The Society gratefully accepts bequests from people in their last wills and testaments, and from trusts. 

Unrestricted Bequests: An unrestricted gift is especially helpful to the Society. This type of bequest is directed to the Society’s greatest needs at the time it is received. 

Restricted Bequests: This type of gift must be used for a specific purpose or purposes. It is a great way to support specific programs or services about which you are most passionate, such as buildings and grounds, the library, archives, and programs.

Please consider a clause in your restricted bequest to enable the Society to make good use of your gift should conditions change. We suggest language such as: “If, at a future time, in the judgment of the Society’s board of directors it is no longer practicable to use this bequest for its intended purposes, the board has the right to use the income or principal for a purpose they deem necessary and most closely related to the intent described herein.” 

Residual Bequests: This type of bequest is made when you intend to provide the remainder of your assets after other terms of the will have been satisfied. Suggested language for a residuary bequest can be: “All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, I give to the Theosophical Society in America, an Illinois non-profit corporation, Tax ID #36-2167934;  1926 North Main Street, Wheaton, IL 60187 for its general purposes.” 

Percentage Bequest: This type of bequest is made when you direct a percentage of your estate to the Society. Language for such a bequest could be: “I give, devise and bequeath to the Theosophical Society in America, an Illinois non-profit corporation, Tax ID #36-2167934; located at 1926 North Main Street, Wheaton, IL 60187, 50% (or such other percentage as you may wish) of my estate to be used for its general purposes.”

If you already have the Theosophical Society in your will…

Please let us know! We would like to properly thank and acknowledge you for your visionary support.

If You’d Like to Add the Society to Your Will…

It will likely be less expensive to add the Society to your current will than to create a new one. You can amend your will with a notarized codicil. We encourage you to speak to your attorney about this option. 

In addition to bequests through wills and trusts, you can direct assets to the Society by planning provisions “payable on death” or “transferable on death.” These provisions can be made in a variety of ways by designating the Society as a beneficiary in your:

Bank accounts: Simply let your banker know you’d like to have the Society as a beneficiary of your savings or checking accounts.

Stocks: By giving appreciated stock to the Society, the Society will receive the full value of the investment rather than its value after capital gains taxes on proceeds. 

Mutual funds: You can request that your investment company re-register your shares in a mutual fund from you to the Society. 

Life insurance policies: The benefit to this form of giving is that you can give a substantial gift at little or no cost. Consider giving a life insurance policy you no longer need and enjoy tax benefits. For more information, contact us.

Retirement funds: Setting up a gift through retirement funds is as simple as completing a beneficiary form. The Society faces no tax impacts when receiving the gifts, though family members may without careful planning. You can also consider an IRA charitable rollover.

Pooled Income Fund: The Society also has a Pooled Income Fund, through which you can make a charitable gift, receive tax benefits as allowed by law, and receive regular income for yourself and an additional beneficiary.