Planned Giving
Create a Lasting Legacy at Spoleto
For 50 years, Spoleto Festival USA has brought the world’s leading artists to Charleston, creating extraordinary experiences that inspire audiences across generations. By including the Festival in your estate plans, you can help ensure that its tradition of artistic excellence continues well into the future.
Explore Planned Giving Opportunities
Gifts by Bequest
A gift through your will or living trust allows you to make a transformative impact on future generations of artists and audiences while retaining control of your assets during your lifetime.
- Residual Bequest: Allocates a percentage of your estate’s remainder after all debts, expenses, and specific gifts are fulfilled.
- Specific Bequest: Designates a fixed dollar amount, specific asset, or security to the Festival.
Gifts by Beneficiary Designation
Naming Spoleto Festival USA as a beneficiary of your financial accounts is one of the simplest, most impactful ways to ensure the future of world-class performing arts—often with significant tax advantages for your estate.
- Retirement Funds (IRAs, 401ks): Avoid heavy income tax penalties on your heirs by designating Spoleto as a full or partial beneficiary of your retirement assets.
- Life Insurance Policies: List Spoleto as the beneficiary of an existing policy.
- Bank & Brokerage Accounts: Utilize a Payable on Death (POD) or Transfer on Death (TOD) designation for bank accounts, CDs, or investment accounts to transfer funds outside of probate.
- Donor-Advised Funds (DAF): Name Spoleto Festival USA as a successor beneficiary to receive remaining grant funds from your DAF.
Life Income & Trust Vehicles
Protect your family’s financial future while ensuring world-class art thrives in Charleston. Through creative trust and life-income options, you can receive lifetime payments or reduce estate taxes for your heirs—all while fueling Spoleto’s legacy for the next 50 years.
- Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs): Make a gift of cash or appreciated securities in exchange for fixed, guaranteed payments for life. CGAs offer highly attractive payout rates, tax deductions, and partially tax-free income—all while securing your legacy at the Festival.
- Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs): Transfer larger or more complex assets (such as real estate or appreciated stocks) into an irrevocable trust. A CRT provides variable or fixed income for life or a set term of years, yields an immediate tax deduction, and leaves the remaining trust assets to Spoleto.
- Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs) - Structure your assets to provide immediate, ongoing income to Spoleto for a specified term of years, after which the remaining principal passes to your heirs with significantly reduced gift and estate taxes.
The Bravo Society
The Bravo Society honors individuals who have chosen to include Spoleto Festival USA in their estate plans through a planned gift.
When you let us know of your intentions and complete a commitment form, you’ll become a member of the Bravo Society and join a distinguished community of supporters who share a lasting commitment to the Festival.
Membership Benefits
- Recognition in the annual Festival Program Book (unless you prefer to remain anonymous)
- Invitations to select donor events and opportunities
- The satisfaction of knowing your generosity will sustain the Festival for future generations
For More Information
Always consult with your tax advisor and estate attorney to explore which options best meet your personal goals. Our Development team is happy to discuss planned giving opportunities or answer any questions.
Our Development team is happy to discuss planned giving opportunities or answer any questions:
Chloe McIntosh
Associate Director of Major Gifts
843.720.1179
cmcintosh@spoletousa.org
Bravo Society Members
Other Ways to Give
Directors Council
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Programmatic Support
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Corporate Giving
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