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Woodland Park Zoo

a waddle of penguins
a tree kangaroo
a lion

Why We Give

Carol Proesel

Carol Proesel

Woodland Park Zoo volunteer Carol Proesel’s lifelong passion for animals makes her an ideal member of the zoo family. After retiring from Northern Trust and relocating to Seattle from Chicago, Carol was skeptical that any zoo could meet her high expectations set by her beloved Lincoln Park Zoo, where she spent countless hours volunteering.
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Cathy and Bill Herzig

Cathy and Bill Herzig

Cathy Herzig’s passion for helping animals in the wild and her need to make a difference in the world has always served as her North Star.
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Jill Walker

Jill Walker

From the first moment you meet Jill, she exudes true warmth and caring, that explains why she is so deeply engaged with Woodland Park Zoo. She speaks fondly about growing up in a home with multiple cats, a hamster and a pet skunk, Chanel (as in No. 5), and how her parents encouraged her to learn how to care for all animals. "Growing up in that environment made it a natural thing—animals were always part of the equation."
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Gary Kunis

Gary Kunis

Gary Kunis is the kind of person who says it like it is with no holds barred. He is the one person you would want on your side, no matter what the cause. The type of person who fights for what he believes in and who will take the tough stance.
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Lillian Hagener Bell

Lillian Hagener Bell

Trailblazer Creates Legacy to Save Species
Lillian Hagener Bell was a trailblazer in many ways. From her beginnings in Silverdale,Washington, as part of the first set of twins born in that region, to her decision to enter the Marine Corps in the 1950s, Lillian was a leader right from the start.
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Floyd Udell Jones

Floyd Udell Jones

Financial Trader. Poet. All-around sweet guy.
"Against all odds, I've lived the American dream, you could say." Floyd lived well, indeed. As many people helped Floyd along his path, he felt that he wanted to do the same.
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Furthering a Legacy of Caring and Generosity

Marion and Mylo Charlston

On a whim, Marion and Mylo left their favorite server a $10,000 tip just before her wedding when they knew she was struggling financially. There are countless other examples of their spontaneous generosity, including how they underwrote their postman's trip to Europe with his daughter, and how they bequeathed "Cecil the Diesel," Marion's beloved 1964 Mercedes Benz coupe, to their longtime friend and gardener.
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Life is Full of Surprises

Lilly Kassos

Lilly Kassos was full of surprises. From driving around West Seattle in her little red sports car, to opening up a hair salon and becoming an extremely successful businesswoman, to exploring her talents in Japanese sumi art, Lilly kept her friends wondering what she would do next!
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Connections With Animals Deepen Over a Lifetime

Patty Edwards

Patty Edwards recalls fond memories of her visits to Woodland Park Zoo while growing up in Seattle. Never owning pets in her youth, Patty's deepest bonds with animals—felines, in particular—were forged later in life.
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The Ripple Effect

Nancy and Mark Pellegrino

Nancy and Mark Pellegrino share a passion for the zoo's mission that began well before setting foot on our 92 acres, as it grew naturally from a deep love of animals both domestic and wild.
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Reflecting on Meaningful Values

Maureen Harley

In her first Seattle apartment, coincidentally across the street from Woodland Park Zoo, Maureen Harley awoke each day to the sounds of wildlife, peppered with an occasional lion's roar.
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Is Your Zoo a Reflection of Your Community?

Joy Spurr

At Woodland Park Zoo, the impact of legacy gifts can be seen all over the zoo. Most legacy gifts are placed in our endowment to benefit our animals, exhibits, educational programs and field conservation programs. We also welcome discussions about specific areas of interest.
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a brother and sister smiling
a gazebo at the zoo
a mother and baby otter

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Woodland Park Zoo a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give to Woodland Park Zoo, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 5500 Phinney Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103, or its successor thereto, ______________ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to the zoo or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the zoo as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the zoo as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and the zoo where you agree to make a gift to the zoo and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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