What tracks will you leave behind?
Planned gifts can help Defenders of Wildlife protect wolves, polar bears, and other wild animals and places for generations to come. Learn how you can leave a lasting mark on wildlife across America by designating us in your will, donating through a charitable gift annuity, making a gift through your retirement account, and more.
How to Designate Defenders of Wildlife in Your Will
You don't have to be wealthy to leave a lasting legacy. A bequest of any amount contributes to our ability to protect wildlife for future generations. A sentence or two in your will completes your bequest and it's easy to revoke if your situation changes. Plus, your assets remain in your control during your lifetime.
You can designate a gift of a certain amount or a percentage of your estate to Defenders using the following sample language:
“I hereby give ______ (percentage, residuary share or specific amount or asset) to Defenders of Wildlife, 1130 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036.” Tax ID number: 53-0183181
Want to get started today?
We partner with FreeWill to give you a free and easy way to write or update your legal will. This tool also gives you the option to include a gift to Defenders of Wildlife, so you can help protect the wildlife you love for generations to come.
Contact the Planned Giving Team at legacy@defenders.org or 1-800-915-6789 with any questions.
Setting up a Charitable Gift Annuity
Provide long-term support for Defenders of Wildlife and ensure you have the income you need in retirement with a charitable gift annuity.
Donate $10,000 or more to Defenders of Wildlife using cash or securities and, with a signed contract, Defenders will send you monthly, quarterly, or annual payments that are partially tax-free.
Gifts from Your Retirement Plan
Maximize your charitable impact by learning how to give through your IRA or other retirement plan. We can help guide you through setting up a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) or how to designate Defenders of Wildlife as a beneficiary of your retirement plan.
Wildlife Legacy Society Benefits
Defenders of Wildlife established the Wildlife Legacy Society to recognize exceptionally dedicated individuals who care deeply about protecting wildlife for future generations and have expressed their commitment by making a gift to Defenders in their estate plans.
There are several ways to provide a gift to Defenders of Wildlife that will endure beyond your lifetime. A commitment made through your will or trust, retirement plan, charitable gift annuity, life insurance policy or charitable remainder trust will entitle you to membership in Defenders' Wildlife Legacy Society.
We can help you choose a legacy gift that will meet both your personal and philanthropic goals. Many of these gifts can provide significant tax and financial advantages to you and your loved ones.
Legacy Member Benefits
- Invitations to regular phone briefings/webinars with program staff.
- Subscription to The Tracks You Leave Behind, a newsletter with highlights on our work and legacy giving information.
- Yearly Defenders of Wildlife calendar.
- Opportunity to meet with Defenders staff near you.
- Invitation to join the Wildlife Legacy Society Facebook group.
- Knowing your legacy gift will help ensure that Defenders’ mission continues for generations to come.
Wildlife Legacy Society member, Caroline Gable shares her story
Contact Our Planned Giving Team
The Planned Giving team strives to meet with each of our Wildlife Legacy Society members in order to convey our gratitude and appreciation in person. We truly enjoy the opportunity to get to know our members and to share more in-depth updates on the important work Defenders is doing. Please contact us if you are interested in meeting with a member of the team; we’d love to connect with you!
To Contact Our Planned Giving Team:
PHONE:
Toll-free Legacy Line: 1-800-915-6789
Headquarters: 202-682-9400
EMAIL: legacy@defenders.org
MAIN ADDRESS:
Defenders of Wildlife
1130 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Request Information
Thank you for your interest in Defenders of Wildlife’s planned giving program. We are honored that you are considering a legacy gift for wildlife. Because of generous, forward thinking supporters like you, Defenders will continue to fight for vulnerable wildlife and their habitats far into the future.
To request a FREE brochure on how to include Defenders in your will or other estate plans (or to let us know that you already have!) please complete this form.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can make an outright gift of securities or other property (e.g., real estate , personal property). Through your will or living trust or with a distribution from a retirement plan or life insurance policy, you can designate a gift to Defenders of Wildlife.
The most beneficial method is to name us as the beneficiary of the property sale.
When you establish a Defenders of Wildlife charitable gift annuity, you make a donation using cash or appreciated securities and we, in turn, pay you a fixed amount for life. Complete this form and we’ll send you an example of how a charitable gift annuity can benefit you.