Planned Giving

With a gift through your estate or will, you can give more than you thought possible while generating a charitable estate tax deduction.

You can provide for the SLSO in your will or trust by naming the SLSO as a beneficiary of a specific amount, asset, or percentage of your estate.

Bequest language that you and your legal or financial advisor might want to employ: I give and devise to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (Tax ID #43-0666769) located at 718 North Grand Blvd. St. Louis, Missouri 63103.

In addition to naming the SLSO in your will or trust, you can also designate the SLSO as a beneficiary or one of the beneficiaries of your retirement plan, life insurance policy, or commercial annuity. Income and estate taxes are not imposed on retirement assets left to a charity. You always have the right to change or amend the beneficiary designation.

Making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a meaningful way to support the SLSO while receiving valuable financial planning benefits.

If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can make a QCD through an outright, direct transfer to the SLSO from your individual retirement account—up to $111,000 per calendar year—without including the amount in your federal taxable income. Please note that because the distribution is excluded from income, a charitable deduction is not permitted.

Consider making the SLSO a beneficiary of your Donor Advised Fund—the simple way to remember the SLSO in your plans. These funds allow donors to make tax-deductible contributions and recommend grants to qualified charitable organizations.

There are many additional ways to make a planned gift, such as donating real estate while retaining a life estate, establishing charitable lead trusts, using different life insurance gifting strategies, and more. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your philanthropic goals and aspirations. We also encourage donors to consult with their own attorneys, legal advisors, and/or financial planners to determine the giving option that best supports their needs and those of their families.