• Bequests
• IRA Retirement Gifts
• Donor-Advised Funds
• Life Insurance Beneficiary Gifts
• Real Estate Gifts
• Tangible Property including Homes or Property
• Charitable Trusts

Unrestricted gifts allow your money to go where it is needed most, supporting Yerkes Observatory’s mission and programs in the ways leadership sees as most impactful.

Purpose restricted gifts focus your money on a part of Yerkes’ mission most aligned with your interests. Gfts may be directed toward one (or more) of four areas:

• Education, Programs and Operations
• Landscape and Nature
• Astronomy and Science
• Building Restoration and Maintenance 

Endowment Gifts allow those wishing to preserve the corpus of their legacy gift to grow over time, with a portion of future investment earnings supporting Yerkes. Those making gifts in excess of $100,000 may designate specialized restrictions for their legacy gift. If you are interested in supporting the Yerkes Endowment we ask that you or your representative consult with Yerkes leadership in order to ensure your intentions are understood and can be met.

Similarly, those who may be considering generously endowing a program, staff position or space at Yerkes are asked to consult with leadership in advance of finalizing their trust or estate language to ensure your intentions are understood and can be met.

* All gifts made to Yerkes are governed by a board-approved institutional gift policy, a copy of which Yerkes staff will be happy to provide you, your financial advisor or estate attorney. All Yerkes funds and endowments are overseen by a fiduciary Board of Directors, guided by board-approved financial and investment policies as well as professional investment advisors.

To leave a gift to Yerkes Observatory in your will or trust, simply share the language below with your financial planner or attorney.

For Unrestricted Support

I, [Name], give, devise, and bequeath to Yerkes Future Foundation, 373 W Geneva St, Williams Bay, WI 53191, or any successor thereto by merger, consolidation or otherwise, (insert the amount, type of property, or percentage of estate) to be used as unrestricted support of the mission of Yerkes Observatory.

For Purpose Restricted Support

I, [Name], give, devise, and bequeath to Yerkes Future Foundation, 373 W Geneva St, Williams Bay, WI 53191, or any successor thereto by merger, consolidation or otherwise, (insert the amount, type of property, or percentage of estate) to be used in support of (name one or more of the four mission area(s) for your support, by percentage: Education, Programs and Operations /  Landscape and Nature / Astronomy and Science / Building Restoration and Maintenance).

For Endowment Support

I, [Name], give, devise, and bequeath to Yerkes Future Foundation, 373 W Geneva St, Williams Bay, WI 53191, or any successor thereto by merger, consolidation or otherwise, (insert the amount, type of property, or percentage of estate) for the Yerkes Endowment, subject to the policies and procedures established for the endowment by the Yerkes Board of Directors, and as may be amended or set in future.

Please consult with Yerkes leadership for larger gifts, gifts intended to endow programs, positions or spaces, or for gifts with restrictions outside of the four areas listed above.Yerkes wishes to ensure your intentions are understood and can be met, now and in the future. Gifts that do not comply with Yerkes’ board-approved gift policy may be considered to be unrestricted. Yerkes is happy to provide the policy to your or your advisors as you consider an estate gift.