A gift of cash or securities in your will or living trust is a simple and rewarding way to support the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program. It has no impact on your current lifestyle and can be updated at any time.

When making a gift, you can list a specific amount or a percentage, as some people find it difficult to predict the final value of their estate. Making an unrestricted gift will allow us to use the donation for our most pressing needs. However, we will happily discuss any specific wishes you may have for your gift.

Sample Bequest Language

“I bequeath $___________ or ______% of my residuary estate to the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, with its principal office located at 1305 N. Shoreline Blvd, Suite 205, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78401and tax identification number 74-2924909, for its ongoing conservation, restoration, education, and recreation purposes.”

A gift of retirement assets (401K, IRA) is one of the most tax efficient ways to make a charitable donation. When passed to heirs, retirement assets may be subject to both estate and income taxes. When you name CBBEP as a full, partial, or contingent beneficiary of those assets, we receive the full amount of your gift, tax-free.

Another option for individuals over 70 ½, is to make a direct contribution of up to $100,000 each year from an IRA to a qualified charity, tax-free. This allows you the enjoyment of making a difference during your lifetime, while meeting your annual mandatory distribution.

For both types of gifts, contact your retirement plan administrator with CBBEP’s contact information and tax identification number 74-2924909.

You can use life insurance assets to make a contribution to the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program. The simplest method is to name CBBEP as a full, partial, or contingent beneficiary of your policy. You retain full control of your policy and any value it accrues. To make this gift, contact your insurance company or agent to complete a beneficiary designation form. You may also name CBBEP as the owner of a life insurance policy during your lifetime. This allows you to receive an immediate income tax charitable deduction for a portion of the policy’s face value.

There are several ways that gifts of real estate can provide meaningful support for the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program. We welcome discussion about specific wishes for your property and list several options for gifts of real estate below.

Outright Donation An outright donation provides you with an immediate income tax charitable deduction equal to the property’s current market value and eliminates capital gains tax, securing the full value for use by CBBEP.

Gift in Will or Living Trust This is a great way to support to support CBBEP’s work in the future, while retaining control of your property during your lifetime.

Bargain Sale In certain circumstances, CBBEP can purchase your property directly for a deeply discounted price. This provides you with an income tax charitable deduction equal to the difference between the property’s appraised market value and our purchase price. This type of donation allows you to make a gift to CBBEP while receiving cash for other purposes.

When CBBEP acquires a property, we accept the responsibility to maintain and steward the property. For that reason, we carefully evaluate each property on a case-by-case basis to ensure the property supports our strategic goals. To discuss options for gifts of real estate, contact Jake Herring, Director of Land Conservation and Stewardship at 361-336-0309 or  jherring@cbbep.org.