Planned Giving

Collage of three photos. One photo is of two people observing a dried plant in a greenhouse. Another is of a cow in a field. The third is of four people posing with vegetables in front of a truck.

What kind of future can we build toward, together?

Perhaps a future in which all are fed, where the land is cared for holistically, and farming is a viable livelihood. 

A future in which those who produce our food are valued, whether they are farm owners 
or workers, and our communities are strong and thriving, neighbors help each other out, 
and biodiversity thrives.

A future in which our water and air are clean, and everyone’s basic needs are met.

We know that hopelessness in this time of great environmental and social disruption is just a narrative that has been fed to us. In reality, we have the seeds for the solutions we need. Every day, by tending and protecting land and feeding our communities, Vermont’s farmers and farmworkers, NOFA-VT supporters and members, and community leaders are nourishing those seeds and bringing us closer to the future we need.

 

Check Out the Planned Giving Toolkit

“Our fields teach us the lesson of our actions. If the fields are not fed and cared for, they will not yield up their harvest. One cannot take without giving back.”

—Larry Karp, founding member of NOFA-VT

What do you want your legacy to be?

So much is possible when we act together in service of ecological health and the well-being of our communities. These values are alive in NOFA-VT and at the heart of all of our supporters. As we continue to navigate uncertain times, we are also laying the foundation for a better future.

Together, we are planting wildflower seeds beneath the rubble, with the belief that together, we will grow a more vibrant, just future.

NOFA-VT seeks to be a bridge from the world we have today to the future in which people and the planet flourish together. We are thinking long-term and working upstream to change systems, and we invite you to be a part of all of it.

As you continue to make your own plans, consider the impact you could have when you join other supporters at NOFA-VT in making a planned gift.

If you have already included NOFA-VT in your will or estate plan, please let us know by reaching out to Erin Buckwalter so we can thank you.

A collage of three photos. One is of a farmer holding a shovel in the field. Another is of a woven basked filled with fresh vegetables. The third is of chickens in a field at sunset.

“A legacy gift locked in my commitment and gave the contribution  some sense of permanence.”

—Peter Vandertuin, NOFA-VT member in Brattleboro, VT

Planned Giving Toolkit

 

What is a planned gift?

A planned gift, also called a legacy gift or deferred gift, is a donation that is arranged during a donor’s lifetime and allocated at a future date. A gift is “planned” if it is integrated purposefully by the donor into their financial, tax, or estate planning. Unlike cash donations, there are many different ways to make a planned gift.

For 50 years, NOFA-VT has been planting the seeds of a more just, equitable food system. Just as our farmers plant orchards now to nourish the land for generations to come, your planned gift can ensure that this vital work continues far into the future. By including NOFA-VT in your will, trust, or other financial plans, you become a steward of resilient farms, thriving communities, and a food system that feeds us all—today and tomorrow.

Different Types of Planned Gifts
Gifting Your Retirement Account

Naming NOFA-VT as a beneficiary in your IRA, 401k, or other retirement accounts is one of the easiest ways to make a planned gift and doesn’t require any legal or accounting assistance. You can easily update NOFA-VT as your primary or contingent beneficiary, or as a co-beneficiary along with other individuals or organizations. Please let us know if you designate NOFA-VT as your retirement account beneficiary so we can thank you!

Additionally, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution to NOFA-VT from your current IRA, and if you are over 73, these donations count toward your Required Minimum Distribution.

Charitable Bequests

To include NOFA-VT in your will or estate, you can add a charitable bequest to your current will. This is a great way to plan for NOFA-VT’s future and ensure a lasting impact without affecting your financial resources during your lifetime. You can leave a percentage or a set amount in your charitable bequest.

Check out this guidance and sample language to add NOFA-VT into your will.

To make a free will online, visit FreeWill.com!

Gifts of Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds

Gifts of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are a tax-wise way to support NOFA-VT now and in the future. Your financial advisor will be able to discuss the options that will be best for you, including designating NOFA-VT as a beneficiary of your account or a portion of your account.

Important Info:
Account Name: Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont
Account Number: 4954-7297
Broker: Charles Schwab
DTC: 0164, Code 40.
Tax ID Number: 94-1737782

Beneficiary Designation

A simple and extremely impactful way to make a planned gift is to designate NOFA-VT as a beneficiary on your accounts, including checking and savings bank accounts, IRA and 401k, stock, donor-advised funds, and other investment accounts.

Charitable Remainder Trust

 One way to continue receiving income while making a planned gift to NOFA-VT is to set up a charitable remainder trust. If you are considering a charitable remainder trust or charitable annuity remainder, contact Erin Buckwalter for a confidential conversation at 802-419-0043.

As you make your plans, please consider the long-term impact of a bequest. We encourage unrestricted gifts because the needs of our community could evolve in the future. If you do want to restrict your gift, please discuss this with us in advance to be sure it is a gift we can accept and use to support NOFA-VT’s mission. Gifts of real estate or other property, and gifts with stipulated restrictions, can only be accepted with the approval of NOFA-VT’s Gift Acceptance Committee. 

"I have been a member of NOFA VT for so many years that I can't remember when I joined. Over the decades of attending NOFA-VT workshops and conferences, I have been gifted with incredible amounts of knowledge that I use every day in my gardening business. As a way of returning the favor, I have included NOFA-VT in my will."

—Luise Graf, longtime NOFA-VT member and owner of Mother Nature Garden Service, Bradford VT 

Have a Specific Question?

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas to Erin Buckwalter, Deputy Director of Development & Engagement, at 802-419-0043 or [email protected].

Important Information and Documents

Other Ways to Give

There are many ways to support NOFA-VT. Your generosity supports organic farming practices that sustain communities, nourish the land, and build a just food system. Thank you!

Learn More