CELEBRATING MUSEUM MEMBERS - Museum Foundation

PHOTO BY CHERON BAYNA
The Art of the Bequest
a unique pLanned giving option
Most of us, if given the chance, would like to contribute
to a cause that will positively impact others for generations
to come. A charitable bequest is the simplest way to create
a lasting personal legacy that will benefit the Museum of
New Mexico and all who treasure its cultural riches.
Bequests allow you to remain in control of your assets
during your lifetime, are inexpensive to create and can
reduce estate tax burdens. They can be made with cash,
stock, art or real estate. For these reasons and more,
bequests account for half of all planned gifts.
BuilD yOur BEquEsT
Follow these three easy steps to a meaningful bequest:
• Decide the amount, purpose and beneficiary of your gift.
• Inform the Foundation of your bequest so that we ensure
your intentions will be carried out.
• See your attorney to create or modify your will.
ExprEss yOur BEquEsT
Use this sample language to begin crafting your bequest:
“I give, devise and bequeath to the Museum of New
Mexico Foundation, a non-profit corporation in the state
of New Mexico, the sum of $ (or % of my
estate) (or all of the residuary of my estate) to be used for
(options include, but are not limited to: general purposes,
endowment, exhibitions, educational programs, for the
foundation or a specific museum).”
To discuss options for making a bequest
or other legacy gift, contact Bonnie McLeskey
at (505) 982-6366 ext. 113 or
bonnie@museumfoundation.org.
PHOTO BY CLARE LIGHTON
Bud and Valerie Hamilton
A Personal Bequest Story
By Bud Hamilton, Foundation Board Chairman
Last year, my wife Valerie and I decided to make a legacy
gift — also known as a planned gift — to the Museum of New
Mexico Foundation. We had been considering this action for many
years, but the current economic malaise and our perception that
legacy giving is too complex created the perfect storm of reasons
to delay.
Like many financial calculations, planned giving must be weighed
carefully in light of each individual’s and family’s circumstances.
These decisions can be complicated, involve considerable uncertainty
and concern death — something none of us like to think
about. Hence, we often put off these matters for another day,
another year.
Today we know that legacy giving doesn’t have to be that hard.
If you’re having difficulty getting started, you might consider
the approach we took: a bequest. Bequests allow a donor to
designate in their estate plan a specific amount, or percentage,
to be given to the Foundation or one of the cultural institutions it
supports. Giving options include endowment, exhibitions, education
or other vital museum or division needs.
Our bequest benefits the Foundation’s Endowment Fund and its
long term ability to support our museums. In setting it up, we
discovered that bequests are simple, inexpensive and can be
made revocable should your life’s circumstances change. Most
important, bequests allow you to make a commitment now while
giving you time to consider other options later.
Legacy gifts are vital to the long term financial stability of the
Foundation and its cultural partners. The Foundation honors your
generosity with membership in the Legacy Society, a group that
enjoys exclusive gatherings and special recognition.
Valerie and I hope that our story will inspire you to join us in the
Legacy Society in 2012. Your decision today guarantees your
legacy will endure through the good work of our cultural institutions.
Remember, it doesn’t have to be complicated, so there is no
reason to delay.
13