Legacy & Planned Giving

Leave a Lasting Legacy with Planned Giving

At American Farmland Trust (AFT), your support ensures that America’s farmland remains productive and protected for generations to come. Through planned giving, you can make a lasting impact that aligns with your financial goals and philanthropic values. Join us in preserving the land that sustains us all.

The Legacy Circle

If you have already included American Farmland Trust in your estate plans, please let us know so we can welcome you into The Legacy Circle. Your membership speaks to your commitment to protecting America’s farmland and ensuring a sustainable future for generations.

Is AFT part of your legacy plan?

Let Us Know

Why Planned Giving?

Planned giving is a way to support AFT while also meeting your personal financial and estate planning goals. It involves making a thoughtful, often long-term gift — through your will, estate plan, or other arrangements — that reflects what matters most to you. Whether you choose to make a gift today or in the future, there are a variety of options available, each offering meaningful benefits for you and your loved ones.

Gifts You Make Today

Invest in Farmland Conservation with Appreciated Securities

America’s farmland is one of our nation’s most valuable resources. When you donate stocks or mutual funds to American Farmland Trust, you help protect the land that feeds our communities and supports farmers across the country.

A gift of appreciated securities may help you avoid capital gains tax while offering potential tax benefits. Most importantly, your generosity helps ensure America’s farmland remains protected, productive, and available for future generations.

How It Works

Donate Appreciated Securities: You can donate appreciated assets such as publicly traded stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares to American Farmland Trust (AFT). By giving securities instead of cash, you may be able to avoid capital gains tax and receive potential tax benefits.
Transfer Your Gift: Simply transfer your securities to AFT. Once received, AFT will sell the assets and use the proceeds to support critical farmland protection and sustainable agriculture programs. Your gift helps advance AFT’s mission while making the giving process simple and tax-efficient for you.
Notify AFT: Let us know that your gift is coming so that we can easily identify your gift when it comes in.

Making Your Gift

Stock Transfer Instructions

Brokerage: Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, & Smith, Washington, DC
Phone Number: (202) 659-7312
Contact: Misty Davis, [email protected]
DTC Number: 8862
Account Name: American Farmland Trust (Federal ID # 52-1190211)
Account Number: 749-04037

If you would like more information, please email [email protected] or fill out this form, and a member of our team will contact you directly.

AFT does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. When considering planning matters, please seek the advice of your own legal, tax, or financial professionals.

Real Estate Can Make a Significant Impact

Real estate that has been part of your family for generations can become a powerful investment in the future of America’s farmland. By donating all or part of your property to American Farmland Trust, you may reduce capital gains taxes, receive an income tax deduction, and even create income for life. In some cases, you may also continue to live on or use the property. Most importantly, your generous gift will support AFT's mission of protecting America's farmland.

How It Works

There are various ways to use your real estate to support the mission of American Farmland Trust while also meeting your financial goals.

Donate Your Property: Donate your property outright. AFT will sell it and use the proceeds to support farmland conservation and sustainable agriculture initiatives. You will receive a tax deduction for the property's full value and could avoid paying capital gains tax.
Receive Income: Use your property to fund a gift that provides income to you and/or a beneficiary. You may qualify for a charitable income tax deduction for a portion of the property’s value while you and your beneficiary receive payments for life (or for a set number of years).
Stay in Your Home: By creating a retained life estate, you can donate your home and continue to live there (it does not have to be your principal residence). You will receive an immediate tax deduction. At the end of your tenancy, American Farmland Trust will sell the property and use the proceeds to support farmland conservation.
Make a Gift in Your Will or Trust: Maintain control of your property by making a gift through your will or trust. You can change your mind or alter your gift at any time. Ultimately, AFT will use your gift to support farmland conservation and sustainable agriculture for future generations.

