What Is Planned Giving, Anyway?

Planned Giving Is Smart Giving

“Planned Giving” simply means finding smart ways for you to make bigger gifts than you imagined possible, and to do it in ways that best fit your needs. Have you ever wanted to give more to support the mission of the Minnesota Historical Society, but didn’t think you could afford to do it? What if you could find a way to help you realize your charitable wishes without reducing your quality of life or limiting your ability to provide for your family the way you’d like? How about a gift that provides you with increased income? Would you be interested? That’s what planned giving does.

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How Does It Work?

What is a planned gift? When most people think about charitable giving, they consider how much money they have available in their checking accounts and how much they can give without hurting their ability to pay bills and spend money on other things they need or enjoy. Some donors may even think about using appreciated stock to make gifts (a very smart idea—see Non-Cash Gift Assets page if you’re interested). However, that’s as far as many go in thinking about it.

Planned giving is a way to expand your options and philanthropic ability. A planned gift is one that typically requires the help of someone other than you to complete—a professional advisor or a gift officer, for example. One way to think of a planned gift is as one that involves anything more than writing a check for cash, making a credit card donation, or donating marketable securities. Great things can come from looking beyond those options, and you may be surprised to learn how easy it can be to make a planned gift to MNHS.

Common Types

Planned gifts often include:

  • A gift in your Will or Trust to benefit MNHS
  • Naming MNHS as a beneficiary on your retirement accounts
  • A Charitable Remainder Trust or Charitable Gift Annuity that provides you and/or loved ones with increased lifetime income

Other planned gift tools and techniques are available for various situations.

Why Do Supporters Include MNHS in Their Plans?

MNHS supporters choose to include us in their plans for several reasons, including:

  • Ensuring Minnesota’s stories are preserved and shared
  • Supporting education, research, and public access to history
  • Honoring family roots, values, and community heritage
  • Leaving an enduring legacy connected to something important to you

Who Participates?

MNHS planned gift donors come from all walks of life. Many Minnesota Legacy Society members are teachers, historians, retirees, lifelong learners, museum or historic site members, and other community supporters who believe deeply in protecting and preserving our shared history. You can join them too!

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Interested in Learning More?

If you are curious about how a planned gift might support the Minnesota Historical Society, we invite you to start with a conversation. There is never an obligation. Contact Jennifer Pogatchnik, VP for Advancement, at jennifer.pogatchnik@mnhs.org or 651.491.5684, or visit our main Planned Giving page to learn more.