext. 234.

Planned Giving: Updating Your Will
Is your will a vigorous, up-to-date, contemporary planning tool ready for duty when the time comes? Or is it an antique document? Without regular review and updating, an out-of-date will can create confusion and needless expense for surviving family members.

Here are several events which may lead you to update your will:

Marriage

Birth of a child or grandchild

Death of a spouse

Increases in value of your assets

Acquisition of new assets by gift or inheritance

Death of a beneficiary

Changes in the needs of a beneficiary

You decide to make additional bequests, such as a gift to the Fontenelle Nature Association

Review Your Will Annually
You should take time once a year to review your will to be sure it meets your current needs. New Year's Day or your birthday, are logical review dates. Ask your attorney to review your will every couple of years as well. Changes may have occurred in state or federal laws that could affect your estate.

To make a small change, you may only need a codicil (an addendum to your will). Drafting a new will may be easier if you are making major changes.

If it turns out that you need a codicil or new will, we hope you'll consider one more change: a thoughtful bequest to the Fontenelle Nature Association. We'd be happy to provide you with ideas for planning a bequest to benefit a particular program or service that is important to you.

Update Your Living Trust
If you have established a living trust that will distribute your assets at death, this document should also be reviewed regularly. Even with a living trust, it is important that you have a will - to name executors or guardians and to provide direction for assets that were not placed in the trust. Assets you acquire after setting up your living trust will not avoid probate unless they are placed in the trust.

Remember, you can make the Fontenelle Nature Association one of the beneficiaries of your living trust.

Review Other Estate Plans, Too
The time you update your will or living trust is also a good time to review all the arrangements that affect your beneficiaries:

Life insurance: Are your beneficiaries still living? Do you have enough protection for your present needs?
Retirement Accounts: Who will receive benefits from your IRA or other plan after your death? How much will they keep after taxes? Have you considered leaving these benefits to a worthy organization such as the Fontenelle Nature Association?
Savings Bonds: Did you name a beneficiary or co-owner for your bonds? Is that person still living?
Business Interests: Have you planned for an orderly transfer of any business interests you own, including payment of taxes?
Health Care Decisions: Do you have a living will or health care power of attorney to assist your doctor or family?

As always, we encourage you to speak to your financial advisor before making any changes regarding the distribution of your assets. If you would like more information on including the Fontenelle Nature Association in your will or living trust, please contact Laura Shiffermiller, Director of Development, at (402) 731-3140, ext. 234.

Corporate-Family Days

Companies are searching for options to bring families together in an activity that everyone can enjoy. The FNA wants to be a part of corporations celebrating families and has created options for corporate family days. Corporations can reserve the beautiful Katherine and Fred Buffett Forest Learning Center for a corporate family picnic. The FNA will work specifically with each corporation to tailor a day of activities for their corporate families. For example, for one flat rate, corporations can reserve the Buffett Forest Learning Center, cater in a family meal, work with FNA staff and volunteers to provide either self-guided or volunteer guided family hikes, fitness walks, animal demonstrations, children's activities and more.

Also included is access to the Sense of Place Gallery and the Children's Gallery, in addition to the Great Hall and Forest Room for guest speakers or other entertainment. This is an opportunity you won't want to miss. For more information on rates and availability, please contact Laura Shiffermiller at 402-731-3140, ext. 234 or email to lshiffermiller@fontenelleforest.org.

Interpretive Trail Kiosk Sponsorship Opportunities

Interpretive Trail Kiosks educate the public about each of the 5 biologically diverse regions of the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center.

Each Kiosk contains an overview map of the trails in that region; highlights of the trails' geography and history; detailed descriptions of the forest, wetlands, and prairies; and the associated flora and fauna found around each trail. The middle section of the signs change twice a year so that fall/winter and spring/summer happenings can both be emphasized. The lower panel features the name or logo of the corporation, foundation or individual that sponsors that particular sign for one year. If you are interested in sponsoring one of these signs, please call Laura
Shiffermiller at 402-731-3140, ext. 234 or email to lshiffermiller@fontenelleforest.org.

Other options for Charitable Giving:

If you are interested in making a gift to FNA but would like to discuss additional options, please consider one of the following:

Donating Life Insurance Policies and Individual Retirement Accounts, Creating Life-Income Gifts: Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts

Information about each of these is available by contacting Laura Shiffermiller at 402-731-3140 ext. 234 or email lshiffermiller@fontenelleforest.org.

Katherine and Fred Buffett Forest Learning Center 1111 N. Bellevue Blvd.

Bellevue, NE 68005 (402) 731-3140 abeaty@fontenelleforest.org