The simplest and most common planned gift, this gift is not payable until death so it does not affect your assets or cash flow during your lifetime. It is both revocable and private. It is fully deductible for federal estate tax purposes and is usually exempt from state inheritance taxes. You may designate a fixed amount or a percentage of your estate.
Pershing Legacy Society
The Pershing Legacy Society is comprised of donors who have made provisions in their estate through a bequest, trust or other deferred gift to support the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
Join us and you will ensure future generations learn about service and sacrifice, and impact the lives of others for years to come.
There is no minimum amount required for making a planned gift. Your membership in the Pershing Legacy Society begins once the Letter of Intent form has been completed and returned to us.
Special benefits of being a Pershing Legacy Society member include:
- Invitations to exclusive Museum and Memorial events year-round
- Recognition in the printed annual report
- Recognition on the Donor Wall, just inside the Museum entrance
Ways to Leave a Legacy
Name the Museum and Memorial in your estate plan through a bequest in your will or trust.
Designate the Museum and Memorial as a beneficiary of your:
• 401(k)
• IRA
• Life insurance policy (existing or new)
• Annuity
• Stock or other securities
Other types of planned gifts:
• Real property: personal residences, vacation homes, rental property, commercial property, land.
• Charitable Remainder Trust: A gift of cash or other property included in an irrevocable trust. The donor receives an income stream from the trust for a term of years or for life, and the named charity receives the remaining trust assets at the end of the trust term.
Already have a will or trust?
You can amend your will or trust to make a gift without rewriting the entire document. Using a codicil, you can add your bequest to the Museum and Memorial while reaffirming the other terms of your will. Similarly, an attorney can prepare an amendment to a revocable trust to add the Museum and Memorial as a beneficiary.
To further discuss planned giving possibilities, for questions or additional information please email give@theworldwar.org or call 816.888.8145.
Once You Have Planned Your Gift
For a bequest in your will or trust, please share that information with us by completing the Letter of Intent form. If possible, please also provide the legal document (codicil to will/amendment to trust) for our records.
For policies, accounts, stocks or securities for which the National WWI Museum and Memorial is named as beneficiary, please share that information with us by completing the Letter of Intent form. Your financial institution or employer can provide the necessary beneficiary forms. If possible, please also provide those for our records.
For any other type of planned gift, please call us to determine which documents to provide for our records.
All unrestricted charitable gifts are used strategically to support critical Museum and Memorial priorities. If you have a more specific purpose in mind, please contact us to ensure we can meet your wishes. Whether you choose to restrict a gift or not, your support will help provide the means for future generations to experience the Museum and Memorial.
