Support · Planned Giving · Legacy
A legacy gift to a national park nonprofit is a gift you plan now that reaches the park later, usually through your will or a beneficiary form. For people who have walked Olympic’s beaches and forests for decades, it is a way to pass that love on. Here is how the common options work, in plain terms, and what to tell your attorney about Friends of Olympic National Park.
Quick answer
How do you leave a legacy gift to a national park nonprofit?
You can leave a legacy gift to a national park nonprofit by naming it in your will or trust, by listing it as a beneficiary on a retirement account or life insurance policy, or, at 70½ or older, through an IRA qualified charitable distribution. For Friends of Olympic National Park, use our legal name and Tax ID 02-0619892.
- Legal name: Friends of Olympic National Park
- A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Tax ID 02-0619892
- Mail: P.O. Box 3238, Port Angeles, WA 98362
- Qualified charitable distributions start at age 70½
What a legacy gift is, and what it is not
Planned giving simply means arranging a gift now that is made later, often after your lifetime. It costs nothing today, and you can usually change your mind as long as you live.
It is different from a memorial gift, which honors someone who has already died. If that is what you have in mind, our guide to memorial gifts for Olympic National Park covers it.
We should be clear about one thing. Friends of Olympic National Park is a small, volunteer-led group with no formal legacy society or planned giving office. What we can offer is a direct, personal conversation, and the accurate details below.
Three common ways to leave a gift
1. A bequest in your will or trust
A bequest is a gift written into your will or living trust. It can be a set dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or what remains after other gifts are paid (often called the residue).
Some people make a contingent bequest instead, which takes effect only if another beneficiary is no longer living. Your attorney can draft whichever form fits your plans and your state’s rules.
2. A beneficiary designation
Retirement accounts and life insurance policies generally pass by the beneficiary form you file with the plan or insurer, not by your will. You can name a charity as a full, partial or backup beneficiary on that form.
This is often the simplest legacy gift to set up, because it usually needs only the company’s form. Ask your plan administrator or insurer for the right one, and ask your advisor how leaving retirement money to a charity compares with leaving it to family.
3. A qualified charitable distribution from an IRA
This one happens during your lifetime. If you are at least 70½, your IRA trustee can send money straight to a qualified charity. According to IRS Publication 526 on charitable contributions, the total for 2025 can’t be more than $108,000, and ongoing SEP and SIMPLE IRAs don’t qualify.
A nontaxable QCD can’t also be claimed as a charitable deduction. The IRS updates the limit, so check the current figure with your tax preparer before you give.
Legacy gift options compared
| Option | How you set it up | When the gift arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Bequest | Wording in your will or trust | After your lifetime |
| Retirement account beneficiary | The plan’s beneficiary form | After your lifetime |
| Life insurance beneficiary | The insurer’s beneficiary form | After your lifetime |
| Qualified charitable distribution | Ask your IRA trustee, age 70½ or older | Now, during your lifetime |
How to make a bequest to Friends of Olympic National Park
Your attorney or financial institution will need our exact details. Please use them as written, so your gift reaches us and not a similarly named group.
- Legal name: Friends of Olympic National Park
- Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded 2002
- Tax ID (EIN): 02-0619892
- Address: P.O. Box 3238, Port Angeles, WA 98362
- Email: fonp2020@gmail.com
Sample wording to share with your attorney
Your attorney will adapt this, but a simple bequest often reads like this: “I give [a sum, a percentage of my estate, or the residue of my estate] to Friends of Olympic National Park, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Tax ID 02-0619892, P.O. Box 3238, Port Angeles, WA 98362, for its general purposes.”
“General purposes” lets our volunteer board use the gift where it is most needed when it arrives. If you would like to support a particular kind of work, email us first so we can talk about what is realistic for a small, all-volunteer group.
What a gift in your will supports
Our mission is to “preserve Olympic National Park’s natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of present and future generations.” We do that four ways: we educate, volunteer, fund and honor.
Gifts to us fund educational programs, trail maintenance and restoration efforts throughout the park. Our seven projects include the Heart O’ the Forest adopt-a-trail crew, beach and Visitor Center cleanups, the Children’s Discovery Room, graffiti removal, guided nature walks, National Junior Ranger Day and the Winter Perspectives Series.
Our guide to ways to support Olympic National Park explains how we differ from the other groups that support the park, which helps if you are choosing between them.
Tell us, if you would like to
You never have to tell us about a legacy gift. If you choose to, email fonp2020@gmail.com so we can thank you and make sure our details in your documents are right. There is no form to fill in and no obligation.
This is not legal or tax advice
This page explains common options in general terms only. Estate and tax rules depend on your state and your situation, so please talk with an estate attorney or financial advisor before you change your will or beneficiary forms.
Ways to give now, too
Many people pair a future gift with support today. You can make a gift to support Olympic National Park by mail or email, at any amount, one time or yearly. You can also become a member from $15 a year and get our friends-only newsletter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I leave money to Friends of Olympic National Park in my will?
Ask your attorney to name Friends of Olympic National Park, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Tax ID 02-0619892, P.O. Box 3238, Port Angeles, WA 98362. The gift can be a set amount, a percentage or the residue of your estate.
Can I name a charity as beneficiary of my IRA or life insurance?
Generally yes. These accounts usually pass by the beneficiary form on file with the plan or insurer, not by your will. Ask the company for its form and check with your advisor.
What is a qualified charitable distribution?
A transfer made directly from your IRA trustee to a qualified charity when you are at least 70 and a half. IRS Publication 526 caps the 2025 total at 108,000 dollars, and a nontaxable QCD cannot also be deducted.
Does Friends of Olympic National Park have a legacy society?
No. We are a small, volunteer-led group without a formal planned giving program. Email fonp2020@gmail.com if you would like to talk about a future gift.
Do I have to tell you about a gift in my will?
No. Telling us is optional, but it lets us thank you and confirm that our legal name and Tax ID are correct in your documents.
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