National Museum of African Art Legacy Society

Leaving a gift in your will or revocable living trust is a wonderful way to ensure that your support of the National Museum of African Art impacts generations to come. You may designate a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate to the museum, while leaving other assets to your family and friends. There is no minimum requirement, and every gift counts.

To make a gift in your will or trust,

Provide your attorney with the following sample language:
• Cash or securities: I give [the sum of dollars], [% of the residue of my estate], or [the residue of my estate], to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., for the benefit of the National Museum of African Art.
• Real estate: I hereby instruct my [executor/executrix/personal representative] to sell my real estate located at [address/city/state], and to give the net sales proceeds to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., for the benefit of the National Museum of African Art.

Notify us so we can welcome you to the National Museum of African Art Legacy Society and the Smithsonian Legacy Society.

Naming the National Museum of African Art as the beneficiary of a retirement account is a smart way to give. Income from a retirement account is often taxed more heavily than other assets and may become a liability for your loved ones.

Because the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art is tax-exempt, 100 percent of your gift will go toward creating your legacy. You can also name the museum as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, certificate of deposit, bank or brokerage account, as well as a donor-advised fund.

To make a gift by beneficiary designation,

• Contact your retirement plan administrator, bank, broker, or insurance company and request a beneficiary form.
• Write “Smithsonian Institution, for the benefit of the National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C., Federal Tax ID Number 53-0206027’ as a sole, partial, or contingent beneficiary of your account.
• Sign and return the beneficiary form to your plan administrator and keep a copy for your files.
• Notify us so we can welcome you to the National Museum of African Art Legacy Society.

When you create a charitable gift annuity with the Smithsonian Institution, you receive stable annual payments for life and a charitable income tax deduction in the year you make the donation. A gift annuity is simple and flexible, and it gives you the satisfaction of making a gift that benefits you now and provides future support to the National Museum of African Art.