Farm Legacy for Landowners

AFT’s national Farm Legacy initiative ensures that land remains in farming as it transitions to the next generation while improving access to land for new farmers — honoring the nation’s farming and ranching legacy and securing its future. The comprehensive Farm Legacy initiative leverages AFT’s unique position as the only national organization focusing on farmland, ranchland, and the people who steward it.

Learn More

If you would like more information, please email [email protected] or fill out this form, and a member of our team will contact you directly.

AFT does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. When considering planning matters, please seek the advice of your own legal, tax, or financial professionals.

If you are age 70½ or older, you can make a tax-free gift directly from your IRA to American Farmland Trust. This type of gift — known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) — is a simple and tax-efficient way to support farmland conservation while maximizing the impact of your charitable giving. Your generosity helps protect America’s farmland and support sustainable agriculture for future generations.

How It Works

Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution: If you are age 70½ or older, you can transfer funds directly from your traditional or Roth IRA to American Farmland Trust.
Give Up to the Annual Limit: You may direct up to the annual limit allowed by the IRS each year from your IRA to American Farmland Trust. The limit for 2026 is $111,000 (indexed for inflation).
Transfer Funds Directly: Your IRA administrator sends the distribution directly to American Farmland Trust, allowing the gift to qualify as a tax-free charitable distribution.

Example: At age 75, you have an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $100,000 and a required minimum distribution of $8,000 this year. You direct a $5,000 from your IRA to American Farmland Trust.

The $5,000 gift to AFT counts toward your RMD.
That $5,000 is excluded from your taxable income, reducing your AGI and overall tax burden.
You make a meaningful gift to support farmland protection.

Making Your Gift

Follow our simple guide to request your Qualified Charitable Distribution today.

QCD Guide (external link)

If you would like more information, please email [email protected] or fill out this form, and a member of our team will contact you directly.

AFT does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. When considering planning matters, please seek the advice of your own legal, tax, or financial professionals.

Simplify Your Giving with a Donor-Advised Fund

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account that allows you to set aside funds to support nonprofit organizations — like American Farmland Trust — and other causes you care about. When you contribute to a DAF, you receive an immediate tax deduction and have the flexibility to recommend grants to American Farmland Trust and other nonprofits over time.

How It Works

Establish a Donor-Advised Fund: You can open a donor-advised fund through a sponsoring organization such as a community foundation or financial services provider.
Make Your Contribution: Contribute cash, securities, or other assets to your fund and receive a charitable tax deduction in the year you make the contribution.
Recommend Grants Over Time: Once your fund is established, you can recommend grants to American Farmland Trust and other charities whenever you choose.

Making Your Gift

If you have a DAF account with Fidelity Charitable®, DAFgiving360®, or the BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund®, you can support AFT instantly through DAF Direct.

If your DAF is with another sponsoring organization, you may still support AFT by recommending your gift directly through your fund administrator.

If you would like more information, please email [email protected] or fill out this form, and a member of our team will contact you directly.

AFT does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. When considering planning matters, please seek the advice of your own legal, tax, or financial professionals.

Gifts That Provide Income

Income for Today, a Legacy for Tomorrow

A charitable gift annuity (CGA) through the National Gift Annuity Foundation (NGAF) offers a meaningful way to support American Farmland Trust while receiving income for life. You and a loved one (or other beneficiary) will receive dependable lifetime payments. You may also qualify for an immediate charitable income tax deduction, providing financial benefits for you while helping protect America’s farmland for future generations.

