INSPIRING YOU TO
PRESERVE OUR FUTURE
A Campaign to Benefit People, Nature, and Wildlife in Jo Daviess County through support of the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF).
What if…
In the heart of the Midwest is a national treasure called the Driftless Area. Jo Daviess County is located in the southeastern portion of this geographic phenomenon characterized by scenic bluffs, rolling hills, stunning river valleys, and an amazing variety of native plants and animals. It is our home and its uniqueness has drawn people here for thousands of years. What if you had the chance to ensure that future generations will also be able to experience the natural beauty found here?
You do.
For 33 years, the nonprofit Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF) has dedicated itself to preserving and caring for unique natural areas in northwest IL. Since Jo Daviess County lacks a tax levy to establish and maintain parks and recreational spaces, JDCF fulfills this role without the use of local tax funds. Beloved locations like Casper Bluff and Horseshoe Mound exist solely due to the generosity of over 1,000 donors and volunteers who support JDCF. People just like you.
Join us.
Your investment in JDCF is a pledge to future generations. You can pass on opportunities for others to explore the native plants, animals, and insects that share our home. You can help to protect sacred cultural sites and grand views of the landscape unique to our southern Driftless region.
To remain steadfast in our mission over the next 3-5 years, JDCF has launched the Inspiring You to Preserve Our Future campaign to ensure we meet our coming funding needs for…
Education & Outreach: No Child Left Inside
Land Protection: Clean Water & Healthy Landscapes
Land Stewardship: Caring for Our Resources
Operational Support: Attracting the Best Talent
We have already seen a significant impact on our work through new staff dedicated to stewardship, land protection, and education. We were also able to establish the Nancy Hamill Winter Endowment For Our Future which will provide a permanent, stable source of income that is not reliant on the economy or government funding.
MAKE A GIFT
Membership
Want to make a difference? For just $50, you can invest in preserving and stewarding land and water for the lasting well-being of all. JDCF has over 1,500 acres open to the public to enjoy outdoor recreational activities free of charge and without the use of local tax dollars. We can only provide this service to our community through the support of individuals like you. Join today by scrolling down to the ‘Donate’ button at the bottom of this page. We do not sell, share, or reveal names, addresses, or emails to any outside parties.
HONORARY &
MEMORIAL
In Honor of: Show your support to someone extraordinary through an honorary gift. Please specify if you are giving in honor of a holiday or another occasion, such as a wedding, anniversary, birthday, or just because. In Memory of: Gifts can be given for specific preserves or projects. Special Occasion: Making gifts to non-profit organizations in lieu of personal gifts for special occasions has become a growing trend. All gift recipients will receive a letter telling them about your gift to JDCF. The amount will not be disclosed. Your gift and its designation will be highlighted in JDCF’s annual report. You can make your gift online or download our Tribute Gift Form and mail it to us.
MONTHLY GIVING
Perhaps you would consider making a sustainable contribution to JDCF through our monthly giving program? It’s a budget-friendly, simple way to join our Conservation Club for $84.00 a month. Or, choose another amount that is comfortable for you. There are no checks to write, no envelopes to mail, no paper to waste.
DONOR BILL OF RIGHTS
To ensure that Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF) receives the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors have confidence in the Foundation and the causes the Foundation supports, we declare that all donors have these rights.
- To be informed of JDCF’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
- To be informed of the identity of those serving as a Trustee on the JDCF board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
- To have access to the Foundation’s annual reports and 990 forms.
- To be assured your gift will be used for the purposes for which they were intended.
- To receive appropriate and timely acknowledgment and recognition.
- To be assured that relationships with individuals representing the Foundation will be professional in nature.
- To be informed if those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of JDCF or hired solicitors.
- To ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.
- To have the opportunity for your name to be kept confidential, and to be deleted from mailing lists that the Foundation may intend to share.
- To be assured that requests regarding information and donations will be kept private and honored to the full extent of the law.
MAKE A DONATION
PLANNED GIVING
Planned giving is an especially meaningful way to help Jo Daviess County for generations to come. These types of gifts are charitable contributions to JDCF that enable your passion for preserving this area to continue.
BEQUEST
The most widely chosen method of leaving a legacy gift is to remember the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation in a will or living trust. JDCF strives to make the planning process as easy as possible, and offers several ways to leave a bequest:
Your bequest to JDCF qualifies for a range of tax benefits, depending upon the nature of the assets that you donate as well as the size and complexity of your estate. In most cases, if your estate is subject to estate taxes, your estate can benefit from an estate tax deduction. If you are transferring IRA or retirement plan assets to JDCF, your estate may be able to benefit from income tax savings. Please contact your financial advisor or attorney for more information.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
WITH REAL ESTATE
If you are planning to bequest real estate to JDCF, it is important to discuss your intent with JDCF, your family, and legal and financial advisors in advance. Depending upon such factors as location of the property, complexity of managing the property, taxes and other costs, JDCF may or may not be able to accept all gifts of real estate. Additionally, if you wish to leave real estate that you want protected in its natural state, JDCF can help locate a land trust in your community to ensure your wishes are carried out.
PASSING ON ASSETS
TO FAMILY
When considering which assets to pass on to family and which to give to charity through your will or living trust, be sure to work with legal and financial advisors who can help you weigh the benefits and burdens associated with each asset. For instance, if your estate includes both retirement plan assets and appreciated stocks and bonds, consider contributing the retirement plan assets to charity and the appreciated securities to loved ones. Retirement plan and IRA assets passing to anyone other than a spouse or charity will be subject to one or more taxes, in some cases reducing the value of the assets by as much as 70 percent. Appreciated stocks and bonds, however, can, in most cases, be passed to loved ones, with the security receiving a “step up in basis” that removes any capital…
LEGAL DESIGNATION
FOR JDCF
If you are drafting your will or living trust and wish to include a bequest to JDCF, consult with your family and legal and financial advisors to ensure that both family and legal concerns are addressed.
If you already have a will, you may add a bequest to JDCF by having your attorney draft a codicil to your existing will. Provide your attorney with the wording below to establish an unrestricted bequest to JDCF for its conservation programs and operations. (If your bequest is sufficient in size to establish a named endowment fund, JDCF’s staff and legal advisor can also recommend wording to you and your attorney to aid in defining your charitable intentions.)