Gifts of Land and Bequests

Landowners may choose to donate their land to Athens Conservancy for conservation and protection. Preserving land and wildlife habitat is one of the most significant legacies a landowner can leave for future generations. Donating property can also provide substantial charitable income tax deductions and estate tax benefits. 

If you choose to donate your land, we can work with you to find the arrangement that works best for you. One meaningful option is to donate the land outright; Athens Conservancy becomes the full owner of the property and is responsible for its care, protection, and management as a nature preserve.

If you are considering a land donation, we will start by walking your land to consider its suitability for a preserve, evaluating the forest type, diversity of plant and animal species, and more. Preserving your land means we will protect it in perpetuity, making it a wonderful legacy for future generations. 

Please contact us if you are considering making a donation of land; we are happy to discuss considerations and questions.

Types of Land Donations

There are two quite different types of land donations: for preserve establishment or expansion, and for sale for income to the organization. We will tell you at the outset whether or not we think the land has preservation value. If you decide to donate the land to us to sell, we will consider placing a conservation easement on it first, thus restricting future property owners in the use of the land. 

When a new tract of land is suggested as a possible nature preserve, we will assess the land’s quality and condition. Our experts will look at things like forest type and age, presence of non-native species, diversity of native species, geology, bird life, and others.

There is also a special option that may be considered: donation of land now, while you continue to live on it. This is called a lifetime tenancy or lifetime estate. When you die or decide to relinquish use of the land, then full title reverts to Athens Conservancy. There are many advantages to this approach, and the lifetime estate can be for the entire tract, or just for a designated portion.

Bequests

When you arrange a gift in your will or living trust you are creating a personal legacy to support conservation and protect land for the future. Working with your legal or financial advisors, you may insert a clause in your will to specify the donation of land, cash or other assets, or a conservation easement. We can provide you with suggested language to include, which designates part of your estate as a gift to Athens Conservancy. Please contact us if you would like more information.