Berkeley Repertory Theatre has received Charity Navigator’s 4 stars for a fourth consecutive year! This means that your tax-deductible gift is put to work effectively to bring award-winning theatre productions and education programs to our community.
Support Berkeley Rep > Planned giving > Bequests
Bequests
Making a gift through your will or trust is the most popular form of planned gift and can be an easy, tax-efficient way to plan your giving. A bequest to Berkeley Rep can be made for a specific amount, for a percentage of your estate or even for a portion of what remains of your estate once your bequests to family and friends have been fulfilled. Your gift costs you nothing now, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that your support for Berkeley Rep will live on in the future.
By leaving money or other assets to Berkeley Rep in your will or trust, you can reduce your possible estate tax, so the cost to your family members can be significantly less than the face value of the bequest. And you can rest assured that you can change your bequest at any time—if your circumstances change, or for any other reason.
To make a gift to Berkeley Rep from your estate, you must sign a new will or living trust instrument, add a codicil to your current will or make an amendment to your current trust. We encourage you to discuss your plans with our Development staff in order to ensure that your charitable goals will be met, and we strongly recommend that you consult an attorney to prepare your will or trust document and supervise its execution.
Request an estate planning kit
- Please include your name, address and phone number.
creating a named fund
It is possible to create a separate fund named for yourself or in the name of someone you wish to honor. Named funds remain visible at Berkeley Rep because of the people and activities they support, and their visibility helps to encourage others to give.
choosing how your gift will be used
You have several options to consider when making a bequest gift. Here are some possibilities.
- Unrestricted bequests: The use of your gift is left to Berkeley Rep’s discretion. These are the most valuable kinds of bequests, as they help maximize Berkeley Rep’s ability to respond flexibly and creatively to the Theatre’s future needs.
- Restricted bequests: Support ongoing specific needs such as Artistic Initiatives, Youth Programs, Capital Improvements or Staff Development and Retention. Please be sure to speak with a member of Berkeley Rep’s Development staff to ensure that Berkeley Rep can honor the specific intentions you are expressing through your bequest.
- Endowment Funds: Enrich one of Berkeley Rep’s existing Endowment Funds with your gift.
- Named Funds: Please see “Creating a Named Fund” above.
For more information, to discuss your options or to inform Berkeley Rep of your intentions, please contact Associate Director of Development Daria Hepps at 510 647–2904 or dhepps@berkeleyrep.org.
tell us about it!
You can help us make the best use of your gift by telling us about it. We may even be able to show you how to increase the impact of your gift. Please rest assured that we will respect your wishes and your privacy. Conversations about your future plans will be kept strictly confidential.
For more information, to discuss your options or to inform Berkeley Rep of your intentions, please contact Associate Director of Development Daria Hepps at 510 647–2904 or dhepps@berkeleyrep.org, or simply print and mail Berkeley Rep’s Letter of Intent.
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