Consider making a significant and lasting financial commitment to the Museum.   Individuals who inform us of their gift intentions will be invited to join the Museum’s Cape Horn Society, and will receive invitations to exclusive special events.  Gifts to the Museum ensure its ability to maintain its tradition of excellence. There are many ways to make a legacy gift to the Museum. The following guidelines are intended to aid donors interested in supporting the Museum through planned gifts such as cash, securities, gifts of real estate, and charitable lead trusts.

Gifts of Cash
The simplest way of contributing is through an outright gift of cash.

Bequests
Donors are encouraged to include the Museum in their wills.

Gifts of Appreciated Securities
Giving long-term appreciated securities to the Museum provide two income tax benefits: no tax is imposed on the appreciated portion of the gift (capital gains), and the donor will receive a charitable deduction based on the stock's fair market value. Because the donor can avoid the capital gains tax, it is usually more advantageous to contribute appreciated securities directly to the Museum rather than selling securities and donating the proceeds of the sale.

Charitable Lead Trusts
A donor can make a gift to the Museum by placing assets in a trust which designates that an amount of trust income be paid to the Museum for a term of years. Once the trust terminates, the principle can revert to the donor or his or her beneficiaries, typically children or grandchildren. The charitable lead trust offers gift and estate tax savings.

Gifts of Real Estate
A gift of real estate may consist of a full or partial interest in almost any type of property: a residence, vacation home, farm, commercial property, or undeveloped land. As with securities, a gift of unmortgaged real estate can generate an income tax deduction and prevent the donor from assuming a capital gains tax liability.

Gifts of Life Insurance
An insurance policy may be an attractive asset for a donor. Contributing an insurance policy to the Museum can enable a donor to make a large gift and obtain a charitable tax deduction for the cash surrender value of the policy and the premiums donated.