Make an Estate or Planned Gift

Photo by Mark Orfila

Make a Bequest for the Future of Trails

A bequest to Rails to Trails Conservancy from your estate or retirement assets will help safeguard a bright future for America’s trails and greenways. There is no better way to pass on your love for the outdoors and to help protect these priceless trails for future generations.

Donors choose a bequest because:

  • Your assets remain in your control. A bequest is not payable until death, so it does not affect your assets or cash flow during your lifetime.
  • The value is not subject to federal or state inheritance taxes, and there is no upper limit. Your estate receives a tax deduction for the full value of your bequest.
  • You can modify the provisions in your will, trust or account designations at any time.
  • It is private; your plans are not filed or made public until your death, or you can remain anonymous.

Do you already have a gift to RTC in your will? If so, please let us know your plans so we can thank you and welcome you into our Heritage Circle.

Enrollment Form
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How to Make a Bequest

  1. Include a bequest provision in your will or estate plans for RTC.
  2. Designate RTC as a beneficiary of your retirement account, IRA or life insurance.

RTC is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and further described in section 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi).

RTC’s Tax Identification number is: 52-1437006.

At RTC, all unrestricted charitable gifts are used strategically to support top programmatic priorities. If you have a more specific purpose in mind, please contact us at 202.974.5118 to ensure that we can meet your wishes.

Download this and more information in our bequest guide in our planned giving Resources section.

Naming RTC in Your Will or Estate—Legal Language and Tax ID

A will is essential if you wish to make a bequest from your estate to RTC. You should consult a lawyer, whether you are making a will for the first time or updating an existing document.

If you wish to name RTC in your will or estate plan, we should be named as:

Rails to Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under the laws of the District of Columbia, with the principal business address of 2445 M Street, NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20037.
Tax Identification Number: 52-1437006
Date of Incorporation: Nov. 22, 1985

Download this and more information in our bequest guide in our planned giving Resources section.

Naming RTC as a Beneficiary of Your Retirement Plan or Life Insurance Policy

Including RTC as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or life insurance policy is a simple and powerful way to provide for the future of America’s trails.

Request a beneficiary designation form from your retirement account or life-insurance program administrator. On that form, identify RTC with our full name, address and tax ID number, as appears above.

Download this and more information in our IRA and Life Insurance Gift guide in our planned giving Resources section.

Become a Member of RTC’s Heritage Circle

If you’re leaving a legacy for trails by supporting RTC with a bequest, please let us know! We’re eager to honor your extraordinary commitment to trails with membership in RTC’s Heritage Circle, composed of special members who’ve made a legacy commitment to trails. Your membership in the Heritage Circle is private and anonymous, unless you request recognition.

Your membership in the Heritage Circle helps RTC strengthen our mission and impact, and creates special opportunities to deepen your connection to our work and the trails you love.

In recognition of their important commitment to our mission, we offer Heritage Circle members special privileges, including:

To join the Heritage Circle, simply download and complete the enrollment form and return it to:

Rails to Trails Conservancy
Heritage Circle
2445 M Street, NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 200367
Fax: 202.223.9257

Resources

You can help protect the trails we love for the next generation by making a planned gift with RTC. Contact us today for more information.

Rails to Trails Conservancy
Heritage Circle
2445 M Street, NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202.974.5118
Fax: 202.223.9257
heritage@railstotrails.org

We are glad to provide you and your advisor with suggestions to assist in your estate and tax planning. However, we cannot provide tax or legal advice, and we encourage all our donors to obtain their own independent and professional advice.

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