The Liz Putnam Legacy Society is for those who have taken the special step of supporting the future of youth conservation service work at the SCA through their estate plans or other planned gifts. The Society honors donors whose planned gifts help secure the SCA's future and continue our founder Liz Putnam's legacy of environmental stewardship and youth leadership.
Since 1957, the SCA has provided more than 100,000 young people with opportunities to protect our precious natural resources at national parks, state forests and community green spaces nationwide. Your support directly funds our mission to safeguard the environment and transform lives.
Learn how easy it is to leave a lasting legacy for the future of the SCA so we can continue to protect vital outdoor spaces, critical habitats, and endangered ecosystems for years to come.
To see the difference your future gift will make and to learn about other ways you can make the SCA part of your permanent legacy, download our free brochure.
Your gift will help the SCA build the next generation of conservation leaders, protecting our parks and public lands now and into the future. Program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces across the country through hands-on service projects. These remarkable young leaders have vision and determination. Your support directly funds our mission to safeguard the environment and inspire young people to take action.
These gifts provide critical, dependable funding as we work to create a sustainable future for all. Although we have more than 100,000 SCA alums, young people always show more interest in service than we have the funds to provide. Your legacy gift can build new generations of young leaders who will work to preserve our natural and cultural resources and fight for a more sustainable, livable world for everyone.
A legacy gift to the Student Conservation Association in your will, living trust or beneficiary designation has a vital and sustainable impact on our mission to protect the planet and build the next generation of conservation leaders.
There are several ways to include a gift to the SCA in your will or living trust. Some options:
You can leave a defined sum of money.
You can leave a percentage of funds left over after other gifts and debts are paid and your loved ones are provided for.
You can leave some percentage of your estate.
You can make a secondary or contingent gift that comes to SCA only if your other beneficiaries do not survive you or other specific gifts cannot be fulfilled.
We suggest this simple language for your will, codicil to your will, or your living trust:
“I hereby give and bequeath < description of gift> to The Student Conservation Association, a tax-exempt organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Virginia, with the Tax Identification Number 91-0880684, for their general purposes.”
If you would like to direct your gift to a particular project or for a particular purpose, we can assist you and your attorney in drafting language that ensures your gift will be used as you intend.
You can name the SCA as a beneficiary of some percentage or all of your:
Retirement accounts
Life insurance plan
Bank and brokerage accounts
You can make a meaningful difference for the SCA by simply signing your name – there’s no need to update your will.
To make a gift through a beneficiary designation, contact your retirement plan administrator, insurance company, bank, or financial institution for a change-of-beneficiary form. You may be able to request or download the form from your online account portal.
As with gifts in your will, you can designate all or a percentage of the funds in your account, and you can name SCA as a primary beneficiary or a second-in-line beneficiary. And, of course, you can change your mind at any time.
Simple Steps to Make Your Gift
1. Contact your retirement plan administrator, insurance company, bank, or financial institution for a change-of-beneficiary form. You may be able to request or download your form from your online account portal.
2. Be sure to include our Tax ID number #91-0880684.
3. Please let us know. Some financial institutions will not notify us after your lifetime that we are a beneficiary; sharing your wishes now helps ensure your gift will be distributed as you wish.
A DAF succession plan is an important part of your overall estate plan and charitable legacy. It simply involves directing your DAF sponsor on how to distribute assets remaining in your charitable giving fund after your lifetime.
There is no downside to making a succession plan. As with most charitable estate plans, you can always update your plan, or your beneficiaries, at any time. Depending on your DAF sponsor’s requirements, you may have multiple options:
Distribute fund remaining directly to charity:
Direct that funds remaining be immediately or over several years distributed to SCA and/or other charities.
You can work directly with our gift planning team to create a gift agreement that specifies how you would like your gift used and recognized.
Distribute funds indirectly through successor advisors:
Appoint family members or others to take over as successor advisors. They will continue giving from the fund. Note that successor advisors may not share your philanthropic goals or support the causes that matter to you and are not required to continue supporting the charities you prefer.
Divide your account: Direct some funds to be distributed directly to the charity of your choice; remaining funds may be distributed by successor advisors.
We encourage you and your financial advisors to reach out to learn more about how to make a significant investment in conservation now and for the future.
You must be 70½ years or older at the time of the gift
Gifts must be sent directly from your IRA to SCA
While your gift is not eligible for a tax deduction, you will not pay income taxes that would otherwise be due from the distribution
How it works:
Request a QCD from your retirement administrator – you may even be able to log in to your online account to make your request.
The distribution must be sent directly to SCA – you cannot withdraw the funds first.
While you will not get a tax deduction for your gift, there is no income tax due on the distribution. This is a great option if you don’t itemize.
If you are 73 or older and need to take a required minimum distribution (RMD), you can direct some or all of it as a QCD.
You can make up to $105,000 in QCD gifts to all charities in a year ($210,000 for married couples who can donate up to $105,000 each from their own retirement plans).
You will need our Tax ID number. And please request that your administrator include your name on the transfer so we can ensure you get the correct acknowledgment:
Tax Identification Number: 91-0880684
When you make a gift of appreciated securities, you may receive an immediate income tax charitable deduction as well as avoid capital gains taxes. You can find the information you need to make a gift of appreciated securities here.
Give Now:
A gift in your will or by beneficiary designation requires no immediate donation, and you can change your mind at any time. We are grateful for gifts in any amount. You also have the option to name the SCA as a secondary or contingent beneficiary, so we only get your gift if your other beneficiaries do not need these funds.
When including a gift in your will or other plan, be sure to include our legal designation:
The Student Conservation Association
Tax Identification Number: 91-0880684
1310 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 110
Arlington, VA 22201
To explore your giving options, let us know you’ve completed a gift, or to learn more about specific legacy programs and projects, please contact us.
Phone: 888-722-9675
Email: donorrelations@thesca.org
