Estate Planning Awareness Week

Photo by Linda M Swope

October 21–27, 2024, was National Estate Planning Awareness Week. It serves as a yearly reminder that everyone should have a plan for the future, regardless of age or wealth. You can safeguard your possessions, support your loved ones, and leave a legacy with a well-thought-out plan. 

As you think about the past and ponder your vision for the future, you may be considering how you can make a significant difference in conserving what makes the region so special—its land and rural heritage. While planned gifts take many forms, they are the result of careful execution and an intention to make a lasting gift. These could include bequests made in a will, naming the Teton Regional Land Trust as a life insurance beneficiary, or using tax-wise giving options such as charitable remainder trusts and donor-advised funds. 

Conservation supporters who have made planned gifts have had an extraordinary impact on our work. Thanks to early planned gifts, Teton Regional Land Trust has been able to become a secure, established land trust, better equipped to monitor perpetual easements. Planned gifts have also helped us protect thousands of acres and leverage millions of dollars in federal funding and foundation grants. 

Additionally, for landowners of working agricultural lands, succession planning can be a critical method for ensuring that working lands stay in working hands. Teton Regional Land Trust is a resource that can help with succession planning, including estate planning, to help ensure that your land and legacy are protected forever. 

If you are interested in including the Teton Regional Land Trust in your estate plans, please download the planned gift form and mail it to P.O. Box 247 Driggs, ID 83422, or email it to kami@tetonlandtrust.org. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact Kami Archibald at 208.354.8939. For any questions regarding agricultural succession planning, please contact Lydia Hansen at lydia@tetonlandtrust.org. 

Learn more about how Fred Mugler included Teton Regional Land Trust in his estate planning.