About Planned Giving

"The ultimate test of a man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." Gaylord Nelson, former Governor of Wisconsin, founder of Earth Day, and honorary emeritus member of NRF

Through a planned gift to the Natural Resources Foundation, you can touch the future and enable future generations to experience a Wisconsin as naturally endowed as the one you enjoyed in your lifetime. Our home is changing. Wisconsin’s unique natural resources face new pressures with each passing year. The Natural Resources Foundation is working to safeguard and conserve these vulnerable resources we all enjoy, and a planned gift from you will help ensure that tomorrow’s natural landscape is as rich as today’s.

You can name NRF as a beneficiary of your will, IRA, retirement plan or a life insurance policy. See Sample Bequest Language for including NRF in your estate plans.

The Natural Resources Foundation's Role

The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation under IRS tax code Section 501(c)(3).  NRF's Federal Tax ID # is 39-1572034.   The mission of the Foundation is create opportunities for individuals and organizations who care about the conservation of Wisconsin’s lands, waters and wildlife to:

• deepen their understanding and appreciation of these natural resources;
• support state and local conservation programs; and
• establish conservation endowments.

The Foundation serves a unique role in the Wisconsin conservation and philanthropy community:

Wisconsin-Based. We are not affiliated with a larger national organization; all contributions stay in Wisconsin to protect and enhance the state’s natural resources.

Public Conservation Focus. The Foundation is unique in serving primarily public conservation needs throughout the state, thereby benefiting all citizens.

Professional Conservation Expertise. The Foundation’s staff has extensive experience in diverse
aspects of Wisconsin conservation and can assist donors with identifying specific projects to be supported. The staff works closely with administrators and field personnel of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to identify our state's most important public conservation needs. The Foundation’s diverse and professional board of directors includes many prominent conservationists and former DNR administrators who bring their wealth of knowledge and expertise to the organization.

“We are landowners in southwestern Wisconsin and have learned through the decades how truly precious and special our driftless Wisconsin landscape is. We feel extremely privileged to live in Wisconsin. Our natural resources are being compromised by so many forces, and that gives us great concern for the future. We desperately need organizations like NRF to protect, enhance and expand the land ethic that we want for Wisconsin today and into the future. With this in mind, we are placing in our will a clause that, upon our mutual deaths, a set amount will be given to NRF before the proceeds of our estate are divided among our family. This gift will also be in honor of our family as they will directly benefit by this action and the work of NRF. We urge others to consider this method of gifting for the generations that follow.” – Jerry and Barbara Larson, Natural Heritage Circle members

Creating a Planned Gift through NRF

The Natural Resources Foundation will ensure that your gift, whether outright or through a bequest or life-income fund, is dedicated to the conservation causes that matter most to you. You can dedicate your gift to our general conservation activities to be used to meet priority conservation needs as they arise, or to a specific conservation program or activity of your choosing.

You can also use your planned gift to create a named, endowed fund through our Wisconsin Conservation Endowment to ensure a permanent source of funding for the part of Wisconsin you care most about. You may wish to endow any of the ongoing conservation programs of the Foundation or one of your particular conservation interests, such as a specific location or region, a particular habitat or landscape, a favorite public conservation program, or an endangered species of wildlife. You may also choose to make a planned gift for long-term support of one or more of your favorite conservation organizations.

“I was very pleased to have NRF facilitate an endowment. It met my personal desire to leave a legacy gift to our state’s resources, and I hope others will follow this example.” Anonymous Natural Heritage Circle member and creator of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Fund

Named Funds

With a minimum gift of $10,000, you can create a Named Fund whereby your gift will be permanently endowed for the conservation issue of your choosing.

Donor-Advised Funds

With a gift of $20,000 or more, you may establish a Donor-Advised Fund whereby you or your designee advises the Foundation, on an annual basis, as to which conservation activities or programs may be supported with the Fund’s earnings.

Acorn Funds

You may “start small, think big” by creating an Acorn Fund with a starting gift of $1,000 and minimum contributions of $1,000 per year until the threshold is reached for establishing a Named or Donor-Advised Fund.

You also have the option of creating a Spend Down Fund or a Pass Through Fund that exist for finite periods of time. A Pass Through Fund usually entails the Foundation making one or several allocations over a short period of time (less than one year). A Spend Down Fund will provide annual distributions for a specified number of years as determined by you (maximum 10 years), or until the fund is depleted.

Agency Funds

An organization may endow their activities and programs by an Agency Fund with a minimum gift of $20,000.

For more information on the Wisconsin Conservation Endowment and to view our named and donor-advised fund policies Wisconsin Conservation Endowment.

“I thank the Natural Resources Foundation for providing a vehicle for me to provide future funding to organizations that protect natural resources in Wisconsin, and it gives me satisfaction that I have created a long-term fund that will distribute resources as I have directed. The Foundation’s staff were very helpful during this process and it was a pleasure working with them.” Dale Druckrey, Natural Heritage Circle member and creator of the Dale Druckrey Conservation Fund

The Future Depends on You Today

To learn more about planned giving with the Natural Resources Foundation, and to take a step towards making a meaningful legacy gift, please contact us at info@wisconservation.org.

You can discuss planned giving with an NRF representative by calling toll free (866) 264-4096