Written by Katrina Heinze, OFRF Board Member from 2014-2023
A deliberate present is a present to the long run. I help natural farming and OFRF as a result of I care concerning the future well being of our planet and its individuals. A deliberate present to OFRF is a tangible method for me to pay it ahead.
My mother fed me natural milk earlier than “natural” was even a label. I grew up cooking and connecting with individuals via meals. Later in my profession, these pursuits led me to work in natural meals and natural coverage. What a present! By way of my work, I discovered concerning the care, laborious work, and superb information that natural farmers convey to rising our meals, in addition to the challenges that make farming organically and bringing a farm’s items to market troublesome.
In 2014, I joined OFRF’s board. Our farmer board members and farmer listening classes taught me that natural farmers are experimenters and that we nonetheless have a lot to find out about the most effective manufacturing practices to nurture the environment, take care of and tackle the impacts of local weather change, and supply wholesome meals for all—all whereas guaranteeing sustainable economics for farmers and farming communities.
OFRF’s mission is to foster the development and widespread adoption of natural farming methods. I really like OFRF’s farmer-centered, science-based method. Our work is long-term and requires long-term funding. For instance, OFRF publishes the Nationwide Natural Analysis Agenda (NORA) each 5-6 years. The NORA Report is used to ask for Congressional funding for natural analysis, affect USDA’s grant funding, and assist these of us within the natural meals trade rally to help our farmers’ most essential manufacturing (and non-production) wants. All of this contributes to new information and help for natural farmers.
My husband and I’ve included OFRF in our will along with our common OFRF donations. We did this to mannequin our values for our household, display how we align our sources to these values, and be clear concerning the legacy we wish to go away behind.
Property planning will be straightforward to place off or keep away from. Nevertheless, we discovered that having conversations with our household about our needs enriched {our relationships}. By discussing what mattered most to us and the way we might finest use our sources now and sooner or later, we’ve change into higher stewards of our sources at present. We’re glad we did this now as an alternative of ready or lacking the chance altogether.
Deliberate giving can happen throughout your lifetime or at dying, and it’s a essential a part of your total monetary and property plan. Usually bigger than donations from atypical earnings, deliberate items can present earnings, monetary safety, and tax financial savings to you and your loved ones, relying on how they’re structured. In our case, our deliberate present features a multi-year dedication to OFRF now and a designation of a share of any remaining property at our deaths.
Deliberate giving is essential for non-profits like OFRF, who rely largely on annual giving to “maintain the lights on.” Though OFRF receives grants for key program initiatives, these grants don’t typically pay for employees growth, accounting, and the time-consuming work of serving to policymakers perceive the wants of farmers. Deliberate items construct year-to-year stability for now and create a “financial savings account” for later.
I’ve seen the affect of deliberate items on OFRF. After I was on the Board of Administrators, we acquired a deliberate present. This single donation enabled us to rent a paid intern to help our analysis program. It additionally demonstrated to a future grant maker the worth of our work, which has now resulted in a multi-year grant. Higher nonetheless, the donor was unknown to us, and studying about why OFRF was essential to them introduced us pleasure and a renewed dedication to our mission.
A deliberate present doesn’t need to be difficult. Together with OFRF as a beneficiary in your will or naming OFRF as a full or partial beneficiary of a life insurance coverage coverage or retirement account is an easy strategy to make a deliberate present. Consulting together with your monetary and authorized advisors can assist you establish what’s finest in your scenario and values. After you have put a present plan in place, let the beneficiary non-profit know. They’ll profit from understanding what motivated you, and you’re going to get to benefit from the affect of your considerate present.
Collectively, let’s make sure the widespread adoption of natural farming practices. Our earth and farming communities rely upon it. Please be a part of me in planting a seed for the long run by making a deliberate present to OFRF at present.
Sincerely,
Katrina
