What is a charitable bequest?
In the estate planning process, you can designate a beneficiary to receive some portion of your assets in your will. This is a type of planned gift called a bequest.
Charitable bequests are specifically made to a charitable organization, like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®. This type of bequest can be a transfer of cash, securities or other property made through your estate plans.
When you leave a charitable organization like St. Jude in your estate plans, you can:
ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material is prepared and made available to you for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide or be relied upon for tax, legal or accounting advice. You should always consult a tax professional to determine your particular tax benefits that may result from any particular type of gift to charity.
Leave St. Jude as part of your legacy
Donors can leave a legacy gift for the children of St. Jude in several ways.
- Bequest: you can make a bequest by including language in your will or living trust, leaving a portion of your estate to St. Jude.
- Beneficiary Designation(s): you can name St. Jude as a beneficiary of your bank accounts, investment accounts, life insurance policy, donor-advised fund (DAF) and retirement assets including IRAs.
- Charitable Gift Annuity: you can make an irrevocable gift to support St. Jude while providing a source of fixed income for life to you or another annuitant.
Local representatives are available to speak with you about meaningful ways you can support the children and work of St. Jude.
Let us know you are interested on the form below, and a St. Jude representative will reach out to you.
Confirm your gift and enjoy the benefits
By confirming your legacy gift, you give lasting hope for patients and families.
- become a valued member of the Danny Thomas – St. Jude Society.
- receive exclusive invitations to St. Jude events and updates.
- gain recognition on the St. Jude campus.
I can’t think of anything more important than saving young children and helping the families who really, really need it… What we're donating isn't changing the world. But when many, many people come together and throw it all in the pot, it does make a big difference.”
St. Jude supporters Paul and Jackie Rewert, who have chosen to make life their legacy by including St. Jude in their estate plans.
Other ways to make life your legacy
St. Jude patient Lucas and his mom
IRA charitable contributions
If you're 70 ½ or older, you can contribute to St. Jude from your IRA and potentially receive tax benefits. You can have your IRA administrator use our sample letter.
St. Jude patient Hadleigh
Charitable gift annuities
CGAs may interest you if you want to transfer cash or securities to St. Jude and receive lifetime payments for yourself or a loved one. CGA rates increased in January 2024 and are currently higher than they have been in more than a decade, which could mean higher payments for you.
Give today and help make cures possible for kids with cancer.
Supporters who make life their legacy
Are you ready to make life your legacy with a gift to St. Jude in your will or estate plan? Let us know. We want to honor the generosity of our supporters who have decided to leave St. Jude in their legacy plans and share more information with those supporters considering a legacy gift.
St. Jude cancer survivor Anwar, then and now
