Your Legacy,
Commonweal’s Second Century.
Join the growing number of Commonweal supporters who include our work in their estate planning.
As we begin Commonweal’s second hundred years, we are making significant investments in expanding our reach, relevance, and reputation across multiple media. But we need to make long-term, year-after-year commitments to these projects—and the planned gifts Commonweal receives are indispensable to our plans for the future.
Planned giving has enabled dozens of our donors to give Commonweal support that would not have been possible during their lifetimes.
How to make a gift
1. A simple bequest/will
You can designate Commonweal as one of the beneficiaries of your will or living trust—assigning to Commonweal a specific dollar amount, or a percentage of the final value of your estate.
2. Make Commonweal the beneficiary of a retirement account
You can designate Commonweal as one of the primary or secondary beneficiaries of your IRA or other retirement account.
Often this designation can be done online, or with a simple phone call to the investment firm where your account is managed. They can provide you with the forms to add or change your beneficiaries. (Using a retirement account to make your gift in this way does not require a further designation in your will.)
3. Make a contribution to Commonweal from a current retirement account
Many retired Commonweal readers are required to take minimum distributions from their retirement accounts each year. An IRA charitable rollover enables you to donate some of these funds directly to Commonweal. Such a gift will count towards your required minimum distribution and is not included in your Federal taxable income for the year.
The brokerage or investment firm your IRA can provide you the necessary form and instructions for a charitable rollover gift.
When including Commonweal in any planned gift designation, please use our official organizational name: Commonweal Foundation, New York, NY. Our Federal tax identification number is 13-3174407.
If you have any questions or concerns throughout the process, contact Ellen B. Koneck at [email protected].
About the Skillin Society
Friends of Commonweal who provide any form of planned giving support become members of the Edward Skillin Society, named for Commonweal's longtime publisher, editor, and guiding spirit (1904-2000). In the early 1980s, he and Commonweal's other shareholders transferred their ownership to the new nonprofit Commonweal Foundation. It was his generosity and foresight that helped ensure Commonweal's long-term survival.
Skillin Society members receive special recognition annually in the magazine, and each year also receive a book chosen for them by Commonweal's editors.