Your legacy can be as enduring as the natural and cultural history we preserve.

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Bequest Language

Below is language you can use to make a bequest to support our cause. A bequest allows you to continue to use the property you will leave to us during your life and make a lasting impact on our work after you are gone.

1. Specific Bequest

If you are considering making an outright bequest to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, we recommend the following language:

Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount

I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, a nonprofit organization located at 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, Federal Tax ID #_______________, for Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History's general use and purpose.

Bequest of Specific Personal Property

I hereby give, devise and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, a nonprofit organization located at 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, Federal Tax ID #_______________, for Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History's general use and purpose.

Bequest of Specific Real Estate

I hereby give, devise and bequeath all of the right, title and interest in and to the real estate located at ADDRESS OR DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, a nonprofit organization located at 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, Federal Tax ID #_______________, for Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History's general use and purpose.

2. Percentage Bequest

If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, we recommend the following language:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ percent (___%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death, to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, a nonprofit organization located at 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, Federal Tax ID #_______________, for Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History's general use and purpose.

3. Residual Bequest

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, a nonprofit organization located at 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, Federal Tax ID #_______________, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History's general use and purpose.

4. Contingent Bequest

If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, a nonprofit organization located at 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, Federal Tax ID #_______________, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to be used for Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History's general use and purpose.

5. Restricted Bequests

If you are considering a bequest but would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, please let us know. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your charitable objectives. We will also work with you and your attorney to craft language to accomplish your goals.

If you are making a restricted bequest, we recommend that your attorney include the following provision to give Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History flexibility should it no longer be possible for Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History to use your gift as you originally intended:

If, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, it shall become impossible for Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History may use the income and principal of this gift for such purpose or purposes as the Board determines is most closely related to the restricted purpose of my bequest.

Contact Us

Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History or to request any additional information that might be helpful to you and your attorney as you consider making a bequest to us. If you have included a bequest for Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in your estate plan, please contact us to let us know. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.