Planned Giving

Planned giving allows you to make a meaningful future gift while maintaining control of your assets today. These gifts can often be updated as your circumstances change and may also provide financial or tax benefits for you and your family. Planned gifts can include:

• A gift in your will or living trust
• Naming ScienceWorks as a beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy
• Gifts of appreciated stock or other assets
• Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from an IRA
• Residual or contingent gifts through your estate plan

Every planned gift — large or small — helps create a lasting impact for the children, families, educators, and communities we serve. Planned gifts are not only for the wealthy. Many legacy gifts are simple, flexible arrangements made by individuals and families who want to make a lasting impact over time.

We encourage you to speak with your attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional to determine the giving option that best aligns with your goals and values.

ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum

EIN: 93-1309725

1500 E. Main St.

Ashland, OR 97520

Suggested Bequest Language

As you work with your attorney or advisor, the following language may be helpful when drafting your plans.

Unrestricted Gift

An unrestricted gift allows ScienceWorks to direct funds where they are needed most. These flexible gifts are especially valuable because they allow the museum to respond to emerging needs, support daily operations, maintain exhibits and facilities, invest in staff and educational programming, and adapt to opportunities or challenges as they arise. Unrestricted support helps ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of ScienceWorks.

“I give to ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum, a nonprofit corporation (EIN: 93-1309725), currently located at 1500 E. Main St., Ashland, OR 97520, the sum of $__________ [or percentage of estate or description of property] for its unrestricted charitable use and purpose.”

Designated Gift

If you would like your gift to support a specific program or purpose, you may use the following language:

“I give to ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum, a nonprofit corporation (EIN: 93-1309725), currently located at 1500 E. Main St., Ashland, OR 97520, the sum of $__________ [or percentage of estate or description of property]. This gift shall be used for ____________________. If at any time ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum determines that the specified purpose is no longer practical or necessary, the museum may direct the use of the funds to a purpose that most closely aligns with my original intent.”

Residual Gift

Another common way to include charitable giving in your estate plan is through a residual gift. This type of gift allows you to care for loved ones first and then designate all or a portion of the remainder of your estate to ScienceWorks after other provisions have been fulfilled.

“I give to ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum, a nonprofit corporation (EIN: 93-1309725), all [or _____ percent] of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate for its unrestricted charitable use and purpose.”

Contingent Gift

You may also consider naming ScienceWorks as a contingent beneficiary in your estate plan. A contingent gift allows the museum to receive a designated gift if another beneficiary is unable to accept it for any reason.

“If [name] is not living at the time of my death, I give to ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum, a nonprofit corporation (EIN: 93-1309725), the sum of $__________ [or percentage of estate] for its unrestricted charitable use and purpose.”

Other Ways to Make a Planned Gift

Retirement Account Beneficiary Designations

Naming ScienceWorks as a beneficiary of a retirement account — such as an IRA, 401(k), or 403(b) — can be one of the simplest and most tax-efficient ways to make a charitable gift. Beneficiary designations are often easy to update and do not require changes to your will or trust. Depending on your circumstances, this type of gift may also help reduce taxes on retirement assets passed to heirs.

Life Insurance Beneficiary Gifts

You may choose to name ScienceWorks as a full or partial beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Some donors also choose to donate an existing policy they no longer need. This type of gift can create a meaningful future impact through an asset that may no longer serve its original purpose.

Gifts of Appreciated Stock or Other Assets

Donating appreciated securities, stock, or other assets may provide tax advantages while supporting ScienceWorks’ mission. In many cases, donors can avoid capital gains taxes while receiving a charitable deduction for the fair market value of the asset. Gifts like these can help maximize the impact of your support while preserving cash resources.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

If you are age 70½ or older, you may be able to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution directly from your IRA to ScienceWorks. QCDs can satisfy all or part of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) while potentially reducing taxable income. Many donors find this to be a meaningful and tax-efficient way to support the organizations they care about most.

Let Us Know About Your Plans

If you have already included ScienceWorks in your estate plans, we would be honored to know about your intentions so we can ensure your gift is used according to your wishes. Sharing this information is completely optional, and we are always happy to respect requests for anonymity and confidentiality.

For more information about planned giving opportunities, please contact us at info@scienceworksmuseum.org.

The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal or financial advice. Please consult your attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional when making estate planning.

Thank You for Supporting ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum!