Make your mark WITH AN ESTATE GIFT 

Many patrons find that making an estate gift to Steppenwolf – for example, adding the theater as a beneficiary of your retirement account or will/trust – is easier to execute than they imagined. And your future gift ensures the vitality of Steppenwolf for future generations

Through your gift, join Steppenwolf’s Visionary Circle.

By notifying Steppenwolf of your planned gift, you’ll enjoy membership in the Visionary Circle. No minimum financial level is required to accept membership and enjoy these benefits starting today:

  • Invitations to Visionary Circle events with Steppenwolf artists
  • Private backstage tour with family members
  • VIP ticketing services
  • Recognition on the Donor Wall in the theater lobby and on our website.

Click here to learn about the different types of planned estate gifts.  

QUESTIONS OR WANT TO JOIN?

Please contact Eric Evenskaas, Director of Development, at eevenskaas@steppenwolf.org or (312) 654-5615. 

 

GIFT EXAMPLES

There are many ways to make a planned gift to Steppenwolf and provide tax benefits to your estate and/or heirs. Below are a few gift examples to discuss with your financial advisor.

Steppenwolf's Official Name, Address and Tax ID

Steppenwolf Theatre Company
1700 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614
Tax ID #: 51-0149370

A Gift Through Your Will Or Trust

A gift through your will or revocable trust is a simple and meaningful way of remembering Steppenwolf that may be directed where most needed by the Board of Trustees. A sample clause to share with your attorney is:

I give to Steppenwolf Theatre Company, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation whose address is 1700 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614, Tax ID #51-0149370, (the sum of $_________) or (_____ % of the residue of my estate) for its general purposes.

Retirement Plan Assets

The designation of Steppenwolf as a beneficiary of retirement plan benefits may be a very savvy tax-wise gift strategy. Our charitable tax status exempts retirement benefits from estate and income taxes that your individual heirs could incur if you were to give retirement plan assets to them.

Life Insurance

Life Insurance that you no longer need for your family security may be donated to Steppenwolf by transferring ownership of the policy or naming the theatre as a beneficiary. Your estate may be entitled to a charitable deduction for the proceeds passing to Steppenwolf.

Charitable IRA Rollover

The charitable IRA rollover, or qualified charitable distribution (QCD), is a special provision allowing certain donors to exclude from taxable income – and count toward their required minimum distribution – certain transfers of Individual Retirement Account (IRA) assets that are made directly to public charities, including Steppenwolf. Donors can use this popular option to support the theatre with tax-wise gifts ranging from $100 to $100,000.

Qualifying charitable distributions must be:

  • Made by a donor age 70 ½ or older
  • Transferred from a traditional IRA or Roth IRA directly
  • Completed by December 31 of the corresponding tax year

Charitable Gift Annuity or Charitable Remainder Trust

A charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust enables you to make a contribution to Steppenwolf in exchange for payments each year for a specified term or for life. This payment can be made to you or others you choose. Your gift is invested for the specified term or life and then the remaining assets are transferred to Steppenwolf to be used as you have directed. These types of gifts can also provide significant income, capital gains and estate tax savings for you.

Visionary Circle

The Visionary Circle acknowledges donors who have included Steppenwolf in their estate plans

Anonymous (4)
Robert C. Anderson
Lois J. Bider
Douglas R. Brown
Barbara L. Dean
Janice and Rob Esser
Kim M. Folta
Susan Fuchs, M.D.
Robert H. Glaze
Michael Goldberger
Sue-Gray Goller
Michael Hansen and Nancy Randa
John Hart
Tom Irwin
Donna and Del Kolacki
Michele Kenner
Melanie G. Larch
Gabriel Garey Levine
Dr. Paul Lisnek
Kevin McGirr
David Metschke
Kenneth J. Porrello and Sherry L. McFall
Sylvia J. Pozarnsky
Dr. Edward O. Riley
Patrick J. Schauer
Sue and Harry Seigle
Judy Sugarman

We remember the following members of the Steppenwolf family who have made a bequest to the theatre.  Their legacy will help to ensure that Steppenwolf continues to flourish.

Hope A. Abelson
Alba Biagini
Nelson D. Cornelius
Jo Hopkins Deutsch
Marjorie Douglas
Malcolm D. Ewen
Jared Kaplan
Ralla Klepak
Peggy Morrow
Leota Ann Meyer Murray
James F. Oates
Andrea Romain and Cleo V. Orthel
Merle Reskin
T. Marshall Rousseau
Rose L. and Sidney N. Shure
Nancy L. Wald