How It Works

Establish Your CGA: American Farmland Trust has chosen to outsource the issuance of charitable gift annuities to the National Gift Annuity Foundation (NGAF). You establish an annuity by making an irrevocable transfer of $20,000 or more in cash, securities, or other assets to NGAF.
Receive Lifetime Payments: You may choose up to two beneficiaries who will receive annual payments for life. Payment rates are based on the beneficiaries' ages. The youngest annuitant must be at least 55 years old.
Choose When Payments Begin: You can start receiving payments at age 55 or defer them for a year or more. The later you choose to start your payments, the higher the rate you'll receive.
Create a Lasting Legacy: After the lifetime of the income beneficiaries, the principal is transferred to American Farmland Trust, furthering our mission of protecting farmland and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Fund a CGA with Your IRA
Using your IRA to fund a charitable gift annuity is a potentially efficient way to turn retirement assets into reliable income while supporting American Farmland Trust

How It Works

If you are 70 ½ or older, you may fund a charitable gift annuity with up to $55,000 (2026 limit, indexed annually for inflation) from a qualified IRA account.
You will receive income for life in the form of reliable payments based on your age at the time of the gift.

Sample Charitable Gift Annuity Payment Rates for a $20,000 Gift

Age	Rate	Annual Payment
70	6.3%	$1,260
75	7.0%	$1,400
80	8.1%	$1,620
85	9.1%	$1,820
90	10.1%	$2,020

Rates are based on the recommendations of the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA)

If you would like more information or to request a personalized calculation, please email [email protected] or fill out this form, and a member of our team will contact you directly.

AFT does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. When considering planning matters, please seek the advice of your own legal, tax, or financial professionals.

Support Farmland Conservation and Receive Income for Life

A charitable remainder trust (CRT) offers a meaningful way to support American Farmland Trust while receiving income for life or for a set number of years. By establishing a CRT, you can create a reliable income stream for yourself or your loved ones while making a lasting impact on farmland conservation.

You may also qualify for an immediate charitable income tax deduction for a portion of your gift and potentially reduce capital gains taxes when donating appreciated assets. Most importantly, your generosity helps protect America’s farmland and promote regenerative agriculture practices that will benefit farms today and generations to come.

How It Works

Establish a Trust: You initiate a trust with American Farmland Trust using $100,000 or more in cash, securities or real estate.
Legal Documentation: If American Farmland Trust is named trustee, our legal counsel will draft a trust document. When we serve as trustee, we collaborate with investment partners to manage the trust appropriately.
Receive Payments: You or your beneficiaries (beneficiaries must be 50 or older) receive payments for life or a term of up to 20 years. Payments will either be fixed or variable, depending on the type of CRT you established.
Asset Transfer: If you donate appreciated securities to the trust, those assets can be sold and the full amount reinvested without incurring capital gains tax at the time of the transfer.
Trust Termination: When the trust ends — either at the death of the last beneficiary or at the end of the trust term —the remaining balance will be transferred to American Farmland Trust, supporting our mission and goals.

If you would like more information, please email [email protected] or fill out this form, and a member of our team will contact you directly.

AFT does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. When considering planning matters, please seek the advice of your own legal, tax, or financial professionals.

Gifts for the Future

Leave a Lasting Legacy: Protect America's Farmland for Future Generations

By including American Farmland Trust in your will or estate plans, you can help protect the farms and farmland that sustain our communities for generations to come. A gift through your estate is a simple and meaningful way to make a lasting impact — while maintaining control of your assets during your lifetime.

How It Works

Include AFT in Your Estate Plan: You can leave a specific asset or a portion of your estate to AFT by including a bequest provision in your will or revocable (or “living”) trust. This can be done when creating your will or trust, or by updating your existing plans.
Decide How You’d Like to Give: You may designate a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after other provisions are fulfilled. You may include AFT as a primary or contingent beneficiary.
Designate Your Gift: You may choose to support AFT’s greatest needs or designate your gift to a specific program or initiative. Please contact us if you would like to contribute to a specific program or initiative. Our team can help ensure your wishes are clearly documented.
Notify AFT: Once you have included American Farmland Trust in your estate plans, please let us know so we can thank you and welcome you into The Legacy Circle. You may also choose to complete a nonbinding Bequest Intention Form, which helps us understand how you’d like your legacy gift to be directed and how you prefer to be recognized. Sharing this information allows us to honor your intentions.
Create a Lasting Legacy: After your lifetime, American Farmland Trust will receive and utilize your gift in accordance with your wishes. An unrestricted gift will support AFT's most urgent priorities.

