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Bequests

Donors who have remembered the Museum in their Wills have benefited the institution in many ways, helping to build and maintain its collection and providing indispensable support for exhibitions, scholarly publications, conservation efforts, and a range of educational activities. A bequest is one of the simplest ways to provide for The Met's future and can take many forms.

You may arrange for the Museum to receive:

  • a specific dollar amount
  • specified assets, such as securities, real estate, or tangible personal property
  • all or a percentage of the remainder of your estate after all other obligations (a residuary bequest)
  • a contingent bequest, making The Met the beneficiary only if the named beneficiary is unable to accept the bequest

You may make a bequest to The Met by preparing a new Will or adding a codicil to your present Will. An outright bequest to the Museum is fully tax-deductible for estate-tax purposes.

How to Make a Bequest: Useful Language

The most useful bequest is an unrestricted bequest for the general purposes of the Museum. This permits the Museum to use your gift wherever it is most needed at the time.

Suggested language for making an unrestricted bequest: "I give, devise and bequeath [the sum of ____ dollars], [all or ____ percent of the rest, remainder and residue of my estate of every kind and description (including lapsed legacies and devises)] to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, for its general corporate purposes."

Suggested language for a specific purpose: "I give, devise and bequeath [the sum of ____ dollars], [all or ____ percent of the rest, remainder and residue of my estate of every kind and description (including lapsed legacies and devises)] to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, to create an endowment fund which, subject to the Museum's endowment spending rule, is to be used for the following purpose: [state the purpose]."

Important Note: If you do specify a use for your bequest, the following language will ensure that your gift will always remain productive: "If at any time in the judgment of the Trustees of The Metropolitan Museum of Art the designated use of this bequest is no longer practicable or appropriate, then the Trustees shall use the bequest to further the general purposes of the Museum, giving consideration, where possible, to my special interest as described above."

Contact Us

For more information on how these gifts might work for you, please call Planned Giving at (212) 570 3796 or email us.

Planned Giving
Development Office
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028-0198