Planned Giving

Making a bequest or other legacy gift to the Des Moines County Historical Society is a deeply personal and effective way to support our work. Legacy gifts make a meaningful difference in our ability to promote our common heritage and the role Des Moines County has played in shaping this part of the country.

Below you will find an overview of several different ways in which you can make a gift to DMCHS. Consult your legal or financial advisor to determine which of these ways of giving would work best for you.

Legacy Society

We hope you will notify us when you have included DMCHS in your future planning, so that we may thank you and welcome you as a new member of our DMCHS Legacy Society. The Legacy Society honors those special supporters who have provided for our future by including DMCHS in their estate plans or by establishing a charitable gift annuity.

A Gift in Your Will or Living Trust

A gift in your will or living trust is one of the most effective ways to provide for the future of DMCHS and allows you to retain your assets during your lifetime. In addition, your estate may benefit from a charitable estate tax deduction.

The gift may be easily included in your will when it is written, or it may be added through a simple codicil or amendment. You may wish to leave DMCHS a stated dollar amount; a percentage of your residual estate (what remains after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been made); or a specific asset, such as securities or other marketable property.

It can be as simple as adding the following language to your last will and testament: “I give and bequeath to the Des Moines County Historical Society, presently of 501 N 4th Street, Burlington, IA 52601, the sum of $__ to be used for its general support.”

Beneficiary Designations

Naming the Des Moines County Historical Society on a retirement or life insurance policy is a simple way to provide for DMCHS’s future without writing or re-writing your will or living trust. These assets will pass directly to DMCHS without going through the probate process. You can request the appropriate form from your retirement plan administrator.

Retirement Accounts: Many donors name DMCHS as a beneﬁciary for all or a speciﬁed percentage of their IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or other retirement plan.

Life Insurance Policies: If you have a life insurance policy that is no longer needed for your family, designating DMCHS as a beneﬁciary offers a simple way to support our work.