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Beneficiary Designations

Not everyone wants to commit to making a gift in their will or estate. Some prefer the increased flexibility that a beneficiary designation provides by using:

  • IRAs and retirement plans
  • Life insurance policies
  • Donor advised funds
  • Commercial annuities

It is very simple to name the National Postal Museum as a beneficiary. Start by requesting a change-of-beneficiary form from your policy administrator or download the form from your provider's website. Make your desired changes and return the form to establish your gift.

See How It Works

An Example of How It Works

Couples smiling

Robert and Carol treasure the financial help they've been able to give their children and NPM over the years. The couple recently updated their will to leave stocks and real estate to their kids. They left NPM a $75,000 IRA to be transferred following their lifetime. Because NPM is tax-exempt, all $75,000 will help support our mission.

If Robert and Carol had left the IRA to their children, approximately $18,000* would have gone to pay federal income taxes—leaving only $57,000 for their family's use. Robert and Carol are happy knowing they are making the most of their hard-earned money thanks to their updated estate plan.

*Based on an assumption of a 24 percent marginal income tax bracket.

Next Steps

  1. Contact the administrator of your retirement plan, insurance policy or bank account for a change-of-beneficiary form, or simply download a form from your provider's website. 
  2. Decide what percentage (1 to 100) you would like the National Postal Museum to receive and name us, along with the percentage you chose, on the beneficiary form. Return the completed form.
  3. Contact Elliot Gruber at (202) 227-9673 or GruberE@si.edu to let us know your goals for the gift so we can ensure it is used as you intend.
  4. Notify us of your gift so we can thank you and welcome you into the National Postal Museum Society.

Legal name: National Postal Museum
Address: P.O. Box 37012 MRC 570, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Federal tax ID number: 53-0206027