Ways To Give

Bequest through your Estate
IRA/Life Insurance/Personal Account Designation
Gift Annuity
Charitable Remainder Trust
Charitable Lead Trust
Retained Interest in Personal Residence

Bequest through your Estate

The most popular type of estate gift is the charitable bequest, which allows you to retain assets in case you need them during your lifetime. A bequest may specify a dollar amount, a particular asset, or a percentage of your estate. A bequest to Seattle Repertory Theatre can be as simple as a sentence or two in your will or living trust agreement. Please see our sample language below.

Even if you have already complete your estate plan, it can be revised to include a charitable bequest, often simply by means of a codicil to your will or an amendment to your living trust agreement.

Because they are revocable, bequests do not provide a current income tax deduction, but when distributed they will be deductible from your taxable estate. Whether your estate will be subject to estate tax depends on the year in which death occurs and the size of your estate.

As you contemplate a bequest to Seattle Repertory Theatre or the Seattle Repertory Foundation (gifts to the Endowment), you and your attorney may find it helpful to consider the following wording for different types of bequest provisions:

Specific sum of money:
"I give to Seattle Repertory Theatre (or Foundation) the sum of [insert here the exact dollar amount]."

Specific property such as real estate, stocks, bonds, works of art, or other items:
"I give to Seattle Repertory Theatre (or Foundation) [insert here a description of the particular property]."

Rest and residue of estate after paying debts, taxes, expenses, and other bequests:
"I give to Seattle Repertory Theatre (or Foundation) all [or a stated percentage] of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate."

Contingent bequest if you are not survived by certain individuals:
"If [name/s of primary beneficiary/ies] do/es not survive me, or shall die within ninety (90) days from the date of my death, or as a result of a common disaster, then I give to Seattle Repertory Theatre (or Foundation)  [insert here the exact dollar amount, description of property, or percentage of residual estate]."

For more information about making a bequest gift, or to let us know you have already provided for Seattle Rep in your estate plans, please contact Alex Harris, Director of Individual Giving at 206-443-2210 ext. 1018 or email .

The above information does not constitute legal or financial advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional counsel.  Seattle Repertory Theatre encourages you to seek professional legal, estate planning, and financial counsel before deciding on a course of action.