You can leave Seattle Opera a gift in your will or living trust.

The following text can be used by testators or attorneys when drafting bequest language for gifts to Seattle Opera. Seattle Opera Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) organization which holds and invests funds, including endowed funds, on behalf of Seattle Opera.

Before revising the bequest language, if you wish to restrict a particular gift, or if you wish to make a gift to Seattle Opera Foundation please contact planned.giving@seattleopera.org for more specific language.

BEQUESTS TO SEATTLE OPERA
Bequest for a Fixed Dollar Amount
"I give to Seattle Opera, a Washington not-for-profit corporation (TIN 91-0760426), the sum of _______ dollars ($____) to be used for unrestricted purposes [or specify purpose]."

Bequest of Specific Property
"I give to Seattle Opera, a Washington not-for-profit corporation (TIN 91-0760426), [description of property] to be used for unrestricted purposes [or specify purpose]."

Bequest of Residual Estate
"I give to Seattle Opera, a Washington not-for-profit corporation (TIN 91-0760426), ____ percent (____%) of the residue of my estate to be used for unrestricted purposes [or specify purpose]." 

You can make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to Seattle Opera from your IRA (individual retirement account), you may donate up to $100,000 to support the art form you love—without having to treat the distribution as taxable income like you would when taking a required minimum distribution (RMD).
In order to qualify, a QCD must go directly to a public charity like Seattle Opera and meet certain requirements:

• You must be at least 70½ years old.
• The age for required minimum distribution (RMD) from an IRA has increased to 73 effective on January 1, 2023. (IRA owners turning age 72 in 2023 would not be required to take RMDs in 2023.)
• You must decline goods or services.
• The maximum annual amount allowed for a QCD is $100,000. This applies to the sum of all QCDs made to one or more charities in a calendar year. If you are married and file taxes jointly, your spouse may also make a QCD from his or her own IRA within the same tax year for up to $100,000—or a total of $200,000.
• For a QCD to count toward your current year's RMD, the funds must come out of your IRA by your RMD deadline, generally December 31.

Take advantage of this tax-wise opportunity to support Seattle Opera! Contact your IRA plan administrator and ask them to directly transfer your desired contribution to Seattle Opera before midnight on December 31. Our charitable tax ID number is 91-0760426. Please consult your tax or financial adviser for additional information about making a qualified charitable distribution.

Don’t want to commit to making a gift in your will or estate? You can easily designate Seattle Opera as a beneficiary of your IRAs and retirement plans, Life insurance policies, Commercial annuities, or Donor Advised Funds.

It only takes three simple steps to make this type of gift.
1. Contact your retirement plan administrator, insurance company, bank or financial institution for a change-of-beneficiary form.
2. Decide what percentage (1 to 100) you would like Seattle Opera (TIN 91-0760426) to receive and name us, along with the percentage you chose, on the beneficiary form.
3. Return the completed form to your plan administrator, insurance company, bank or financial institution.

If you are interested in creating a Named Endowed Fund through the Seattle Opera Foundation, please contact Director of Development Chris Burkett at chris.burkett@seattleopera.org for more information. 
Seattle Opera and Seattle Opera Foundation policies provide that a named endowed fund shall be created with a bequest of $100,000 or more. The Seattle Opera Foundation charitable tax ID number is EIN: 91-1174712.