Legacy + Planned Giving
Join the Cascadia Legacy Circle.
By including Sightline Institute in your estate plans, you become part of the Cascadia Legacy Circle—a growing community of people who share a vision of strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
A planned gift extends your commitment, creating a lasting foundation for the work that matters most to you: climate, housing, democracy, and the ecosystems we all depend on. These gifts provide Sightline with the sustained, flexible support needed to pursue long-term impact—long after any of us is here.
“We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren, and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can’t speak for themselves, such as the birds, animals, fish, and trees.”
–Qwatsinas (Hereditary Chief Edward Moody), Nuxalk Nation, whose traditional territory is in the Bella Coola Valley of British Columbia
Ways to make a planned gift
There are many ways to include Sightline in your estate planning. Here are the most common and straightforward options.
1. Charitable Bequest (most common)
Name Sightline Institute in your will or living trust as the recipient of a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or the residual after other bequests are fulfilled.
2. Retirement Account Designation
Make Sightline Institute a beneficiary or secondary beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or other retirement account. This is often one of the most tax-efficient planned gifts.
3. Life Insurance Beneficiary
Name Sightline Institute as a beneficiary on a new or existing life insurance policy—a simple update that requires no changes to your will.
4. Charitable Remainder Trust
A charitable remainder trust (CRT) provides you or your loved ones with income during your lifetime, with the remainder passing to Sightline Institute when the trust’s terms are met.
Want to make a gift we’ll receive today?
IRA Charitable Rollover (Qualified Charitable Distribution): If you’re 70½ or older, you can make a direct gift to Sightline straight from your IRA, no estate planning required. These gifts are tax-free and count toward your required minimum distribution, making them one of the most tax-efficient ways to give.
Contact your IRA administrator to initiate a direct transfer to Sightline Institute (EIN: 52-1833599).
Ready to include Sightline in your plans?
Below is sample bequest language you can share with your attorney.
“I give, devise, and bequeath to Sightline Institute, a nonprofit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Washington (Tax ID: 52-1833599), located in Seattle, Washington, [the sum of $_____ / _____% of my estate / the residue of my estate] for its general charitable purposes.”
This is sample language only. Please consult your estate planning attorney to ensure proper inclusion in your documents.
We are deeply honored when donors choose to include Sightline Institute in their legacy plans. These intentional gifts help create a strong financial foundation upon which we can continue to work on your behalf toward our shared goal of a sustainable Cascadia.
If you have already included Sightline in your estate plans, we would love to know about your gift so we can thank you personally!
Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Sightline Institute is a registered nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. Our EIN is 52-1833599.
