Planned Giving

Uncovering Hidden Bequests

Casting Your Legacy: An Intention We Can Honor

Our mission commits the IGFA to conserving game fish and promoting responsible, ethical angling through five distinct means: science, education, rule-making, record-keeping, and recognition. That is a wide net, deliberately cast. And in our experience, no two members choose to support the IGFA for the same reasons — you may have come to us through a satellite tag on a marlin, a world record, through a child's first fish, or perhaps through the archive that holds the sport's memory.

All of it is the mission. Any of it could be the right home for a legacy gift through your estate. Which is why we hope you will tell us where your generosity belongs.

If you have already named the IGFA in your will, trust, retirement account, life insurance policy, or donor-advised fund, thank you. That decision is a remarkable expression of confidence in the IGFA and in the future of the sport. When you share your plans with us, you do more than inform us of a future gift. You help us understand the values and passions behind your decision. Whether your legacy is rooted in conservation, youth education, scientific research, or the pursuit of ethical angling, knowing your intentions enables us to celebrate your commitment and honor your vision for the future of the IGFA.

Already included the IGFA in your plans? Or considering it? Please reach out to Barbara Cini, our Chief Development Officer, at [email protected] or 954-498-7153, or Eric Combast, Development Director, at [email protected] or 954-924-4325. One short, confidential conversation is all it takes.

We Cannot Honor an Intention We Don't Know About

When a gift arrives without context, we are left to interpret it, sometimes years or decades after the decision was made, and always at a moment when we can no longer ask you what you meant.

When you share your plans with us during your lifetime, a great deal becomes possible that otherwise is not:

We can confirm that your purpose is one we can carry out.
If you have a particular program in mind — a specific area of research, a scholarship, an endowed fund — we can tell you now whether and how that works, rather than discovering a mismatch when it is too late to fix.

We can make sure the language is right.
Our correct legal name, tax ID number, and the exact name of the fund or program you intend to support. A single wrong word in an estate document can send a gift somewhere you never meant it to go, or tie it up in administration for months.

We can build in flexibility so your purpose survives change.
Programs evolve over decades. With thoughtful language, we can keep the spirit of your gift even if the specifics of our work change over time.

We can spare your family and executor the guesswork.
Settling an estate is difficult enough. Clarity is a kindness to the people who will be carrying out your wishes.

And we can thank you now. By including the IGFA in your estate planning, you are elevating the IGFA among the people and causes you care the most about, and we are truly honored. We want the ability to tell you so and thank you during your lifetime.

Telling Us Is Not the Same as Committing

Sharing your plans with the IGFA does not create a binding obligation. Your gift remains entirely revocable, and you retain complete control of your assets throughout your lifetime. You may change your mind, change your beneficiaries, or change your plans at any time, for any reason, without notifying us. You are also under no obligation to disclose a dollar amount or to share a copy of your estate documents. Many of our legacy donors simply tell us that a provision exists and what they hope it will support. That alone is enough for us to ensure we are able to honor your intent.

Confidential, and Anonymous If You Prefer

Everything you share with us is held in strict confidence. Your name will not appear in any listing, publication, or announcement, and nothing you tell us will be shared outside our development office, unless you let us know otherwise. By choosing to remain anonymous, you can tell us exactly how you want your gift used and still never be named publicly. The two decisions are entirely separate. Anonymity is itself an intention, and one we can only honor if we know about it. If, on the other hand, you would like to be recognized, we would be delighted to do that while you are here to enjoy it. The choice is yours alone, and you may change it at any time.

If You Have Been Thinking About It But Haven't Acted Yet

You are in good company, and there is no wrong place to start. A bequest, a beneficiary designation on a retirement account, or naming the IGFA as a successor to your donor-advised fund each takes very little to set in motion, and none of them affect your finances or cash flow today. If you are curious what your options look like, or simply want to think out loud with someone who does this work, we would welcome the conversation. There is no pressure and no obligation, and you will never be asked for anything you have not offered.

The IGFA Lerner Society

By including the IGFA in your estate plans, you will be invited to join the distinguished IGFA Lerner Society, named after our visionary founder Michael Lerner, alongside others who have committed to securing the future of our sport. Of course, you may always choose to give anonymously. To learn more about the IGFA Lerner Society, visit our Lerner Society page.

Like choosing the right spot to cast your line, selecting the right charitable giving strategy depends on your personal circumstances and goals. Every individual's financial situation and philanthropic goals are unique, just as every angler's relationship with the sport is personal. The key is to find a strategy that aligns with your financial objectives while supporting the aspects of IGFA's vision and mission that resonate most with you.

To learn more about tax-smart strategies, visit our webpage, Casting Your Legacy: Strategic Giving to the IGFA.