man dancing with a child in the Court of Honor

Legion of Honor, San Francisco, 2019. Photograph by Gary Sexton. Image courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Legacy Giving

Through a legacy gift, you can join other passionate supporters in ensuring access to the Museums’ collections, exhibitions, and education programs for visitors of all ages and backgrounds for generations to come.

Join the Legacy Society

Letting us know that you have taken the generous step of remembering the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in your legacy giving plans is always up to you. Everyone who shares their intention to make a legacy gift to the Museums is invited to join the Fine Arts Museums’ Legacy Society. Members receive recognition in the Annual Report and are invited to special events.

To be included in the Legacy Society, please complete this form or let us know of your legacy gift. If you need a printable version of the form, please contact us.

Contact

Danielle St.Germain
Chief Philanthropy Officer
dstgermain@famsf.org

415.750.8908

Make a future gift with a lasting impact

The generosity of our members and donors creates a lasting impact on the Fine Arts Museums’ work, year after year. It propels us to achieve extraordinary goals, and provide access to local and international art for generations of visitors. Explore our success by the numbers and read more about our donors.

There are many ways to make a legacy gift to the Fine Arts Museums while fulfilling your personal and financial goals. Legacy gifts can offer tax advantages and, in some cases, generate lifetime income for you or your chosen beneficiary. Common ways to give include the following.

Bequests

One of the easiest ways to make a legacy gift is to include the Fine Art Museums in your will or trust. Your gift can be a specific dollar amount, securities, real estate, or other property. You can also designate the Museums as a beneficiary of all or a percentage of the remainder of your estate (a residuary bequest). Your bequest remains entirely under your control during your lifetime and becomes irrevocable only at death. To make a bequest to the Fine Arts Museums, it is not necessary to rewrite existing documents — simply add an amendment, called a codicil, to your will or trust.

Suggested bequest language:

“I give (___________dollars) or (a specific asset, such as securities, real estate, or other property) or (all) or (___________ percent of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate) to the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums, DBA Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (tax ID 94-3045948), located in San Francisco, California (for the benefit of its general purposes) or (for the following purpose: ____________________________________).”

To help you get started on your plans and legacy, we have partnered with FreeWill to offer this free online tool that guides you through the process of creating a legally valid will or revocable living trust. It’s easy to use, accessible online, and can be completed in 20 minutes. You can use this resource on its own or to document your wishes before finalizing your plans with an attorney.

Retirement plans

A retirement plan can be a tax-efficient and simple way of including the Fine Arts Museums in your legacy giving plans. If left to anyone other than a spouse, retirement account assets may be subject to significant taxation. As a tax-exempt organization, the Museums will generally receive the full amount of the plan’s value. To name the Museums as a beneficiary, contact your IRA, 401(k), or other retirement plan administrator to obtain a beneficiary form.

Donors who are 70½ years and older may also use their IRA to make qualified charitable contributions during their lifetime.

Donor advised funds

Similar to retirement plans, you can name the Museums as a charitable beneficiary of your donor advised fund (DAF). Your DAF advisor can provide a beneficiary designation form for you to complete.

Charitable gift annuities

A charitable gift annuity (CGA) is simple to create. You fund your annuity with a gift of cash or stock and are paid a guaranteed fixed amount quarterly or annually for life.

The information provided is not offered as legal or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, tax advisor, or other professional for advice in all estate-planning matters.

Designate your gift

Unrestricted gifts allow the Museums to direct funds where they are most needed. You may also direct your gift toward a specific program or purpose.

If you would like to designate your gift for a particular purpose, please contact plannedgiving@famsf.org so we can work together to ensure your gift intentions are clear.

Make a gift of art

The Fine Arts Museums welcome bequests and promised gifts of art. We ask you to notify us of your intentions to make a promised gift of art to allow for necessary review and approval by curatorial staff.

To have your donation considered, please provide the following information:

  • Name and address 
  • Title of the artwork and the artist’s name
  • Provenance (history of ownership)
  • Description of the size and condition
  • Photographs of the artwork

This information should be emailed to artdonations@famsf.org.

Information for you or your professional advisor

Legal name: Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums, DBA Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Federal tax ID: 94-3045948

Tax status: Described in 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code