Land Donation

Why Donate Land to the Shenandoah National Park Trust? 

  • The land will become part of Shenandoah National Park and protected in perpetuity. 
  • You can leave a conservation legacy for your children, grandchildren, and future generations to enjoy. 
  • Enjoy certain tax benefits now. 
  • Enjoy recognition for the donation if that is something you would like. 
  • Transferring land to the National Park Service can be a multi-year endeavor. The Trust can take title in a much shorter time, steward it into NPS ownership while you enjoy the benefits of donation now. 
  • We are willing to work with you and look for creative strategies to help you meet your charitable and financial goals.   

NOTE: The Trust is not qualified to give, nor does it provide, tax or legal advice. It is important to consult with qualified professionals such as an attorney, accountant, or other tax or financial advisor to help fully understand the tax implications of a land or conservation easement donation.  

How to Get Started  

If donating your land to Shenandoah National Park Trust is something you would like to pursue, several steps will be involved in this process including, but not limited to:  

  1. Contact us 
  2. Complete SNPT documents indicating your intent to donate.  
  3. Provide the Trust with copies of the plat maps, surveys, easements, and other relevant documents that may be helpful.   
  4. Site visit with SNPT staff to ensure the property is in good condition.  
  5. A qualified appraisal is performed by a qualified appraiser within 60 days of closing to qualify for tax incentives.  
  6. Environmental site assessment is conducted, and no issues are detected.   
  7. Title Search  
  8. Closing  
 Direct Donation of Land   

In addition to protecting your land in perpetuity by leaving a conservation legacy that will become part of Shenandoah National Park, land donation could potentially provide you with certain tax and financial benefits.   

In exchange for a qualified conservation contribution, a landowner may take an income deduction of up to 50% of their adjusted gross income (AGI) in the year of the gift. If not exhausted the first year, the amount of the gift can be carried forward for as many as 15 subsequent years.   

A landowner who takes a charitable gift deduction for a conservation easement or fee simple land donation on a federal tax return also receives the same diminution in taxable income for state income tax purposes. More information from Virginia Department of Conservation Resources on financial incentives for land donation: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/land-conservation/financial-incentives  

Charitable or Bargain Sale  

A charitable sale is when a donor who intends to contribute sells a property priced below the appraised market value. This gift provides tax benefits such as paying no capital gains tax on the donated portion. 

Retained Life Estate 

You can benefit Shenandoah National Park by creating a retained life estate. Make a significant gift with one of most valuable assets you hold without disturbing your living arrangements or your cash flow.  You get the benefits of living and using your residency, the opportunity for an immediate tax benefit, and making a gift that benefits nature. 

With a retained life estate, you irrevocably deed the residence, but retain the right to live in it for the rest of your life or a term of years, and you are responsible for all taxes and upkeep. 

This would not be eligible for the Virginia Land Preservation Tax Credit, and a retained life estate is irrevocable.   

Bequests 

A gift through your will or trust is one of the most popular and flexible ways that you can support Shenandoah National Park. A donation of land has a similar benefit to that of a Retained Life Estate in that you can retain use of the property and remove the assets from your taxable estate; however, there is no charitable income tax deduction.  

Tax Benefits

Virginia has a Land Preservation Tax Credit program. Through this program, Virginia allows an income tax credit for 40% of the value of donated land or conservation easements. Taxpayers may use up to $50,000 per year. Tax credits may be carried forward for up to 10 years after the year of donation. Unused credits may be sold, allowing individuals with little or no Virginia income tax burden to take advantage of this benefit. To be eligible for tax credits, the donation must qualify as a charitable deduction under IRS Code and meet additional requirements set out in the program.   

Learn More: Land Preservation Tax Credit Program, Virginia Department of Taxation  

Note: There are private businesses in Virginia that specialize in assisting landowners in selling their tax credits and tax credit brokers.