Question 1

What is Grand Canyon Conservancy's Bright Angel Circle Program?

Accepted Answer

Through a planned gift to Grand Canyon Conservancy, you qualify for lifetime membership in our most esteemed giving club – the Bright Angel Circle! Through a bequest or other gift planning vehicle, you help support GCC’s mission to inspire generations of park champions to cherish and support the natural and cultural wonder of Grand Canyon.

By far, the most common way people make planned gifts is by remembering Grand Canyon Conservancy in their wills or living trusts. But there are lots of other ways to make planned gifts that may offer significant advantages to you and your family, including ways to make gifts of property other than money.

While many goals can be achieved with planned giving, the greatest satisfaction, in the end, is knowing that your gift will make a lasting impact on the park you love.

Question 2

What Does GCC's Free Estate Planning Tool Do?

Accepted Answer

To help you get started on your plans and legacy, we have partnered with FreeWill, an online tool that guides you through the process of creating a legally valid will or trust. It’s easy to use, accessible online, and can be completed in 20 minutes. You can use this resource on its own or use it to document your wishes before finalizing your plans with an attorney.

Question 3

What are Some Bright Angel Circle Gift Planning Vehicles?

Accepted Answer

Legacy & Bequests

Making a legacy gift to GCC is a common and easy way to support us for the future. Through your will, living trust, insurance policy, etc., you can make a gift to stand the test of time. Don’t have a will yet? Try out the FreeWill service.

IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD)

Gifts from your Individual Retirement Account can be made if you are over 70 ½ years old. You can make a QCD, or charitable rollover, for up to $100,000 or $200,000 for married couples. Qualified Charitable Distributions can help reduce income taxes as the money is sent directly to GCC without going to you first. This can lower your adjusted gross income, effectively reducing income taxes.

Real Estate

Real Estate is another way to make a wonderful gift to GCC. You can gift a primary residence, vacation property, or even a commercial property. There are several ways to go about this:

You can make an outright gift of almost any property (restrictions and approvals apply) to GCC. This can provide you with a significant tax deduction in the first year. If the property exceeds your AGI, you can carry the deduction for up to an additional 5-year period.
Do you want to give GCC your house after you pass away? You can gift it now and retain the right to live there for the remainder of your life and get an immediate tax deduction. Also, this method is good for lowering your taxable estate.
Want to leave heirs the value of the real estate, but know they won’t want to hold on to it? You can make a gift of a portion of the real estate property, which will then be split by the heirs and GCC upon death.

Beneficiary Designation

An alternative to a bequest gift is designating Grand Canyon Conservancy as the beneficiary of your retirement assets. This method is as simple as filling out a new beneficiary form from your retirement plan administrator.

Life Insurance

To use your life insurance policy to make a gift, complete and return to the insurance company a form designating that Grand Canyon Conservancy receives all or a portion of the benefit associated with your life insurance policy. You may also transfer ownership of the policy, which will result in an immediate income tax charitable deduction and potential tax savings in the year you make the gift.

Bank Accounts

To direct all or a portion of what remains in a checking or savings account to Grand Canyon Conservancy, you can fill out the appropriate beneficiary designation form provided by your bank.

Investment Accounts

You can direct your investment company to transfer to Grand Canyon Conservancy some or all of the investments held in your account. Please check with your broker or agent to find out more about the process of doing this.

Insurance

Gifts from insurance are as easy as adding GCC as a beneficiary to your existing policy. Depending on the policy, you can specify a percentage, a fixed amount, or a contingent amount based on other beneficiaries.

Question 4

What is GCC's Planned Giving Advisory Council?

Accepted Answer

The GCC Planned Giving Advisory Council comprises a group of talented and influential professional advisors dedicated to the mission and vision of Grand Canyon Conservancy. Their goal is to serve as ambassadors of this mission, educating clients, communities, and colleagues about the funding opportunities at Grand Canyon National Park.

Question 5

Have You Already Included GCC in Your Legacy Plan?

Accepted Answer

If you have already included Grand Canyon Conservancy in your legacy plans, please take a moment to let us know by completing our intention form.

Park Information

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Begin your legacy with us!

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Free Estate Planning Tool

Gift Planning Vehicles

Bright Angel Circle Member Testimonials

Ellie and Chris Tiano

Terri Kline

Barry Oleksak and Jeffrey D. Judds

Planned Giving Advisory Council