Leaving a legacy gift in your will or trust can make a lasting difference to the Florida Park Service Ranger Association and those who serve Florida State Parks, past and present.

Your legacy gift should be thoughtfully planned. Many gifts cost nothing now, there is no minimum contribution, and you are not locked into a decision you make today.  Many good planning techniques are available, and you should choose the type of legacy gift that best suits your personal objectives.

The Florida Park Services Ranger Association, Inc. encourages donors to consult with their financial and tax advisors before making a legacy gift. 

Benefits

• Assets remain in your control during your lifetime
• Modify your bequest to address changing circumstances
• Direct your bequest to a particular purpose
• No upper limit on the estate tax deduction

Some donors prefer to bequeath a certain percentage of the remainder of their estate — the amount that remains after paying all debts, costs, and other prior legacies. Some bequests can be a stated dollar amount, or you can bequeath specific property to the Friends.

Whichever form you prefer, you can direct that your bequest be used for the general support of our work or for a specific purpose supporting Florida Park Services Ranger Association. 

ESTATE PLANNING

Most legacy giving supporters make unrestricted gifts that allow us to use their funds for Florida Park Services Ranger Association's most pressing needs. We are happy to discuss specific ideas you may have for your gift. To make an unrestricted bequest, consider using the following language in your estate plan:

“I bequeath $_________ or _____ percent of my residuary estate to the Florida Park Services Ranger Association, Inc. a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, organized and existing under the laws of the State of Florida (Federal tax identification number  90-1076487, for its ongoing conservation and educational purposes.”  [If you’d like to restrict your bequest for a specific purpose, please let us know.]

Individuals making legacy gifts via their estate plans are vital to our efforts supporting Florida Park Services Ranger Association. If you plan to include the Florida Park Services Ranger Association , Inc. in your estate plans or already have done so, please contact us. 

FPSRA FUND

The Florida Park Services Ranger Association, Inc. has partnered with the Community Foundation of North Central Florida to establish the FPSRA Fund to provide for the long-term sustainability of the organization.

These funds are professionally invested under the supervision of local, community-based financial experts who have experience in building and preserving funds in perpetuity. 

Some donors may prefer the relative long-term security of the Community Foundation. Learn more about the FPSRA Fund and our partnership with the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.

Give to the FPSRA Fund

IRA GIFT

It’s easy to designate the Florida Park Services Ranger Association, Inc. as a beneficiary of all or part of your 401k IRA or another qualified plan. You can obtain a Designation of Beneficiary Form from your retirement plan administrator and complete it as directed.

Those, age 70-1/2 and older, with a traditional IRA, must take a mandatory minimum distribution. Donors can transfer funds from their IRA accounts directly to the charities of their choice without first having to recognize the distribution as income. Sometimes called an “IRA Rollover” or a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), a gift made directly from your qualified IRA can lower your taxable income. Because distributions from retirement plans may be subject to income tax, it can be a good strategy to use these for charitable bequests and leave other assets to heirs.

STOCKS GIFT

Gifts of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds can save on taxes. These types of securities gifted to the Florida Park Services Ranger Association, Inc. are typically sold and the proceeds used for its programs. You receive gift credit and an immediate income tax deduction for the fair market value of the securities on the date of transfer, no matter what you originally paid for them.

TANGIBLE PROPERTY

Some donors give land or other real estate or other valuable personal property such as vehicles, boats, antiques, or jewelry.  Let us turn those assets into a legacy. Typically, the Florida Park Services Ranger Association would sell the real estate or other tangible property and use the proceeds to fund our programs.