Planned Giving

How can you leave a legacy to your community, one that will have a meaningful impact on a worthy organization? You may want to consider contributing to the long-term financial stability of the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History with a planned gift or making provisions for the Museum in your estate plans. You can help ensure the Museum's future by creating a trust or by including the Museum in your will.

There are a variety of means by which you can invest in the Museum's future. BVMNH is in the process of developing a planned giving program, and although this program is not yet in operation, we welcome inclusion in your estate plans. The precise nature of these gifts is, of course, a matter of personal choice. The simplest form of legacy gift is a bequest.

A bequest provides a gift for the Museum in your will and can take many forms. You may arrange for the Museum to receive a specific dollar amount; specified assets, such as securities, real estate or tangible personal property; or a residual bequest (all or a percentage of the remainder of your estate after other obligations are met). Bequests may be specified when a new will is prepared or by adding a codicil to an existing will. Such gifts may be for general use (unrestricted) or designated for a specific purpose (restricted).

If you are considering a gift but are not sure about the form which it should take, seeking expert advice is a great place to begin. With gifts involving any of your valuable assets, there are always many variables to consider, including the various estate-tax implications of a gift. Please consult with your financial advisor, an estate planner, or planned giving specialist to discuss your particular situation and goals.