Planned Giving: The Lightkeeper Society
Give OnlineWhat is a planned gift?
A planned gift is a deferred gift in any amount given to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The most common planned gifts are bequests through wills and living trusts and beneficiary designations on retirement plans and life insurance policies. When you let us know that you have made or intend to make a planned gift, you become a member of the Lighthouse Society with exclusive recognition and benefits. You may choose to be recognized by name or remain anonymous.
Where do I start?
A bequest creates a lasting impact on the organizations you care about and can provide potential tax advantages for you and your heirs. With the help of your attorney, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. You may bequeath a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, a specific asset, or the remainder of your estate.
Please consult your attorney or estate planning advisor. Legal name: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History · Tax ID: 94-2427733
If you are age 70½ or older, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA to the Museum up to $105,000 per year. A QCD counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and is excluded from your taxable income, making it one of the most tax-efficient ways to give. Donors who are 73 or older are required by law to take an RMD each year, and a QCD is an excellent way to satisfy that requirement while supporting a cause you care about.
Speak with your financial advisor or IRA custodian about making a QCD directly to the Museum.
You can recommend a grant from your Donor Advised Fund to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History at any time. DAF grants are already recorded as charitable contributions. Please note that if you are paying for a membership through a DAF, the rules around Fair Market Value benefits can be nuanced. We recommend speaking with your accountant or CPA before doing so.
Legal name: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History · Tax ID: 94-2427733 · 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
You can designate the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, life insurance policy, or other financial assets. Non-charitable retirement plan beneficiaries are subject to income taxes on these assets, reducing the amount they receive. The Museum, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, benefits from every dollar, making this a particularly impactful way to give.
Contact your plan administrator or insurance provider to update your beneficiary designations.
Donating appreciated stocks or securities directly to the Museum allows you to avoid capital gains taxes while receiving a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the gift. This can be significantly more tax-efficient than selling the securities and donating the proceeds.
Contact development@santacruzmuseum.org for transfer instructions and our brokerage information.
Lightkeeper Society Recognition
Donors who notify us of a planned gift are welcomed into the Lightkeeper Society, the Museum’s legacy giving recognition society. Members receive personal updates from our Executive Director, invitations to exclusive Museum events, recognition in Museum publications (optional), and the deep satisfaction of knowing their gift will shape the Museum for generations to come.
You may choose to remain anonymous. Contact our development team to discuss your gift and recognition preferences.
“My late wife Judy Steen and I shared a deep commitment to Santa Cruz and to this museum. Planning our estate gave us the opportunity to ensure that the things we valued most would continue to support the community we loved. The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History has demonstrated real stewardship over many years, and we wanted to be part of that legacy.”
Joe Michalak