Planned Giving

• Unrestricted bequests are especially helpful to the Aquarium because they may be applied to the highest priority need at the time they are received, and enable the Aquarium to plan confidently for the future, including our on-going operating and programming costs, as well as unforeseen needs and opportunities.
• Designated (Restricted) Bequest: A gift that is restricted for a specific program or purpose or designated for current use, which makes the entire gift available for use immediately.
• Residuary Bequest: A gift of all or a portion of the remainder of the donor’s assets after all other bequests have been made as well as debts and taxes paid.
• Contingent Bequest: A gift in a will made on the condition of a certain event that might or might not happen. A contingent bequest is specific and won’t be honored if the condition is not made.

Your donation may be expressed as a specific sum of money, a specific percentage of your estate, a specific item or asset, or one of the options below.

In addition to bequests, other types of gifts include:

• Make the New England Aquarium a full or partial beneficiary of your IRA, life insurance policy, or other financial account. A gift by beneficiary designation is often as simple as naming the organization on a Beneficiary Designation Form from your estate plan administrator. The New England Aquarium’s tax ID number is 04-2297514.
• Include the Aquarium as a beneficiary of your trust. Many estate plans include a trust, such as a revocable family trust, or charitable remainder trust, which may include a gift to the Aquarium.
• Add the Aquarium to your existing plans by codicil. A codicil is a simple instrument that allows you to add the Aquarium to your existing plans.