EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The month of August is National Make a Will Month, and it serves as an opportunity to learn more about the benefits of creating or updating your will. Estate planning can also provide an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, and for those interested in charitable giving to the NWTF, they will cement a legacy of making a difference.
The NWTF recently launched the Director of Planned Giving position, which has been filled by Kenny Turpen, C.F.R.E, C.S.P.G., who is working to grow the organization’s planned giving program and steward donors who hope to remember the organization in their future plans.
Turpen’s biggest focus has been launching the NWTF gift planning website, which gives NWTF members access to learning resources and tools for creating will at no cost. As a part of this effort, the NWTF also launched a planned giving e-newsletter that provides information throughout the year on estate planning, charitable giving strategies and ways supporters can make a lasting impact through the NWTF. Turpen and his team have also rebranded the NWTF’s Full Strut Society, which recognizes donors who are making a lasting commitment to the organization in their estate plans.
Lee Kies and his wife Joni are both current members of the Full Strut Society. Lee, a Tennessee native, has been turkey hunting since a young age, and joined the NWTF over 30 years ago. Now, he is the Tennessee NWTF State Chapter treasurer, and he helps his local Music City Chapter host JAKES Days and guided hunts. When he retired in 2019, he was allotted more time to give back to an organization that has given him decades of enjoyment and fun.
“The NWTF has given me so much over the years,” said Kies. “It has given me opportunities, friendships, and memories that I could never put a price on. Remembering the NWTF in my will is simply my way of giving something back. My wife and I hope our gift helps make sure future generations have the same chance to experience wild turkeys, hunting, and the outdoors that have meant so much to us.”
A donation through a planned gift does not have to be limited to cash or financial accounts. Donors may also consider leaving certain personal property to the NWTF, such as collections or other assets. When appropriate, donated property may be sold to generate funds that support the NWTF mission.
Donors may also consider gifts of appreciated assets, such as securities or real estate. Depending on how and when a gift is made, donating appreciated property may provide charitable tax benefits while allowing the value of the asset to support the NWTF’s mission. Because the tax treatment depends on the donor’s circumstances and the type of asset involved, donors should consult their own legal and financial advisors.
Another planned giving option is a Charitable Remainder Trust. A donor can place assets in an irrevocable trust that provides payments to the donor or other beneficiaries for life or for a specified period of time. At the end of that period, the remaining trust assets pass to the NWTF. These arrangements involve specific legal and tax requirements and should be established with the donor’s professional advisors.
“I think it’s important for people who are committed to our mission and believe in what we do to have the opportunity to continue that legacy of conservation and hunting heritage,” Turpen said. “There are a number of ways people can include the NWTF in their future plans, and those gifts can make a meaningful difference for the wild turkey, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage for generations to come.”
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to create healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.
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