Including Mount Vernon as a beneficiary of a financial, retirement, or insurance account or asset represents an act of considerable generosity well within the reach of many people and families.
Beneficiary Designations Require Only the Completion of a Simple Form
If you have a life insurance policy, retirement plan (such as an IRA or a 401(k) account), or an investment/brokerage account, you can change your beneficiary designations at any time at no cost. These assets make excellent gifts to leave to charity, as the funds go immediately to the recipient and bypass probate, the sometimes cumbersome, lengthy and expensive legal process of settling the estate of a deceased person, specifically resolving all claims and distributing the decedent's property.
When planning your estate, you may want to consider that – from a tax standpoint – a qualified retirement plan is among the most expensive assets for your heirs to inherit and thus makes an excellent candidate for a charitable donation upon death. Many people plan to give to charity only through their wills, but a more proactive estate plan can have additional tax benefits. Contact us today so we can work with you and your advisors to help you make a more informed decision.
Join Our Legacy Society with Your Planned Gift
If you designate Mount Vernon as a beneficiary of a financial, retirement, or insurance account or asset, you become a member of our legacy group: the Ann Pamela Cunningham Society. Ann Pamela Cunningham founded the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association in 1853 and tirelessly gathered support from across America to rescue George Washington's home, sparking the U.S. historic preservation movement.
Our hope is that you will let us know about your planned gift so we can thank and recognize you.
You will receive these privileges of membership in the Ann Pamela Cunningham Society:
· Personalized certificate of appreciation
· Free subscription to Mount Vernon’s Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow newsletter
· Mount Vernon’s annual report
· Updates on Mount Vernon news
· Invitations to events and special evenings
· Recognition of your planned gift in Mount Vernon publications
(unless you prefer to remain anonymous)
Special Considerations
Please contact us about restricting your gift to the specific Mount Vernon program(s) of your choice.
Unrestricted contributions are preferred; however, we also welcome a conversation if funding a specific program is critical to you. We have many projects – both short-term and ongoing – at Mount Vernon for which we seek support. We can tell you about all the available options today – and tomorrow, when posterity will visit and revere George Washington’s home and legacy.
Gifts to Mount Vernon may be made in memory of any deceased person(s) or in honor of any living person(s). If you give us permission to list your planned gift in our annual report, then we will list your name along with your brief gift dedication.
Other Types of Planned Gifts that May Interest and Benefit You
If you are considering a beneficiary designation to benefit Mount Vernon, be aware that other gift types – such as an outright donation of securities or real estate, a charitable gift annuity, a charitable remainder trust, or a retained life estate arrangement involving a personal residence – may be suitable or preferable, taking into account your goals and needs.
A charitable gift annuity, for example, can be set up for you and/or someone else while you are alive. Or you can arrange through your will or through some other element of your estate plan to establish a testamentary charitable gift annuity that will result in tax-favored lifetime payments being made to a beneficiary(ies) of your choice.
Of course, planning a revocable bequest for Mount Vernon through your will or through some other element of your estate plan also is welcome.
Our development staff can help you plan the right gift in light of your assets, income, and family and other estate or financial obligations. You may be able to be a greater philanthropist than you realize. Would you consider making the gift of a lifetime to Mount Vernon if we can show you how?
We Invite You to Contact Us
In all of our 150 years of existence, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association has neither requested nor accepted government funding. We are a 501(c)(3) charity and our programs and endowment depend on your support. Our tax identification number is 54-0564701.
Direct your confidential inquiries and notifications about legacy gifts for the benefit of Mount Vernon to:
Mount Vernon Gift Planning
P.O. Box 110, Mount Vernon, VA 22121
1-800-780-1799 / legacy@mountvernon.org
Information also available at mountvernon.org/legacy.
This information provided by Mount Vernon is not financial, tax or legal advice.
You should consult your advisors before making your charitable giving decisions.
