Planned Giving

Preserve the Past and Inspire the Future

You can help keep Minnesota’s history alive for generations to come through planned giving.

By including a gift to the Minnesota Historical Society in your will, trust, or beneficiary designation on your retirement account or life insurance, you ensure that the stories, people, artifacts, and traditions that have shaped our past and our shared heritage will continue to live on, educate, and inspire.

With life-income gifts such as charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust, you can provide financial security both for you or your loved ones and for MNHS, while receiving a charitable income tax deduction at the same time. Learn more and make your story part of Minnesota’s history today.

Already included us in your estate plan? Let us know!

Giving options

Making a gift to the Minnesota Historical Society through your estate ensures MNHS remains strong for future generations.

Gift in Will or Revocable Trust (Bequest)

A gift in a will or revocable trust is one of the simplest planned gifts. With the help of your advisor you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift to the Minnesota Historical Society as part of your estate plan.

Sample bequest language:

I give, devise, and bequeath to the Minnesota Historical Society, a non-profit educational corporation, located at 345 West Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, Minnesota, ____ percent of my estate (or, the sum of $________; or, ____ percent of the residue of my estate) to be directed toward MNHS’s endowment and/or directed to the area you choose.

Tax ID: 41-0713907

Beneficiary Designations

Use the following information to name MNHS in your retirement account, life insurance, or other beneficiary designations:

Minnesota Historical Society
345 West Kellogg Boulevard
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Phone: 651-491-5684
Federal Tax ID # 41-0713907

Retirement assets

Donating part or all of your unused retirement assets such as a gift from your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension or other tax-deferred plan helps support the mission of MNHS.

Insurance

If you have a life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose, consider gifting it to MNHS. For example, you may have purchased a policy to provide for minor children and they are now financially independent adults.

Donor Advised Funds

A donor advised fund is an account administered by a foundation or financial institution to which a donor makes charitable contributions. The donor or designated fund advisor can then recommend grants from the fund to MNHS.

IRA qualified charitable distribution

An IRA qualified charitable distribution allows individuals 70.5 years or older to give up to $108,000 per year directly from their IRA to qualified charitable organizations without paying federal income tax on the distribution.

Planned Giving Sample Letter (PDF 29KB)

Stocks and bonds

Donating appreciating securities owned for more than one year, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to MNHS.

Required minimum distribution

A required minimum distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount you must withdraw from your retirement account(s). Generally, you are required to start taking withdrawals from certain tax-deferred retirement accounts (including traditional IRAs) when you reach age 73.

Real Estate

The donation of appreciated real estate, such as a home, undeveloped land, vacation home, farmland, or commercial property, is a great way to support MNHS projects and programs. In most instances, the Minnesota Historical Society will sell the property and the proceeds will be used to support the donor’s preferred area of the society such as education, collections, exhibits, or the library.

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Minnesota Legacy Society

The Minnesota Legacy Society recognizes members who have provided for MNHS in their will, trust, or estate plans.

The Legacy Society inducts members annually each October. Watch the presentation from October 7, 2024: 20th Annual Legacy Society Celebration.

The Haugen Family
General Denny Schulstad
Sandy Waterman

MNHS is very thankful for the support of these generous members and donors. Their commitment and investment in preserving and sharing history will have a lasting impact on MNHS and our work to serve all people of Minnesota. Learn more about the members of the Society we lost over the past year. These generous individuals and families made a lasting impact, and their contributions and support will never be forgotten.

Minnesota Legacy Society Information Form (PDF 31KB)