Potential Benefits of creating a will
- Provides for family and loved ones
- Distributes hard-earned assets according to your wishes
- Creates a legacy for animals that doesn’t cost anything today
Gifts through your will
Many Zoo supporters have chosen to include Denver Zoo with a gift in their will or living trust. You can leave a percentage, dollar amount, or asset, and can update your gift at any time.
In as little as one sentence, you can complete your gift. This type of donation to the zoo in your will or living trust helps ensure that we continue our mission for years to come.
SAMPLE LANGUAGE FOR YOUR WILL
I hereby give [percentage, residuary share or specific amount or asset] to Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele Street, Denver, Colorado 80205.
Free Will
The easiest way to begin your legacy with the Denver Zoo is by including a gift in your will. To make the process easier, we’ve partnered with FreeWill, an innovative, online resource that guides you through the process of writing your will in 20 minutes or less.
It can be used on its own or in tandem with an attorney.
Get started on your will today
Potential benefits of including the Zoo in your retirement plan:
- Eliminate taxes when you name Denver Zoo as the full beneficiary
- Make the most cost-effective legacy gift you can, saving other less-taxed assets for loved ones
- Save wildlife for future generations
Beneficiary Designations
An easy way to make a legacy gift that costs nothing today is to name the Zoo as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, life insurance or other financial account.
The most popular type of designation is including Denver Zoo as a beneficiary of an IRA, since retirement assets are subject to income taxes if left to non-charitable heirs. Income taxes to your beneficiaries on retirement assets can be as high as 35 percent. This means, for example, that a $100,000 IRA will be worth only $65,000 when it gets to your loved ones.
You can also name Denver Zoo as a beneficiary of all or a portion of your bank accounts, brokerage accounts or Certificate of Deposits (CD) as well as the successor of your Donor Advised Fund.
It only takes three simple steps to make this type of gift.Here’s how to name Denver Zoo as a beneficiary:
Contact Administrator
Contact or log-in online to your retirement plan administrator, insurance company, bank or financial institution for a change-of-beneficiary form.
Decide Amount
Decide what percentage (1 to 100) you would like us to receive and name us, along with the percentage you chose, on the beneficiary form. You will probably need to include our tax identification number where they ask for social security number – 84-0502539.
Return Form
Return the completed form to your plan administrator, insurance company, bank or financial institution.
Marty and Jeanne McCune
Marty and Jeanne McCune want to be a part of, as Jeanne says, “the Zoo’s commitment to make the world a better place.”
Read more of the McCune’s Story
[VIDEO-POPUP]
Need assistance? I’m here to help.
Josie Stewart
Gift Planning Manager
jstewart@denverzoo.org
720.337.1463
