Help take extra special care of an elephant that is close to your heart. 
Leave a Legacy with Planned Giving
Create lasting change for captive elephants with a gift that costs you nothing in your lifetime.
Why Planned Giving Matters
Help secure a lifetime of hope and healing for elephants in need of sanctuary.
Every elephant deserves to live with peace and dignity, where their choices, voices, and needs are heard and respected. By including Global Sanctuary for Elephants (GSE) in your estate plans, you leave an enduring gift for elephants in need. Your legacy will be the rolling green hills they roam, the cool water ponds they bathe in, the freedom to choose how they spend their days, and the healing bond of a herd. Truly, there is no gift more beautiful.
Beyond creating a lasting impact for elephants, planned giving offers significant advantages for you and your loved ones. By incorporating GSE into your estate plans, you can secure tax benefits for your heirs and reduce the estate taxes that might otherwise be owed. It’s a powerful way to make a difference while ensuring your financial legacy is maximized for the people you care about most.
The Sanctuary Circle
The Sanctuary Circle honors those individuals who have expressed their dedication to elephants in need by making GSE part of their lasting personal philanthropy. These members, individually and collectively, have built a legacy for our organization by including the sanctuary elephants in their estate plans.
Members of the Sanctuary Circle receive recognition on the Sanctuary Circle Virtual Donor Wall, GSE’s bi-annual newsletter, and annual report. The Sanctuary Circle is GSE’s way of saying “thank you” for your vision and dedication to elephants.
If you prefer to remain anonymous, we are happy to honor your wishes.
If you have already made arrangements to include the sanctuary in your estate plans, you can become part of the Sanctuary Circle by notifying us of your existing plans.
Financial Benefits of Planned Giving
Note: The following information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. We urge our supporters to contact legal, financial, and tax advisors before making a planned gift to Global Sanctuary for Elephants.
Donors with large estates can reduce the amount of estate taxes their heirs will owe after their death by making a bequest—such as donating cash, real estate, or stocks. These gifts lower the overall value of the estate, thus reducing the federal estate taxes that would otherwise be charged. This provides financial relief to their heirs and ensures that a larger portion of the estate is passed down to them rather than being taxed.
When a donor includes appreciated assets like real estate or stocks in their will, those assets are transferred to the charity after their death, and the estate is not subject to capital gains taxes. The charity receives the full value of the asset, and the donor’s heirs are not burdened with capital gains tax on the appreciated value.
Types of Planned Gifts
Bequest
A bequest to GSE allows you full use of your assets during your lifetime while leaving a lasting legacy to the elephants. Include GSE as a beneficiary in your will or trust for a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or another type of provision to make a thoughtful gift to elephants, and receive potential tax savings for your estate. An unrestricted bequest provides flexibility to use the gift for GSE’s greatest needs. If you prefer to restrict your gift to a particular program or need, please let us know.
Charitable Remainder Trust
A charitable remainder trust is made during your lifetime with benefits to you and a deferred benefit to GSE. When cash, securities, or another assets are transferred to a trust, you receive payments from the trust for life or for a term of years (not exceeding 20). At the end of the lifetime or term of years, the trust terminates and the remaining assets are passed to GSE.
Charitable Lead Trust
Such trusts work just the opposite of charitable remainder trusts. A charitable lead trust is established when cash or securities or other assets are transferred to a trust. You would arrange for Global Sanctuary for Elephants to receive payments from the trust. At the end of the trust term, the remaining assets are distributed to the designated beneficiaries, usually children or other family members.
Life Insurance
By naming Global Sanctuary for Elephants as a beneficiary of all or a percentage of a fully paid life insurance policy you may no longer need and you may receive a charitable estate tax deduction for the portion you designate.
Retirement Plan Assets
Designating Global Sanctuary for Elephants as the beneficiary of some or all of your IRA can be one of the most efficient ways to make a tax-free gift after your death. By naming Global Sanctuary for Elephants as a beneficiary of all, or a percentage, of your retirement plan assets, your estate may receive a charitable estate tax deduction.
Bank and Brokerage Accounts
Most financial accounts provide the option to list a beneficiary on the account which allows the assets to transfer directly to the beneficiary, outside of your estate. By designating GSE as a beneficiary, in whole or in part, you may also be eligible for a charitable tax benefit.
Savings Bonds
Gifts of savings bonds have tax consequences when transferred to individuals but may be bequeathed to charities with fewer tax ramifications. If you are thinking of making a bequest to charity and own savings bonds, consider funding your bequest with savings bonds.
Real Estate
Gifts of homes or real property offer benefits, too. Real property gifts may include gifts of a primary residence or a vacation home. You may deed your home or vacation home to GSE while residing in and maintaining it during your lifetime and still be eligible to receive tax savings. Real estate gifts are subject to review by Global Sanctuary for Elephants.
How to Get Started
1. Consult with your financial or legal advisor.
2. Choose the type of gift.
3. Notify GSE to ensure your legacy is honored.
4. Share your plans with your heirs.
Download Sample Bequest Language
Information Needed for Making Your Gift:
Legal Name and Address:
Global Sanctuary for Elephants
7115 Southpoint Parkway, Suite 5194
Brentwood, TN 37027
Tax ID or EIN#: 46-3564818
GSE is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation
Frequently Asked Questions
The information provided here is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. We strongly encourage you to consult with your legal, financial, or tax advisors to ensure your planned gift aligns with your individual circumstances and objectives.
What types of assets can I use for planned giving? Planned gifts can be made with cash, investments, real estate, personal property or even life insurance policies.
What are the benefits of planned giving? Legacy gifts allow you to leave a lasting legacy by supporting causes that are meaningful to you, even after your lifetime. Planned giving can offer significant tax advantages, such as income tax deductions, estate tax reductions, and avoidance of capital gains taxes on appreciated assets.
How will the value of my gift of real estate be determined? For all gifts of real estate worth more than $5,000, fair market value will be determined by an independent appraisal that you will obtain.
Do I need to tell GSE that that I have named them as a beneficiary in my will or estate plan? Make sure to notify your beneficiaries of the choices you’ve made. Many banks or plan administrators assume no responsibility to tell people and charities they have been named to receive a gift.
Can I change my planned gift? Yes, planned gifts are flexible, and you can adjust or change the details of your gift at any time before your passing, ensuring it aligns with your current wishes and financial situation.
Can I make a planned gift if I’m not wealthy? Yes, people of all financial backgrounds can make meaningful gifts, whether through bequests, life insurance policies, or other assets, to leave a lasting legacy.
Are there any fees associated with planned giving? While there may be some administrative or legal fees involved in setting up a planned gift, many types of planned gifts, such as bequests and life insurance policies, do not require significant upfront costs.
Note that most experts agree: The preferred method to ensure your beneficiaries receive the proportions you desire is to divide your estate according to percentages of the residue rather than specifying dollar amounts.
Have Additional Questions?
If you would like to make Global Sanctuary for Elephants part of your personal legacy, we would be delighted to work with you. We understand that planning a legacy gift is a personal decision. If you have questions or need more information, feel free to contact us in confidence.
Contact Us
Christine Santos, Development Director
christine@globalelephants.org
THANK YOU
Thank you for considering Global Sanctuary for Elephants in your legacy planning. Your compassion and generosity help ensure a future where elephants in need can thrive with dignity, freedom, and care. Together, we can create a lasting sanctuary for these remarkable beings—a gift of hope that will endure for generations to come.
