What is SIXTEEN SOCIETY?

 

The Sixteen Society recognizes those who have decided to include the U.S. Marshals Museum in their estate plans. Named for the first generation of U.S. Marshals appointed by President George Washington-one for each of the judicial districts created by Congress.  Washington carefully selected men who were well-respected and active in the affairs of their local communities and states as well as a shared national commitment.  Members of The Sixteen Society share these characteristics of these first sixteen appointees.

What if you could leave a lasting gift that would continue supporting the U.S. Marshals Museum 50 or even 100 years from now? Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Your membership in the Sixteen Society will do exactly that.

When you consider including USMM in your estate plans, you are also considering continuing your much-needed support of history education and programming far into the future.

To ensure your gift fits with your overall financial and legal planning, you will need to consult with your attorney or financial advisor to execute any necessary documents. Once completed, please let us know so we can recognize your commitment to the future of USMM and include you as a Sixteen Society member. You can be a member while remaining anonymous.

Ways to Make an Estate Gift to USMM 

Planned gifts to USMM offer creative and flexible strategies that enable you to support the programs that are so important to us all. At the same time, you will also be pursuing your own charitable and financial goals. The decisions that remain yours are: What type of asset will you give? What is the way you wish to make your gift? 

Here are some types of assets you can use to include USMM in your estate plans. If you have questions after reviewing the following list, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Phone Number: 479.242.1789 

Email Address:  info@usmmuseum.org 

Will or Trust

A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to USMM as part of your estate plan. When you make a bequest, you leave a lasting legacy to be remembered, you lessen the burden of taxes on your family, and you may receive estate tax savings. 

  • Already included USMM in your plans? TELL US about your gift so we can celebrate your generosity now! 
  • Make your bequest unrestricted or direct it to a specific purpose. 
  • You can indicate a specific amount or a percentage of the balance remaining in your estate or trust. 
  • You can gift a specific dollar amount or asset 
  • You can gift a percentage of your estate 
  • You can gift from the balance or residue of your estate
  • You can make a beneficiary designation of certain assets

 

Retirement Assets

In the event you don’t use all of your retirement assets during your lifetime, you can donate part or all of your unused retirement assets, such as your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension, or another tax-deferred plan. This is an excellent way to show your pride in our museum. 

How it Works 

  • Contact the plan administrator of your retirement plan. 
  • Inform administrator that you wish to designate USMM as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or other qualified retirement plan. 
  • Your heirs will avoid income tax on any retirement assets funded on a pre-tax basis. 
  • Important! Your plan administrator is not obligated to notify us, so if you don’t tell us, we may not know. Please let us know about your gift. 

 

Life Insurance Assets

Many of our supporters find that by designating USMM as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, they can make a much larger gift than possible with a cash donation. If you have a life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose, such as a policy purchased to provide for minor children who are now financially independent adults, consider making a gift of your insurance policy to USMM. 

How it Works 

  • Contact your insurance company to update your beneficiary designations to include USMM. 
  • Designate USMM (EIN 80-0619722) to receive all or a percentage of your life insurance policy proceeds. 
  • You may also transfer ownership of a paid-up life insurance policy to USMM. We may elect to cash in the policy now or hold it. 

 

Donor Advised Funds

Like the process of naming USMM as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy, you can also list USMM to receive all or part of your donor-advised fund (DAF). 

How it Works 

  • Contact your fund administrator to list USMM as a beneficiary of your DAF. 
  • Designate USMM to receive all or a portion of the balance of your fund on your passing. 
  • The balance in your fund passes to USMM when the fund terminates. 
  • During your lifetime, you can also make grants to us from your DAF. 
Gifts That Pay You Income

Several financial models allow you to make a significant gift to USMM during your lifetime that can provide a fixed revenue stream and tax benefits to you or your family. 

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust 

You transfer your cash or appreciated property to fund a charitable remainder unitrust. The trust sells your property tax free and provides you or a named beneficiary with income for life or a term of years. 

Charitable Gift Annuity 

In exchange for a gift of cash or appreciated assets, you receive fixed payments for life. 

Charitable Lead Trust 

You fund a trust that makes gifts to us for several years. Your family receives the trust remainder at substantial tax savings. 

Charitable Remainder Unitrust 

You transfer your cash or appreciated property to fund a charitable remainder unitrust. The trust sells your property tax free and provides you with income for life or a term of years.