A healthy forest is the ultimate gift to the future. Long after we are gone, the trees we plant today will still be casting shade, healing creek beds, and protecting Central Texas. By leaving a gift to TreeFolks in your will or designating TreeFolks as a beneficiary, you ensure a greener, cooler, and more resilient home for generations to come.

Discuss Your Planned Gift With Our Team

Planning your legacy is deeply personal, and we are here to help ensure your wishes are honored precisely as you intend. Please reach out to our Development Team directly at development@treefolks.org or call (512) 443-5323.

Already Made a Legacy Gift?

If you have already included TreeFolks in your estate plans, please let us know by filling out this form and sending it to development@treefolks.org. We would love to thank you properly and welcome you as a founding member of our Legacy Society.

Designate TreeFolks as a Beneficiary

Looking for a simple, tax-smart way to protect our canopy without touching your bank account today? You can name TreeFolks as a full or partial beneficiary of your retirement plan (like an IRA or 401k), life insurance policy, or bank accounts. It costs nothing right now, usually takes less than 15 minutes online through your account provider, and completely bypasses the probate process, ensuring your love for Central Texas trees continues to grow.

Maximize Your Impact: Donate Stock to TreeFolks

Giving a gift of publicly traded stock often provides much greater tax benefits than giving cash. When you transfer appreciated shares to TreeFolks:

  • You receive a tax deduction based on the full, current fair market value of the stock.
  • You completely eliminate capital gains taxes on any increase in the stock’s value.
  • More of your hard-earned money goes directly toward planting trees and restoring local creek beds.

Ready to cultivate a greener tomorrow with a smart investment today? Gifts of stock given to TreeFolks are managed through the Austin Community Foundation. Please complete this form and contact the TreeFolks Development Team at development@treefolks.org so we can properly acknowledge your tax-deductible gift.

Are You 70 1/2 or Older? Lower Your Taxes While Planting Trees!

If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can make a powerful, tax-free impact on Central Texas by donating directly from your Traditional IRA. A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows you to transfer up to $105,000 annually directly to TreeFolks without that distribution counting as taxable income. If you are subject to a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), a QCD satisfies that requirement while keeping your adjusted gross income lower.

It is a brilliant way to fund local reforestation, lower your tax burden, and watch your retirement savings transform into cooling shade for our community. To arrange a QCD, simply contact your IRA custodian and have the distribution sent directly to TreeFolks, then notify our Development Team at development@treefolks.org so we can properly track and acknowledge your gift.

What is a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) and How Can It Help Plant Trees?

A Donor-Advised Fund is like a charitable savings account. You put money or stock into the fund, get an immediate tax break, and then grant those funds to your favorite nonprofits over time.

How to use it for TreeFolks:

  • Already have a fund? Log in to your financial portal, search for TreeFolks, Inc., and submit your grant recommendation in minutes. You can even set up automatic, recurring monthly grants to support our planting seasons year-round!
  • Want to open one? You can easily set up a DAF through local partners like the Austin Community Foundation or national financial institutions. It’s an ideal option if you have a high-income tax year or appreciated stocks you want to donate cleanly.

Whether you are recommending a grant today or setting up a fund for the future, your DAF can provide lasting canopy solutions for Central Texas. Email development@treefolks.org to get our organizational wiring details.

Share this Language with Your Attorney

To include TreeFolks in your will, trust, or estate plans, give your financial advisor or attorney our official organizational details:

  • Legal Name: TreeFolks, Inc.
  • Corporate Address: 10803 Platt Lane, Austin, TX 78725
  • Tax ID / EIN: 74-2569827
  • Sample Language: “I give, devise, and bequeath to TreeFolks, Inc., an Austin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, [% of my estate / the sum of $ / the residue of my estate] to support its general mission.”

Looking for more information to better understand other ways to give? Check out these resources provided by Austin Community Foundation on Helpful Bequest Language and Planned Giving Vehicles.

TreeFolks, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Please consult with your own professional tax advisor or estate attorney to determine the best giving strategy for your situation.