The Canopy Circle
Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center’s Canopy Circle is the community of visionary supporters committed to permanently providing education about Oregon’s forests. In a forest, the canopy plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health, provides shelter and shade to younger trees, and stabilizes resources.
When you include Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center in your estate planning, your generosity similarly stabilizes the organization and allows us to continue our mission of providing transformative experiences and growing a community of environmental advocates well into the future.
Who is the Canopy Circle Community and how are they recognized?
Membership is made up of donors who intend to include Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center as part of their estate planning. Canopy Circle members receive invites to special events and occasions, access to leadership, and behind-the-scenes experiences.
You decide how you give.
Gifts can be directed to:
- The Evergreen Endowment: Default for all undesignated gifts; sustainable interest income used for the organization's greatest needs as determined by the Board per the Endowment Policy.
- The Seedling Scholarship Fund (Expeditions Scholarships): Dedicated to funding up to 100% of tuition costs for students from marginalized backgrounds, ensuring equitable access to transformational experiences in wild landscapes.
- The Nurse Log Scholarship Fund (Outdoor School Scholarships): Dedicated to providing discounted Outdoor School tuition (up to 30%) to schools with diverse populations, ensuring equitable access to "classrooms without walls".
- Other Funds: as established in the future.
Join now!
The Canopy Circle is open to any supporter who has provided an Indicator of Intention. To ensure flexibility, this Indicator is explicitly not a legal obligation and is not binding on the donor’s heirs or estate. Joining is as simple as submitting this short form, sending an email to Executive Director Nathan Reynolds, or phoning our organization at 503.892.2782 to notify us of your intent. Have you already included us in your estate plan? Please let us know!
Planning Ahead with a Legacy Gift
Legacy gifts are about planning for the future — your future, the future of Opal Creek lands, waters and wildlife, and the generations who will become future land stewards in the decades ahead. You can choose to include Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center in your will, name Opal Creek as a beneficiary of a retirement account, or explore other giving options below.
The information provided below is for educational purposes only. Please work closely with a professional financial adviser during your estate planning process.
Including Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center in your will or trust is a great way to make a lasting impact. Indicating a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after your loved ones are provided for, ensures your legacy will educate and inspire many next generations of youth. After your lifetime, Opal Creek receives the gift and applies it to the most pressing education needs or the purposes you specified ahead of time.
Naming Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy is another meaningful way to give. You can use a policy you already own or establish a new one with Opal Creek as the beneficiary. When your estate is settled, the proceeds are paid to Opal Creek and are used to support our mission and those we engage in nature.
Naming Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center as the beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan ensures the gift is passed to Opal Creek tax-free. This can be advantageous to your heirs because the charity can receive such funds free of taxation while your heirs would be taxed on such an inheritance.
This type of gift provides income to you or others for life or a set term, and after the trust ends, the remaining assets support Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center.
You transfer cash, securities or other appreciated property, such as real estate, into a trust, and each year the trust pays an amount to you or to the beneficiaries you name. You receive a tax deduction upon establishment of the charitable trust. When the trust terminates, the remaining balance is passed on to Opal Creek. Your estate planning attorney can help you set up a charitable trust.
Please share our contact information and 501(c)(3) tax identification number below with those who need it to make your gift. We look forward to partnering with you soon.
Legal name: Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center
Address: 721 NW 9th Ave., Suite 236, Portland, OR 97209
Tax ID number: 94-3112973
Thank you! Your legacy wishes reflect a commitment to the Opal Creek forest and watershed, as well as Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center. We are happy to work with you and your professional advisors to explore the best giving option for your goals and desires. Your thoughtful approach to giving ensures the Opal Creek ecosystem remains healthy and vibrant for many future generations.