Legacy Giving

Building a Brighter Future for Generations to Come

When you include Gilbert House Children's Museum in your estate plan, you strengthen our legacy and leave a lasting impact by enriching future generations of children and families.

Your Legacy, Their Future

Legacy gifts ensure that Gilbert House will continue to inspire curiosity, foster learning, and create joyful memories for children long into the future. By including us in your estate plan, you're not just supporting today's children—you're investing in the potential of generations yet to come.

Ways to Create Your Legacy

Choose the planned giving option that best fits your financial and philanthropic goals

Provision in Will or Trust

Your Gift

Designate a portion, asset, or specific charitable bequest in a trust to Gilbert House.

Benefits:

  • Estate tax charitable deduction

  • Reduces taxes for your family

  • Leaves a lasting legacy

  • Can include specific instructions for how funds are used

  • Professional trust management available

Beneficiary Designations (Retirement & Life Insurance)

Your Gift

Name Gilbert House as a beneficiary of your retirement account (IRA, 401k) or life insurance policy—a simple way to create significant impact.

Benefits:

  • Easy to arrange—just contact your plan administrator

  • Simplifies estate planning

  • Reduces family taxes

  • Can designate percentage or specific amount

  • Can be changed if circumstances change

  • Support causes you care about

  • Continue using your account as needed

  • Simplify planning and avoid legal fees

  • Reduce family taxes

  • Estate tax charitable deduction

Real Estate

Your Gift

Transfer ownership of your property—whether a home, vacation property, farm, or commercial real estate—to Gilbert House.

Benefits:

  • Avoid capital gains tax on appreciated property

  • Receive charitable income tax deduction

  • Eliminate property management responsibilities

  • Convert non-liquid asset into philanthropic impact

Gift of Stocks & Securities

Your Gift

Gift appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds held for more than 12 months to avoid capital gains tax while receiving full fair market value deduction.

Benefits:

  • Avoid paying capital gains tax on appreciation

  • Receive tax deduction for full fair market value

  • Two-fold tax savings (no capital gains + full deduction)

  • Simple electronic transfer process

  • Can donate shares directly from brokerage account

  • More impactful than selling stock and donating cash

Charitable Remainder Trust

Your Gift

Transfer cash or assets to a trust that provides income to you for a period of time, with remaining assets going to Gilbert House.

Benefits:

  • Income for life or a term up to 20 years

  • Avoid capital gains tax on appreciated assets

  • Immediate charitable income tax deduction

  • Reduce estate taxes

  • Professional asset management

  • Establish a future legacy

Charitable Gift Annuity

Your Gift

Transfer cash or property to Gilbert House in exchange for fixed lifetime payments—providing both income for you and support for our mission.

Benefits:

  • Fixed income for life

  • Immediate charitable tax deduction

  • Partially tax-free payments

  • Support Gilbert House after your lifetime

  • Rates based on age—older donors receive higher rates

Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

Your Gift

Recommend a grant to Gilbert House from your donor-advised fund—one of the fastest-growing and most tax-advantageous ways to give.

Benefits:

  • Immediate tax deduction when you contribute to your DAF

  • Tax-free growth of investments in your DAF

  • Simplified giving to multiple charities

  • Flexible timing of charitable distributions

  • Easy online recommendations to support Gilbert House

  • Can donate appreciated securities to maximize impact

Beneficiary of Life Insurance Policy

Your Gift

Designate Gilbert House Children's Museum as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy.

Benefits:

  • Charitable income tax deduction

  • Additional deductions if the museum retains the policy

  • Immediate impact if the policy is cashed in

  • Support museum's work upon policy maturity

  • Easy to arrange with your insurance provider

  • Can be changed if circumstances change

Charitable Lead Trust

Your Gift

Fund a trust that pays income to Gilbert House for a number of years, with the remaining assets ultimately going to your family.

Benefits:

  • Gift or estate tax charitable deduction

  • Reduced-cost inheritance for your family

  • Annual charitable gifts from the trust

  • Support Gilbert House during trust term

  • Pass assets to heirs at reduced tax cost

  • Demonstrate philanthropy to next generation

Beneficiary of Retirement Account

Your Gift

Name Gilbert House Children's Museum as a beneficiary of your retirement account (IRA, 401k, 403b, or other qualified retirement plan)—a simple way to create significant impact.

Benefits:

  • Easy to arrange—just contact your plan administrator

  • Simplifies estate planning and avoids legal fees

  • Reduces family taxes

  • Can designate percentage or specific amount

  • Can be changed if circumstances change

  • Continue using your account as needed during your lifetime

  • Support causes you care about

  • Estate tax charitable deduction

IRA Charitable Rollover (QCD)

Tax-smart giving for donors age 70½ or older

If you're 70½ or older, you can transfer up to $100,000 annually directly from your IRA to Gilbert House. This Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) satisfies your Required Minimum Distribution while reducing your taxable income.

Tax-Free Transfer

Distribution not included in your taxable income

Satisfies RMD

Counts toward Required Minimum Distribution

Reduces AGI

May lower Medicare premiums and Social Security taxes

No Itemizing Needed

Benefit available even if you take standard deduction

How It Works

Contact your IRA administrator and request a direct transfer to Gilbert House Children's Museum.
Federal Tax ID: 93-0094854
The transfer must be made directly from your IRA to the charity to qualify.

Your Gift

If you're 70½ or older, transfer up to $100,000 annually directly from your IRA to Gilbert House. This Qualified Charitable Distribution counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution.

Benefits:

  • Distribution not included in your taxable income

  • Satisfies Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)

  • Reduces adjusted gross income

  • May lower Medicare premiums and Social Security taxes

  • Available even if you don't itemize deductions

  • Simple direct transfer from IRA to museum

FAQs

Common questions about legacy giving to Gilbert House

Do I need to notify Gilbert House if I include you in my estate plan?

1

While not required, we encourage you to let us know. This allows us to thank you during your lifetime, ensure your gift is used according to your wishes, and invite you to join our legacy society with special recognition and events.

Can I designate how my legacy gift will be used?

2

Yes! You can direct your gift to support specific areas such as exhibits, educational programs, capital improvements, or our endowment. We're happy to work with you to align your gift with your philanthropic interests. Unrestricted gifts are also valuable as they allow us flexibility to meet our greatest needs.

Should I consult with an advisor?

3

Absolutely. For guidance on how legacy planning may impact your financial, tax, or estate situation, please consult with a qualified professional advisor such as an estate attorney, financial planner, or tax accountant. We're happy to work with your advisors to ensure your gift is structured properly.

What are unrestricted vs. restricted gifts?

4

You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.

Are legacy gifts tax-deductible?

5

Yes. Gilbert House Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 93-0094854). All gifts, including legacy gifts, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. The specific tax benefits vary by gift type, so consult with your tax advisor about your situation.

Start Your Legacy Today

We're here to answer questions and help you create a legacy that reflects your values

Alicia Bay, Executive Director

executivedirector@acgilbert.org | (503) 371-3631

Gilbert House Children's Museum
116 Marion St. NE, Salem, OR 97301

Federal Tax ID: 93-0094854