Will or Living Trust

When you include a gift to the Museum in your will or living trust, you ensure your support of the Smithsonian American Art Museum into the future. This flexible gift allows you to impact future generations, while still maintaining the ability to update your gift as life circumstances change. All it takes is one sentence.

SAMPLE LANGUAGE: TWO WAYS TO GIVE

I give the sum of $_____________

I give _________%; or the residue of my estate

…to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, for the benefit of The Smithsonian American Art Museum, Federal Tax ID# 53-0206027.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum's existence is attributed to the power of bequests.

Harriet Lane Johnston, ca. 1898, photograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Harriet Lane Johnston, 1906.9.33

Harriet Lane Johnston, the niece of James Buchanan and official hostess of the White House during his presidency, bequeathed her art collection in 1903 and focused the Smithsonian on collecting art as part of its comprehensive mission and created the basis of the Museum's collection.

Legacy donors have found that bequests are a way to perpetuate the values and ideals that have been important in their lives. No matter the size, legacy gifts will help present a dazzling showcase of American art for generations to come. Including the museum in your estate plans is a great way to preserve your cultural values for the next generation.