Make an impact while planning for your future
We also offer the ability to create a free Revocable Living Trust
Everybody needs a will
Whether you’re 18 or 108, everyone should have a will in place. People use wills to choose who gets their property, name guardians for minor children, provide a plan for pets, and more.
Through a will, many people also choose to leave a part of their estate to Woodwell Climate Research Center and make an impact on the causes they love, for years to come.
Why give in your will?
Common gifted assets in wills and trusts
- Financial accounts
- Real estate
- Vehicles
- Brokerage accounts
- Crypto and NFTs
- Personal property
Make your will online – for free!
Woodwell Climate Research Center has partnered with FreeWill to offer an online estate planning tool that makes it easy and cost-free to make your plan. In as little as 20 minutes, you can help support our mission for future generations.
We also offer the ability to create a free Revocable Living Trust
Popular resources
Sample bequest language for your will or trust
This language may help you and your attorney as you consider a gift that will meet your financial and personal goals.
Sample codicil
When it’s time to update your will, you can use a codicil—an addition or supplement that explains or modifies your existing will.
Legacy giving helps drive our mission
At Woodwell Climate Research Center, we rely on the generosity of our donors to continue our mission of providing science-based solutions to the climate crisis. Legacy gifts, such as bequests and beneficiary designations, are critical to our ability to provide cutting-edge climate science on a global scale. These gifts provide long-term support, ensuring that we can continue to work toward a safe and stable climate for years to come.
A legacy gift comes from enthusiasm for an organization’s mission, for its people, for its accomplishments, or even from a sense of duty. On all accounts, we found common ground with Woodwell Climate Research Center and chose to name it as a beneficiary in our estate planning. How could we not join the George Perkins Marsh Society and make a commitment to Woodwell Climate’s future?
Mary Lou and Charlie Montgomery
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Gifts of any size are deeply appreciated. Many people choose to leave a percentage of their estate, which scales up or down with your estate size.
Yes! Knowing in advance about your intentions is quite helpful to our staff, but you are always welcome to not share your gift. Sharing information with us about your gift also provides you with the benefits of membership in our George Perkins Marsh legacy giving society.
Yes. You are always free to revise or update your estate plans.
We’ve partnered with FreeWill to help you make a will or trust at no cost to you. You can use this to complete your plans, or you may choose to use the same tools to get your affairs in order before visiting an attorney (who is likely to have a fee associated with finalizing your plans).
Yes! FreeWill will never share your personal information without your permission.
We encourage you to designate bequests or beneficiary designations to Woodwell Climate’s Endowment Fund to ensure that your gift is used to support climate science in perpetuity.
To express our sincere appreciation to those who commit to a legacy gift, Woodwell Climate offers lifetime membership in the George Perkins Marsh Society. Learn more about George Perkins Marsh and the benefits of membership in the Society here.
We’re here to help you meet your goals!
Our team would be happy to speak with you in confidence about your giving goals, with no obligation.
Name: Beth Bagley
Title :Director of Legacy Giving
Phone: 508-444-1517
Email: bbagley@woodwellclimate.org
Already included us in your estate plan? Let us know
More ways to make an impact
Beneficiary designations
Gifting assets not covered by your will — like 401(k) or IRA accounts — may help your heirs avoid unwanted taxes, even if you’re below the estate tax threshold.
Gifts that pay you back
Give assets while providing yourself or others with income for a period of time or distributions at a later date.
Popular tax-smart gifts
Many people are increasingly choosing to give non-cash assets, so they can have a bigger impact at less cost to them.