Planned Giving
Please Consider the Museum in Your Estate Plans
A Will Bequest
The simplest and most common way to make a planned gift to the Museum is through your will. You may choose to leave a specific dollar amount; a percentage of your estate; or specific assets such as stocks or real estate. You can also make a gift of all or part of your property remaining after all other bequests have been paid, or a gift that takes effect only if your beneficiaries do not survive you. Any charitable bequest to the Museum is removed from your taxable estate and is not subject to estate taxes.
Life Insurance Policy
If you or your family no longer needs the protection of your life insurance coverage, your life insurance policy provides an easy way to make a gift to the Museum. You can irrevocably name the Museum as owner of the policy and receive an income tax charitable deduction. Or, you can designate the Museum as beneficiary of your policy and receive an estate tax deduction.
Your Retirement Plan
The assets in your individual Retirement Account (IRA) or other qualified retirement plan can be the basis of a future gift to Museum, if you or your family do not need all the funds in this retirement account. This gift has the unusual advantage of avoiding potential future income taxes as well as estate tax.
Gifts of Real Estate
If you contribute marketable property to the Museum, you will receive an income tax charitable deduction and avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciated value. Or, you may prefer to transfer a residence to the Museum irrevocably, while retaining the right to live in it for life or for a term of years.
Charitable Gift Annuities
A Charitable Gift Annuity allows you to contribute cash or marketable securities to the Museum in exchange for a guarantee that you (and one successor beneficiary if you wish) will receive a specific amount of money each year for life. You may choose an immediate gift annuity, and payments will begin within one year from the date of gift; or a deferred payment gift annuity and payments will commence at a later date.
Charitable Lead Trusts
If you have substantial assets which you would like to transfer to your children, grandchildren or others, a Charitable Lead Trust is an excellent means of making a gift to the Museum while reducing gift or estate taxes. The Museum receives income from the trust for a specified number of years, and at the end of the term, your named beneficiary receives the trust principal. A Charitable Lead Trust may be established during your lifetime or through your will.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
A Charitable Remainder Trust enables you to make a gift which provides you, or someone you designate, with income for life or for a period of years. You benefit by receiving a charitable deduction in the year you make the gift, by receiving income from the trust for the term of the trust, and by reducing the size of your taxable estate. You may select a Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT), which pays you a fixed dollar amount each year, or a Charitable Remainder Unitrust, which pays you a percentage of the value of the trust assets each year. The Museum benefits by receiving the amount remaining when the trust term ends. A Charitable Remainder Trust is particularly well suited for gifts of appreciated securities or real estate because it may avoid or defer potential capital gains taxes. It can be established during your lifetime or through your will.
Start a Planned Gift Today
Employer Matching – Many companies have a matching gift program to support employee interests. Ask your human resources or personnel department for a matching gift form to include with your contribution.
Important Tax Savings
Planned gifts, if properly structured, offer important tax savings: income tax; estate tax; gifts tax; capital gains tax, or in some instances, a combination of taxes. The National Museum of Forest Service History, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Please consider the the NMFSH in your Estate Planning Donations.
For more information, please call us at (406) 541-6374.
Our tax identification number is: 81-0454269
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