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Smithsonian Institution Planned Giving

This website provides helpful information for making gifts that advance the Smithsonian's important mission while also providing significant financial benefits to you.

Many friends of the Smithsonian choose to follow in the footsteps of James Smithson, whose bequest to America founded the Smithsonian in 1846. Bequests continue to be one of the most popular planned giving options. Also, a growing number of donors now benefit from gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, which provide lifetime incomes and the opportunity to leave a significant legacy to America. These and other planned gifts help you combine philanthropy with effective financial and estate planning. Individuals who make planned gifts will be recognized in the Smithsonian Legacy Society.

Thank you for taking the time to explore the benefits of planning giving with the Smithsonian Institution. Your planned gift helps ensure that the Smithsonian will continue to achieve excellence while remaining free and open to all. Contact Us.

Steps to Wise Giving

There are several steps to help you make wise and prudent gifts.

These pages are here to help you learn how gift planning ideas can be of personal benefit. Let us suggest a few steps that would help you in that process.

Benefits for Your Family and the Smithsonian

There are several types of plans that will benefit you, your family, and the Smithsonian through increased income and generous tax savings. To meet our donors and learn their stories, just click on their pictures. (Note: These donor stories are for illustrative purposes. Each story is based on an actual gift case or a combination of cases. The pictures and names may be representative of the actual donors who were involved in either the cases or a combination of cases.)

Generous IRA Gift
Jerry is a fireman who volunteers for a number of charities in his community. Recently, the Smithsonian shared an opportunity to join in a new program with a positive impact. Jerry was excited to help, but a lead gift of $10,000 was needed to start the program. More on Generous IRA Gift >>.

Property Turns Into Income
Miranda Jackson lived in the family home where she and her husband had raised their three children. After her husband passed away, Miranda found it increasingly difficult to care for her property. More on Property Turns Into Income >>.

Flexible Deferred Gift Annuity
Lewis is a 54-year-old executive at a large healthcare company. He purchased company stock during years when the stock price was low, and now the stock has grown substantially to $118,000. More on Flexible Deferred Gift Annuity >>.

Part Gift and Part Sale
Sue and Jim Wilson bought their first home many years ago. As they were landscaping in the yard, painting and fixing up that home, Jim was impressed with the home improvement store. More on Part Gift and Part Sale >>.

Joe Macedo Director of Planned Giving	Thanks very much for visiting us! We would be very pleased to help you. Simply click here to email us, or call us at 888-419-7584 at your convenience.
Staff photo by Andrea Scharnau

Professional Advisors

We also have a complete tax update service for CPAs, attorneys, CLUs, CFPs, ChFCs, trust officers and other professional friends. The GiftLaw services are made available to all advisors as a free service. We also are always available to assist in helping you provide clients with clear and understandable gift illustrations. If you would like assistance with a gift illustration, please click here.

If you are a professional advisor, you may take the following steps on this site.