Your support creates real impact
Conserving plants.
Inspiring futures.
From research and conservation to education and community programs-your generosity helps protect alpine plants and the planet.
Betty Ford Alpine GardensBetty Ford Alpine GardensBetty Ford Alpine Gardens
The bristlecone pine is one of the oldest living organisms on earth. Some have stood for five thousand years — through drought, wind, and the slow grind of changing seasons — because of what they are rooted in.
That is what a legacy gift to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens means. It is a belief, put into action, that wild spaces are worth protecting. That this alpine environment — the wildflowers, the seed banks, the meadows, the mornings — is a gift to every person who comes next.
The Bristlecone Pine Legacy Society is made up of donors who share that belief. People who have chosen to ensure that the Gardens endures — through a bequest, a retirement account, a life insurance policy, or any of the ways a life’s generosity can be passed forward. There are no dues and no obligations. Just a community of people who love this place and have decided to do something lasting about
As with all charitable planning, we encourage you to speak with your financial advisor or estate planning attorney to find the approach that best fits your situation.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact our Development team.
A bequest is one of the most powerful gifts you can make — and one of the simplest. By including Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in your will or trust, you ensure that the wildflowers, the seed-banking work, and the place you love will be here for generations to come. A bequest can be a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after other gifts are made. No attorney visit is required to get started — just a conversation.
Resource: A Guide for Donors: Leaving a Gift in Your Will or Trust
If you are 70½ or older, you may be able to transfer funds directly from your IRA to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens without counting it as taxable income. This is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution, and for many donors it is one of the most tax-efficient ways to give. You can also name the Gardens as a beneficiary of your retirement account — a simple form that costs nothing today and can be changed at any time.
Donating appreciated stock directly to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens can be more tax-efficient than giving cash. When you transfer securities you’ve held for more than a year, you generally avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation — and the Gardens receives the full value of your gift. We accept gifts of publicly traded securities and are happy to walk you through the transfer process.
If you have a Donor Advised Fund, recommending a grant to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is usually just a few clicks through your provider’s portal. You can also name the Gardens as a successor beneficiary of your DAF — meaning any remaining funds pass to the organizations you love when your account closes. It’s a simple way to extend your generosity beyond your lifetime, with no additional estate planning required.
If you have a life insurance policy you no longer need for its original purpose, naming Betty Ford Alpine Gardens as a beneficiary — or transferring ownership of the policy to the Gardens — can turn it into one of the most significant gifts you’ll ever make. It often requires nothing more than a one-page change of beneficiary form.
You don’t need a will, an attorney, or a formal estate plan to make a planned gift. Many financial accounts — including bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and retirement accounts — allow you to name a charity directly as a beneficiary. The assets pass to the Gardens automatically, outside of probate. It takes about ten minutes and can be changed at any time.
Gifts of real estate — a family cabin, a piece of land, a second home — can be among the most significant a donor ever makes, and they often come with meaningful tax benefits. Here in the Vail Valley, we know that many of you have a deep connection to this land. Every gift of real estate is evaluated individually. We welcome a quiet conversation about what might be possible.
From research and conservation to education and community programs-your generosity helps protect alpine plants and the planet.
