There are many ways to include The Oakland Museum of California in your estate plans, only a few of which involve any expense or professional fees. You may wish to consider one of the following ideas:

1. Amend an existing insurance policy to add the Oakland Museum of California Foundation as a beneficiary.

2. Designate the Museum as the remainder beneficiary for your retirement plan. Retirement plan assets, if left to anyone other than a spouse, can be subject to taxes as high as 80%, leaving very little for the heirs. On the other hand, the Museum could receive all of the assets without tax.

3. Instruct your lawyer to prepare a simple, inexpensive codicil to your existing will or living trust, creating a bequest for The Oakland Museum of California Foundation.

4. Leave written or verbal instructions for your surviving spouse to include the Museum when redrawing their will.

5. If you are over 55, unhappy about the rates of income you are receiving or tired of managing all of your investments, consider unlocking the income potential of your assets through a Life Income Plan—such as the Museum’s Pooled Income Fund or a Gift Annuity. You (and your spouse or other beneficiary) will receive an income for life, avoid capital gains taxes; and a current income tax deduction may be claimed for a portion of the gift. After your lifetime, the remaining principal is used according to your wishes.

6. If you place the Museum near the top of your philanthropic priorities, we hope you will, at a minimum, consider naming us as a Contingent Beneficiary of your will, insurance and retirement plans, to receive your estate in the unlikely event that you outlive all your heirs.

There are many ways to benefit the Museum through planned gifts, some of which will provide you with positive benefits during your lifetime. We would be pleased to sit down with you and help you consider your alternatives.