We offer several ways for you to include The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in your estate planning.

Bequests

A bequest — a designation made in a will or a trust to a beneficiary — is the simplest way to provide support to the Nelson-Atkins through your estate plan. Bequests help the museum maintain and expand collections and fund exhibitions and educational programming. In addition to cash bequests, the museum accepts tangible personal property, securities, and real estate.

IRAs and Retirement Plan Assets

Assets in qualified retirement plans such as IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b)s may comprise a large portion of the total assets in your estate.  Retirement plans and IRAs are not controlled by the terms of your will, but instead use separate beneficiary forms to determine who receives them.  If left to friends or family members (other than a surviving spouse), these assets may be subject to income tax and estate tax. To designate the Nelson-Atkins as a beneficiary of all or a percentage of your retirement plan assets, notify your plan’s administrator of your intention and complete a change of beneficiary form.

Life Insurance Policies

If you have a life insurance policy that is no longer needed as part of your estate plan, consider naming the museum as the beneficiary. By doing this, you will make a significant impact at the museum and possibly generate a tax deduction for your estate. Your life insurance company can supply the forms necessary to complete this type of gift.

Donor Advised Funds

Donor advised funds often provide the donor the opportunity to make recommendations regarding the distribution of funds upon the donor’s death. If you have a donor advised fund, you can name the museum as the beneficiary of the fund (either in whole or in part). Contact your fund administrator to discuss naming the museum as a beneficiary of your donor advised fund upon death.

Charitable Trusts

The museum accepts planned gifts from various types of charitable remainder trusts that are payable to the museum upon your death, and trusts that makes payments to the museum for a period of time with the remaining trust assets passing to your family. Please consult with your legal advisor if you are interested in creating a trust in favor of the museum.

William Rockhill Nelson Society

The Nelson-Atkins recognizes those who have documented their planned gift commitment to the museum by including them as members of the William Rockhill Nelson Society (WRNS). The details of the planned gift remain confidential, and you retain the flexibility to update your estate plan in the future. With permission, members are listed in the museum’s annual report and receive invitations to exclusive WRNS events.

To document your planned gift, please contact giving@nelson-atkins.org.