Bequests
Bequests are an easy way to make future gifts to the Zoo Society and help promote cutting-edge conservation programs at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and around the world.

When you direct a portion of your estate to the Zoo Society you gain significant tax advantages for your estate and your heirs. Simply have your attorney draft a new will for you or add a codicil to your existing will. Click here for sample language.

Life Insurance
By naming the Zoo Society as a life insurance beneficiary, you can benefit your heirs and yourself while helping to promote research on endangered species. Choose from several life insurance gifting options:

• Name the Cleveland Zoological Society as beneficiary, successor beneficiary, or owner of your existing policy
• Purchase a new policy and name the Zoo Society as beneficiary, or as owner AND beneficiary
• Purchase a new policy to replace the value of other assets you donate to the Zoo Society and designate insurance proceeds for your heirs tax-free
• For policies donated to the Zoo Society that still require annual premium payments, receive a charitable deduction for the payments

It’s easy to change life insurance beneficiaries or ownership. Click here.

Retirement Plans
Retirement plans are among the largest assets many people own. When you designate the Zoo Society as a beneficiary of your retirement IRA, 401(k) or 403(b), you help the Zoo increase public understanding of the fragile relationship between wildlife, plants and people. Simply request a change of beneficiary form and designate the Zoo Society as a beneficiary.

Real Estate
With a gift of real estate, you can help expand conservation science by advancing our Zoo from good to great.

Some options allow you to continue living in the property for your lifetime, while receiving income for life. You also eliminate the burden of upkeep, property taxes, and insurance. A personalized financial analysis will show how a gift of real estate can benefit both you and the Cleveland Zoological Society.

Charitable Gift Annuities
A charitable gift annuity can help to support projects like local and worldwide conservation studies that protect endangered species and preserve habitat.

For a minimun of $10,000, a charitable gift annuity pays a fixed income for life to you and your spouse, or other beneficiary. A portion of the income (present or deferred) is tax-free. Upon the death of the beneficiaries, the Zoo receives the balance of the principal as a gift.

Appreciated Securities
By gifting a minimum of $10,000 in securities to our ZooFutures Fund, you may increase your yield substantially while supporting education programs that raise the public’s awareness of its key role in helping to protect wildlife. A personalized financial analysis will show you how a gift of appreciated securities can benefit you and the Zoo Society.

Trusts
You can help us answer the call of the wild through conservation and education programs, zoological medicine, field studies, research and animal enrichment by establishing a trust with the Cleveland Zoological Society. We offer numerous types of trusts, such as:

• Charitable Remainder Trust
  A charitable remainder trust pays a fixed-percentage annuity to one or more individuals for an established period of time, after which the assets are transferred to the Zoo Society.

• Charitable Lead Trust
  A charitable lead trust pays a fixed-percentage annuity to you or a loved one for an established period of time, after which the assets are transferred back to you.

When naming the Zoo in your estate plans, please use our legally incorporated name - the Cleveland Zoological Society. Our Federal Tax ID# is 34-0816490. For more information or if you have made a provision and are not a member of ZooFutures, please e-mail ZooFutures@ClevelandZooSociety.org or call (216) 635.3346.

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