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Science needs champions for generations to come.
For over 50 years, the Union of Concerned Scientists has navigated complex science policy issues and won with help from partners like you. But today, science faces challenges that could undo decades of progress.
You can help by taking an action that will have both immediate and future impact: Include a gift to UCS in your will or other estate plan.
Though we may receive your gift many years in the future, knowing about your commitment allows us to act faster, invest more, and create a bulwark now against forces that would silence science just when we need it most.
And when we receive your legacy gift, we will immediately put it toward our efforts to counter anti-science actions and protect our health, safety, and environment. Together:
- We can guarantee that evidence—not ideology—will continue guiding humanity's most crucial decisions.
- We can fight these attacks on science, protect our children’s health, and ensure communities can withstand climate change.
- We can defend the science that keeps us all healthy and safe.
Complimentary planning resources
Wherever you are in your planning process, UCS has a library of complimentary resources to help. Download our estate and legacy planning guides to help you get started.
Let us know
If you have already included a gift to UCS in your will or other estate plan, please let us know so we can thank you for your generosity and welcome you to our honorary legacy society, the Kurt Gottfried Society.
Ways to give
Gifts in Wills and Living Trusts
A gift in your will or living trust is a deeply personal gift—and a flexible one.
You can take care of loved ones first, and you can update your plans or change your mind at any time.
There are several ways to include a gift to UCS in your will – your attorney can help you determine the best way to meet your charitable goals.
- You can leave a percentage of your estate (even 1% of your estate can make a huge difference), a specific amount of money, or a specific asset.
- You can make a contingent—or backup—bequest that only takes effect if other beneficiaries are not able to receive their gifts.
Here is some suggested language: “I give to the Union of Concerned Scientists, Inc., a nonprofit corporation currently located at 2 Brattle Square, Cambridge MA 02138-3780, or its successor thereto, ______________ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”
Gifts by Beneficiary Designation
You can set up a legacy gift without a will when you name UCS as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, life insurance, bank or brokerage account, or your donor-advised fund. Simply update your beneficiary designation forms.
These assets are gifted separately from a will or trust, and don’t need to pass through probate. As with gifts in wills, you can update your plans or change your mind at any time.
For all gifts, please be sure to include our legal designation:
Union of Concerned Scientists
Two Brattle Square, 6th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138-3780
Federal Tax ID Number: #04-2535767
A gift in your retirement plan
You can name UCS a full, partial, or contingent beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or other qualified retirement plan. Because these assets often have unexpected tax consequences when left to anyone other than a spouse or charity, retirement plan assets are often left to UCS while other assets are left to loved ones – providing a larger gift to both family and UCS.
Two other ways to give from your IRA if you are age 70.5 or older:
- You can make an immediate gift to UCS with a qualified charitable distribution (QCD).
- You may also be able to use a qualified charitable distribution to establish a charitable gift annuity. Use this calculator to help.
A life insurance gift
Name UCS as the primary beneficiary of your life insurance policy or as contingent beneficiary should your other beneficiaries not survive you.
If you have a fully-paid up life insurance policy, you may donate it directly to UCS – please contact us at (617) 301-8095 or [email protected].
A gift from your bank or brokerage account
You can name UCS as a transfer on death (TOD) beneficiary of your investment account, or a payable on death (POD) beneficiary of your bank account.
A gift through your donor-advised fund (DAF) succession plan
A DAF succession plan directs your DAF sponsor on how to distribute assets remaining in your donor-advised fund after your lifetime. The types of succession plans available to you determined by your DAF sponsor. These may include:
- Distribute all funds remaining in your account directly to charities of your choice like UCS. We encourage you to contact us to discuss the impact you would like those funds to have.
- Creating a DAF endowment
- Naming successor trustees
Life Income Gifts
Life income gifts offer you lifetime payments and immediate tax benefits, then support UCS’s future work.
Charitable gift annuities:
- You can establish a charitable gift annuity with UCS with a gift of $10,000 or more in cash, securities, or distribution from your retirement account. You and/or a loved one receive fixed annual payments, which are partially tax-free on an annual basis. Your annuity payout rate is based on the age(s) of the beneficiary(ies).
- You can begin receiving payments immediately (if you are 60 or older) or defer payments a year or more. The older you are when your payments begin, the higher your rate.
- Your payments will never change, and your annuity is backed with the full assets of UCS.
- You may be eligible for an immediate tax deduction and a percentage of your annuity payment will be tax-free. If you donate appreciated assets, you may save on capital gains taxes as well.
- The remaining funds come to UCS after the lifetime of the beneficiaries.
Use this calculator to explore the income and tax benefits you may receive by setting up a charitable gift annuity.
Contact us for a confidential, no-obligation illustration showing how a gift annuity could work.
Charitable Remainder Trust:
With a charitable remainder trust, you can create a gift that provides income for life or for a fixed number of years. You are eligible for an immediate income tax deduction for a portion of your contribution and may save on capital gains taxes if you donate an appreciated asset like real estate.
How it works:
- Your attorney drafts a trust document to establish your charitable trust and you choose a trustee and an investment partner to manage the trust assets.
- You transfer cash or appreciated assets worth $250,000 or more into this irrevocable trust.
- For the rest of your life (or up to 20 years) you and/or another beneficiary receive payments from the trust.
- If you donate appreciated assets, you’ll avoid incurring capital gains tax at the time of the transfer.
- After your lifetime, the remaining principal is used to support the mission of UCS.
The Kurt Gottfried Society
To honor our caring donors who are providing for the Union of Concerned Scientists through a planned giving arrangement, we created the Kurt Gottfried Society, named after our co-founder and longtime board member.
A highly accomplished physicist and the epitome of a concerned scientist, Kurt Gottfried was a guiding voice in our pursuit of a healthier planet and a safer world. The Kurt Gottfried Society is made up of a select group of members who, like Kurt, have a long-term vision of independent science informing policy for public good and have informed us of their intention to make a legacy gift to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
As a member of the Kurt Gottfried Society, you will receive:
- Invitations to participate in high-level virtual and in-person events with senior UCS scientists and experts.
- Direct access to a UCS team responsible for answering your questions and providing information.
- Complimentary copies of UCS reports and publications, as well as a subscription to our magazine, Catalyst.
- The option to be personally recognized in our annual report.
- A semi-annual member newsletter.
- A 20% discount on all merchandise at the UCS web store (store.ucs.org).
If you have already included a gift to UCS in your will or other estate plan, please let us know so we can thank you for your generosity and welcome you to the Kurt Gottfried Society.
The least I can do for [my grandchildren], and every child everywhere, is invest in the best possible way to make their futures brighter. For me, no organization is more compelling than UCS.
Contact us
Your support means so much to us. We look forward to connecting with you.
Call us: (617) 301-8095
Email us: [email protected]
Send mail to:
Union of Concerned Scientists
2 Brattle Square
Cambridge, MA 02138-3780
Our Federal Tax ID Number: #04-2535767
Request more information or let us know you’ve included a gift in your plans.
Set up an appointment to speak with a gift planning expert.
Disclaimers: The content found on this site is general in nature and intended to be used for informational purposes only. It should not be relied upon as legal, tax, accounting or other professional advice. Always consult an attorney, financial advisor or other qualified professional.
Charitable gift annuities: California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.