Planned Giving

The Minnesota Legacy Society recognizes members who have provided for MNHS in their will, trust, or estate plans.

The Legacy Society inducts members annually each October. Watch the presentation from October 7, 2024: 20th Annual Legacy Society Celebration.

• The Haugen Family
• General Denny Schulstad
• Sandy Waterman

MNHS is very thankful for the support of these generous members and donors. Their commitment and investment in preserving and sharing history will have a lasting impact on MNHS and our work to serve all people of Minnesota. Learn more about the members of the Society we lost over the past year. These generous individuals and families made a lasting impact, and their contributions and support will never be forgotten.

Minnesota Legacy Society Information Form (PDF 31KB)

New Legacy Society Members - October 7, 2024

A gift in a will or revocable trust is one of the simplest planned gifts. With the help of your advisor you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift to the Minnesota Historical Society as part of your estate plan.

Sample bequest language:

I give, devise, and bequeath to the Minnesota Historical Society, a non-profit educational corporation, located at 345 West Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, Minnesota, ____ percent of my estate (or, the sum of $________; or, ____ percent of the residue of my estate) to be directed toward MNHS’s endowment and/or directed to the area you choose.

Tax ID: 41-0713907

A donor advised fund is an account administered by a foundation or financial institution to which a donor makes charitable contributions. The donor or designated fund advisor can then recommend grants from the fund to MNHS.

IRA qualified charitable distribution

An IRA qualified charitable distribution allows individuals 70.5 years or older to give up to $108,000 per year directly from their IRA to qualified charitable organizations without paying federal income tax on the distribution.

Stocks and bonds

Donating appreciating securities owned for more than one year, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to MNHS.

Required minimum distribution

A required minimum distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount you must withdraw from your retirement account(s). Generally, you are required to start taking withdrawals from certain tax-deferred retirement accounts (including traditional IRAs) when you reach age 73.

The donation of appreciated real estate, such as a home, undeveloped land, vacation home, farmland, or commercial property, is a great way to support MNHS projects and programs. In most instances, the Minnesota Historical Society will sell the property and the proceeds will be used to support the donor’s preferred area of the society such as education, collections, exhibits, or the library.

Retirement assets

Donating part or all of your unused retirement assets such as a gift from your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension or other tax-deferred plan helps support the mission of MNHS.

Insurance

If you have a life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose, consider gifting it to MNHS. For example, you may have purchased a policy to provide for minor children and they are now financially independent adults.