Planned Giving

The Governor's Academy was founded with a bequest by Lieutenant Governor William Dummer.
The school’s existence, from the very start, depended upon the generosity of those who came before us. In the spirit of the Academy’s original benefactor, William Dummer, the Schoolhouse Society honors those who have included the school as part of their legacies through planned gifts. Estate gifts like bequests, trusts, and other planned gifts have remained important to the Academy throughout the centuries. The school would be a different place today were it not for the thoughtful and generous support of alumni, parents, and friends who have included bequests and other gifts in their estate plans to support our great school.

The Schoolhouse Society honors and recognizes alumni, parents, and friends who have included The Governor's Academy through planned gifts. Join the Schoolhouse Society and secure the Academy’s future. Donors aged 60 and older may count their estate and life income gifts toward the With True Courage campaign and their reunion class giving goals. Whether you choose to remember The Governor’s Academy in your will or make a gift that will generate income during your lifetime, your planned gift will further Governor’s mission and strengthen our ability to shape the future of young people.

Planned gifts include a variety of charitable giving opportunities to blend charitable and financial goals. For more information or to discuss planned giving options, please contact Tom Trafton in the Office of Advancement at 978.499.3273.

Common planned gifts options include:

Bequests or gifts by will

To include The Governor's Academy in your will, the following language is appropriate:

I give, devise, and bequeath to the trustees of The Governor's Academy, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization located at 1 Elm Street, Byfield, MA 01922, or its lawful successor, the sum of $_________ (or you may describe the gift or the percent of your remaining assets at death) to be used to promote the goals of The Governor’s Academy as determined by the Board of Trustees.

If you have already created your will and estate plan and wish to include a charitable beneficiary, you can amend your will by adding a codicil, which is less expensive and less time-consuming than drafting a new will.

IRA beneficiary designations

If you are 70½ years of age or older and instruct your plan administrator to make a direct transfer of up to $100,000 to The Governor’s Academy, your administrator makes the transfer, as directed, to The Governor's Academy.

The benefits for you are that your gift is transferred directly to The Governor's Academy. Since you do not receive the funds, they are not included in your gross income* and your gift will count towards your minimum distribution requirement, which, under the 2019 SECURE Act, begins at the age of 72. You can also designate the gift to support programs that are important to you at The Governor’s Academy.

*No income-tax deduction is allowed for the transfer.

Planned Giving

Common planned gifts options include:

Bequests or gifts by will

IRA beneficiary designations

Gifts from Retirement Plans

Charitable Gift Annuities and Trusts

Life Insurance Policy