Legacy Challenge Match

Planned gifts eligible for matching funds include: bequests via will or living trust, beneficiary designations from a retirement account or bank account, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts and beneficiary designations of a life insurance policy given to Arena Stage (the match would be based on the existing cash amount in the policy).

You can document your planned gift by submitting the Gift Commitment Form. Fill it out and return it via email to mweil@arenastage.org or via mail to Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth Street SW, Washington, DC 20024.

The Legacy Challenge funds will match 10% of a gift up to a $500,000 bequest or $50,000 in cash. Since one purpose of the Legacy Challenge is to reward many people for documenting their planned gifts to Arena Stage we do not want to expend all of our matching funds on a small number of large bequests.

Donors unwilling to reveal any of their estate plans, but confirm that Arena is in them, would be assigned a “place holder” amount of $10,000, thus triggering $1,000 of the match.

Thank you very much for your support! The Legacy Challenge applies to new gifts, previously established but unreported gifts or increases to previously documented gifts. To confirm that your gift qualifies for a match please email mweil@arenastage.org .

The Legacy Challenge has been made possible by the tremendous generosity of our Board Chair Decker Anstrom and his wife Sherry Hiemstra, and former Board Chair Dick Snowdon and his wife Katie, whose visionary gifts will have a transformative impact on the future of the theater.

Your documented planned gift qualifies you for membership in the Full Circle Society which is Arena Stage’s way of celebrating donors during their lifetime.

Sample language for your will, trust or codicil

Bequests allow you to make a contribution without reducing current income by designating a fixed amount or percentage of your estate to Arena Stage in your will. Should you desire to designate your gift more specifically, we are happy to discuss that in further detail. The following is an example of language that could be used to prepare wills containing a bequest to Arena Stage:

RESIDUAL GIFT LANGUAGE

A residual bequest comes to us after your estate expenses and specific bequests are paid:

I give and devise to the Washington Drama Society t/a Arena Stage (Tax ID #53 0246894), all (or state a percentage) of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, to be used for its general support.

SPECIFIC GIFT LANGUAGE

I give and devise to the Washington Drama Society t/a Arena Stage (Tax ID #53 0246894) the sum of $___________ (or specific asset such as real estate, securities or other property) to be used for its general support.

CONTINGENT GIFT LANGUAGE

If (insert name) is not living at the time of my demise, I give and devise to the Washington Drama Society t/a Arena Stage (Tax ID #53 0246894) the sum of $ _______ (or all or a percentage of the residue of my estate) to be used for its general support.

CODICIL LANGUAGE

I, [name], a resident of the County of [county], State of [state], declare that this is the codicil to my last will and testament, which is dated [date original signed].

I add or change said last will in the following manner: [Use the language above to add a bequest to Arena].

If you choose to include Arena Stage in your estate plans, please provide your attorney with the following information:

Legal Name: Washington Drama Society, Inc. (T/A Arena Stage) Tax Identification #: 53-0246894

You may name the Washington Drama Society t/a Arena Stage (Tax ID #53 0246894) as a beneficiary of your IRA or other retirement benefits. Making a charitable gift from your retirement plan is easy and should not cost you any attorney fees. Simply request a change-of-beneficiary form from your plan administrator. When you have finished, please return the form to your plan administrator and notify Arena Stage.

Naming the Arena Stage as the beneficiary of a qualified retirement plan asset such as a 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Keogh or profit-sharing pension plan will accomplish a charitable goal while realizing significant tax savings. It can be costly to pass such assets on to heirs because of heavy tax consequences. By naming Arena Stage as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, the donor maintains complete control over the asset while living, but at the donor’s death the plan passes to support the Arena Stage free of both estate and income taxes. Donors should consult with their tax advisor regarding the tax benefits of such gifts.

For more information or assistance, please reach out to Gift Planning Specialist, Maya Weil, CAP® at 202-600-4158 or mweil@arenastage.org or contact your estate planning attorney and/or financial advisor.

You may name non-profit organizations such as Arena Stage to receive the remainder of your Donor Advised Fund simply by filling out a change-of-beneficiary form – no lawyer is required. If you do not name a beneficiary of your Donor Advised Fund, the plan administrator will add it to their charitable funds and distribute as they decide with no link to organizations that were supported at your direction.

For more information or assistance, please reach out to Gift Planning Specialist, Maya Weil, CAP® at 202-600-4158 or mweil@arenastage.org or contact your estate planning attorney and/or financial advisor.

Create a trust that provides income for yourself (or you and a loved one) during your life and leave a gift for Arena Stage after you no longer need it (or after 20 years).

For more information or assistance, please reach out to Gift Planning Specialist, Maya Weil, CAP® at 202-600-4158 or mweil@arenastage.org or contact your estate planning attorney and/or financial advisor.

Support Arena Stage during your lifetime and pass assets to yourself or your heirs with reduced or even eliminated taxes.

For more information or assistance, please reach out to Gift Planning Specialist, Maya Weil, CAP® at 202-600-4158 or mweil@arenastage.org or contact your estate planning attorney and/or financial advisor.

After your lifetime and/or the lifetime of another designated beneficiary, you can designate that the remaining balance of your life insurance policy goes to Arena Stage to be used according to your instructions.

Real estate gifts can be given outright or by will. If given as an outright gift, you can take an income tax deduction for 100% of the fair market value of real estate held for more than one year. If given through your will, your estate will receive 100% charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the property with no limit on the amount.

Anonymous (10)

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Clement C. Alpert