Each October, National Estate Planning Awareness Month reminds us to plan wisely for the future, both for the people we love and the world we leave behind. While estate planning can seem complex or easy to postpone, it’s really about something deeply personal: ensuring that your wishes are honored and that your values live on.
For those who love the ocean, this month offers a powerful opportunity to turn that love into a lasting legacy that safeguards marine wildlife, supports coastal communities, and sustains the planet’s life-giving blue heart.
Why Estate Planning Matters Now More Than Ever
An estimated 67% of American adults do not have a will or estate plan. Without one, families may face unnecessary legal and financial challenges, and a lifetime of effort and generosity can be directed in ways that don’t reflect your intentions.
Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy; it’s for anyone who wants to care for the people and causes that matter most. Whether your estate is modest or substantial, creating or updating your will ensures that:
- Your loved ones are cared for according to your wishes
- Your family is spared avoidable legal and financial burdens
- You can support the causes and values that define your life
- You have peace of mind today knowing that your legacy is secure
This October, Oceanic Society invites you to take this important step and to consider how your legacy can help protect the ocean for future generations.
What Is Planned Giving?
Planned giving is a simple, meaningful way to include a charitable organization in your estate plan. You can designate a percentage of your estate or a specific asset to a nonprofit organization, or designate an organization as the beneficiary of your retirement account, IRA, or life insurance policy. Many of these gifts cost nothing during your lifetime and can be changed at any time.
When you include Oceanic Society in your estate plans, you are helping to:
- Protect endangered species such as sea turtles, whales, and corals
- Reduce ocean plastic and advance community-led conservation efforts
- Provide transformative educational experiences for underserved youth
- Sustain long-term ocean science and habitat restoration initiatives
Even a small percentage of your estate can make a lasting impact on ocean health and inspire future generations to protect what you love.
Why Leave a Legacy for the Ocean?
The ocean sustains all life on Earth. It produces more than half of the oxygen we breathe, regulates our climate, and supports the livelihoods of billions of people around the world. Yet our ocean faces growing threats from pollution, overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change.
By including Oceanic Society in your estate plan, you make a powerful statement: your love for the ocean will live on beyond your lifetime.
Planned giving isn’t about the size of your estate, it’s about the size of your impact. Your gift becomes a lasting expression of your values and a tangible way to ensure the ocean’s health for generations to come.
Legacy Spotlight: A Gift That Lives On
“Nancy Wotkyns traveled the world with Oceanic Society and found great joy in connecting with marine wildlife, especially sea turtles in Mexico, Suriname, Hawaii and elsewhere. Before she passed, she chose to include Oceanic Society in her will and named the organization as a beneficiary of her life insurance policy. Today, her legacy lives on through our sea turtle conservation programs, achieving real conservation successes and inspiring thousands of people each year,” said Roderic Mast, Co-CEO and President of Oceanic Society.
Nancy is one of many generous ocean advocates who have created a lasting impact through the Oceanic Legacy Society.
Ways to Include Oceanic Society in Your Estate Plans
Legacy giving is easier than you might think. Here are several flexible options:
Bequest in Your Will or Trust
Designate a specific dollar amount, asset, or percentage of your estate to Oceanic Society.
→ Sample language: “I give, devise, and bequeath __% of my estate to Oceanic Society, a nonprofit organization located at 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross, CA 94957, Tax ID: 94-3105570, to be used for its general charitable purposes.”
Retirement Plan or IRA Beneficiary
Naming Oceanic Society as a beneficiary of your retirement plan may reduce tax burdens for your heirs and increase the impact of your gift.
Life Insurance Policy
You can name Oceanic Society as a full or partial beneficiary of an existing or new policy.
Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Remainder
Easily designate Oceanic Society to receive the remaining balance of your donor-advised fund.
→ Quick Tip: Beneficiary designations are often the simplest way to make a legacy gift and can be completed online without updating your will.
Join the Oceanic Legacy Society
When you inform us that you’ve included Oceanic Society in your estate plans, you become a member of the Oceanic Legacy Society, a community of visionary supporters ensuring a vibrant future for our ocean.
As a member, you may:
- Be recognized for your commitment (or remain anonymous, if you prefer)
- Receive exclusive impact updates about conservation initiatives made possible through legacy gifts
- Be invited to special events with Oceanic Society leadership and conservation experts
- Know that your legacy will create lasting, measurable impact for the ocean
Legacy Society members sustain programs that protect sea turtles, empower youth, and connect thousands of travelers to conservation each year.
→ If you’ve already included Oceanic Society in your plans, please let us know so we may honor your wishes and express our gratitude.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a large estate to make a planned gift?
No. Many of the most impactful gifts are percentages of an estate or residual gifts after loved ones are cared for.
Can I change my plans later?
Yes. Most planned gifts are revocable and can be updated at any time.
Do I need a lawyer?
While simple wills can be created using reputable online tools, we recommend consulting an estate-planning attorney and financial advisor to ensure your wishes are properly documented.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes. Charitable bequests are generally deductible for federal estate tax purposes and may reduce tax burdens for your heirs.
Your Legacy Can Protect the Ocean for Generations
This October, as we observe National Estate Planning Awareness Month, take time to reflect on the legacy you wish to leave. You’ve been inspired by the ocean – its power, its beauty, its life-giving force. Now, you have the opportunity to ensure it thrives for generations to come.
To learn more or to share your plans, please contact us at donations@oceanicsociety.org. We would be honored to welcome you into the Oceanic Legacy Society.