Important Legal Document Information

If you are considering including American Farmland Trust in your estate plans, you will need to refer to us in your legal documents as:

"American Farmland Trust, a nonprofit organization organized and existing under the laws of Washington, DC, with the principal business address of 2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW #5005, Washington, DC 20006. Our tax identification number is 52-1190211."

If you would like more information, please email [email protected] or fill out this form, and a member of our team will contact you directly.

AFT does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. When considering planning matters, please seek the advice of your own legal, tax, or financial professionals.

Name American Farmland Trust as a Beneficiary of Your Retirement Plan

You can support the protection of America's farmland and your heirs by naming American Farmland Trust as a full or partial beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or other qualified retirement plans. The tax treatment of retirement plan assets may be different from what you imagined. These assets are often subject to double taxation — ordinary income and estate tax — meaning more than 60% can go to taxes if left to your heirs. By donating your retirement assets and allocating other assets to your heirs, you may be able to provide more for your heirs in the end. This approach presents a win-win situation for your beneficiaries and the future of farmland conservation.

How It Works

Advisor Consultation: Your financial advisor, along with American Farmland Trust’s gift planning team, can help you determine how this type of gift fits into your overall plans.
Name AFT as a Beneficiary: You can name American Farmland Trust as the beneficiary of a qualifying retirement plan through a beneficiary designation form, ensuring assets will not be included in your taxable estate. An extra step may be required to designate a 401(k).

Note: If the beneficiary designation form requests a social security number, use our tax identification number: 52-1190211.

If you would like more information, please email [email protected] or fill out this form, and a member of our team will contact you directly.

AFT does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. When considering planning matters, please seek the advice of your own legal, tax, or financial professionals.

Support Farmland Conservation with a Simple Action

You can make a lasting impact on the future of America's farmland, farmers, and rural communities by naming American Farmland Trust as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy or other financial accounts. This simple action helps protect farmland and support regenerative agriculture today and for generations to come.

How It Works

Name AFT as a Beneficiary: You can name American Farmland Trust a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, retirement account, bank account, or investment account.
Create a Lasting Legacy: After your lifetime, these assets pass directly to AFT, often avoiding probate and, in some cases, reducing estate taxes.

Note: If the beneficiary designation form requests a social security number, use our tax identification number: 52-1190211.

If you would like more information, please email [email protected] or fill out this form, and a member of our team will contact you directly.

AFT does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. When considering planning matters, please seek the advice of your own legal, tax, or financial professionals.

Other Gift Options

Support America’s Farmers Today, Provide for Your Family Tomorrow

A charitable lead trust (CLT) allows you to support American Farmland Trust now while preserving assets for your heirs in the future. A CLT transfers income from the trust assets to AFT for a set period of time, having an immediate impact on AFT’s mission. When the trust term ends, the remaining assets pass to you or your heirs, often with significant tax advantages.

How It Works

Establish a Trust: You transfer assets such as cash, securities, or other investments to a trustee of your choice and create a charitable lead trust.
AFT Receives Payments: The trust makes payments (either a fixed percentage of the principal or a fixed dollar amount, depending on the type of trust) to American Farmland Trust for life or a term of years.
Trust Remainder: When the charitable payment period ends, whatever remains in the trust passes to your children, grandchildren, or other beneficiaries — often with significant estate and gift tax savings.

Note: A CLT is complex and must be carefully reviewed by your advisors to ensure it aligns with your overall estate plan and financial goals.

If you would like more information, please email [email protected] or fill out this form, and a member of our team will contact you directly.

AFT does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. When considering planning matters, please seek the advice of your own legal, tax, or financial professionals.

Farm Legacy for Landowners

Learn More

AFT does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. When considering planning matters, please seek the advice of your own legal, tax, or financial professionals.