La Posta
Legacy Society

Dear Fellow Postal Historian:
Thank you for your interest in supporting La Posta Publications. This guide is an easy-to-follow reference tool that provides ways that you can include La Posta Publications in your estate plans. We appreciate your steadfast commitment and support.
Sincerely,

Peter Martin
Publisher
La Posta Publications

How to Include La Posta Publications in Your Estate Plans

Each individual or family situation is unique, and this extends into planning gifts to La Posta Publications and your other charitable interests. General guidance for the most common methods of gift giving is provided here. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have specific questions for your unique situation.

Bequests
One of the most popular ways to give, a bequest can be made through gifts of cash, securities, personal property, or real estate.

Retirement Accounts
Properly designated charitable gifts of retirement accounts bypass probate, avoid taxation, and reduce the size of your taxable estate.

Life Insurance Policies
A convenient way to support La Posta programs and multiply your ability to give today, a life insurance gift simply allows you to designate La Posta Publications as the beneficiary of your policy.

Endowments
Endowments are set up to ensure that your investment is maximized because your gift, otherwise known as the principal, is never spent. Instead, it is professionally invested and a portion of the earnings are spent each year.

Specific endowments may include:
• La Posta journal
• La Posta color
• La Posta monographs
• La Posta books and catalogs
• The Helbock Prize
• The Fricke Award
• Another writing award (can be named in honor of a specific person)
• La Posta website
• Research projects
• Other specified designation

Suggested Bequest Language

Use these guidelines as a reference point when you write or update your will, trust, or other estate plans. After reading and completing the first three steps, you will be prepared to meet with an attorney and leave a gift to La Posta Publications. It is strongly urged that you consult with an attorney in your state of residence to ensure that your ultimate wishes and charitable goals will be realized.

Step 1: Choose a Beneficiary
Identify La Posta Publication as a beneficiary and use the full name in all legal documentation.

Step 2: Determine Your Type of Gift
The following is suggested language for your advisors to integrate into your will, trust, or other beneficiary designation. The type of gift you would like to make will determine the correct paragraph to choose. For instance, if you know you want to leave a specific amount, choose suggestion “a” for a specific bequest and fill in the blanks. If you want to leave a percentage of your entire estate, choose suggestion “b” for a residuary bequest and fill in the blanks. Suggestion “c” is for non-monetary gifts and you may use it for other personal property.

a) Specific Bequest
I give, devise and bequeath to La Posta Publications, POB 6074, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22403, the sum of $$$ (or here otherwise describe the gift) for its general operations (or list a specific item or items from the list under “Endowments.”)

b) Residuary Bequest
All [or state a percentage] of the rest, residue, and remainder of my property, both real and personal and wheresoever situated, I give, devise and bequeath to La Posta Publications, POB 6074, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22403, for its general operations (or list a specific item or items from the list under “Endowments.”)

c) Gift of Other Personal Property
I give, devise and bequeath to La Posta Publications, POB 6074, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22403, [here describe the gift, for example: stamps, coins, property] for its general operations (or list a specific item or items from the list under “Endowments.”)

Step 3: Schedule an Appointment to have Your Will, Trust or Other Plans Updated
 Your legal professional may have other preferred text. The suggestions above should be used only as a guide.

Step 4: Notify La Posta Publications
La Posta Publications will welcome you into the La Posta Legacy Society and thank you for taking this important step. As part of notifying La Posta Publications, we encourage you to provide us with a copy of your gift designation. Donors who choose to provide La Posta Publications with a copy of their gift receive a special gift and will be listed as a member of the La Posta Legacy Society on the Donor page in each issue of La Posta: The Journal of American Postal History. The privacy and anonymity of our donors is of paramount importance. If you wish for your gift to remain anonymous, please be sure to let us know.

Benefits of Letting La Posta Know About Your Gift:
• Ensures that your planned gift reflects your values, interests, and wishes
• Ensures that your planned gift is directed to an appropriate existing program
• Ensures that the language describing your planned gift is accurate and clear
• Ensures that after thoughtful tax planning your planned gift is properly directed to La Posta
• Ensures that there is a confidential record of your planned gift