How Will You Be Remembered?
Many people like to leave a gift to charity through their will or trust because they care about the organizations that are important in their lives and they wish to express their values.
Would you consider remembering the Saint Louis Zoo in your will or trust, or by beneficiary designation?
Help shape the future of the Saint Louis Zoo with your legacy gift!
Give the gift of Animals Always and be remembered forever
Your plan for those you love can create a powerful legacy and make a world of difference to the people and places you choose to remember.
You have an opportunity to help future generations conserve animals and their habitats through a gift in your will or trust —called a bequest—to the Saint Louis Zoo.
Legacy gifts to the Zoo are directed to our Endowment. This means your investment is carefully stewarded to grow and sustain the Zoo in perpetuity. Today, tomorrow, together—Animals Always.
To let us know you have already remembered the Zoo in your estate plan, please contact the Planned Giving Office at plannedgiving@stlzoo.org or (314) 646-4973.
How to include the Zoo in your will or trust
To include the Saint Louis Zoo Association in your will or trust, please share this sample bequest language with your attorney:
"I give and devise to the Saint Louis Zoo Association (Tax ID #43-1727309), in St. Louis, Missouri..." (select one or more of the following options):
- _____% of my estate
- The sum of $_____________ (cash bequest)
- _____ shares of common stock of_____________ (corporation) "
... to be used for its general charitable purposes or to be held and invested by the Saint Louis Zoo Association as part of its Endowment."
Unrestricted gifts allow the Zoo to use your gift where it is most needed. To direct your bequest to a particular area or to honor or remember a loved one, we request that you or your advisor contact us to determine viability and ensure that your wishes may be fulfilled. Named endowed funds may be established with current or planned gifts. Please contact the Planned Giving Office at plannedgiving@stlzoo.org or (314) 646-4973 for details.
Named endowed funds may be established with current or planned gifts. Please contact the Planned Giving Office at plannedgiving@stlzoo.org or (314) 646-4973 for details.
Be part of the Heritage Society
The Saint Louis Zoo Heritage Society is a recognition program to honor those who have remembered the Zoo with a legacy intention or established a life-income gift. There are no membership fees for the Heritage Society. Members enjoy invitations to events, receive a special memento and may choose to be listed on our donor wall and in Zoo publications, or to remain anonymous.
"We are delighted to be part of the Zoo family in many ways, our Heritage Society membership being particularly special. For us, having an eternal connection with our beloved Zoo fulfills a lifelong dream. We were inspired by Marlin Perkins growing up, and he and other Zoo leaders have fostered our love for animals and their well-being. Remembering the Saint Louis Zoo with a legacy gift expresses our values in a lasting manner. It means everything to us!"
Ways to Remember the Zoo
Your Gift | How to Make |
| Gift Through Your Will (Bequest) | Name the Saint Louis Zoo Association in your will by designating a specific amount or a percentage of your estate. |
| Revocable Living Trust | Name the Zoo as beneficiary of assets in a living trust. |
| Charitable Gift Annuity | Create a charitable gift annuity with the Zoo that pays you and/or a loved one a lifetime income. |
| Retirement Plan Assets | Name the Zoo as beneficiary after your lifetime using the plan’s beneficiary form. |
| Life Insurance | Name the Zoo as beneficiary of a life insurance policy you no longer need. |
| Real Estate | Donate property to the Saint Louis Zoo Association. |
| Retained Life Estate | Make a gift of your home to the Zoo but remain in it for the rest of your life. |
| Charitable Remainder Unitrust | Create a trust that pays you a fixed percentage of trust’s assets (revalued annually); the Zoo receives remainder. |
| Charitable Lead Trust | Create a charitable trust that pays income to the Zoo for a specific term; loved ones receive remainder. |
See Your Benefits
For an illustration of how the various gifts could benefit you, simply contact Lori Sullivan or Robin Kraujalis at the Zoo. They will be glad to provide you with a personalized illustration of how your gift could benefit both you and the Zoo.
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Lori A. Sullivan
Director, Planned Gifts
Saint Louis Zoo
(314) 646-4509
sullivan@stlzoo.org -
Robin Kraujalis
Manager, Planned Gifts
Saint Louis Zoo
(314) 646-4973
rkraujalis@stlzoo.org
Saint Louis Zoo Endowment
Established in 2004, the Zoo's Endowment provides an annual stream of support to Zoo operations, camp and preschool scholarships, animal care, landscaping, visitor amenities, volunteers and staff. Named endowed funds may be established in one's name or to honor loved ones. Read about those who have established named funds to benefit the Zoo in perpetuity.