Bequests

When you leave a gift to Drayton Hall in your will — whether unrestricted, for a special project or fund, or toward our endowment-your donation will be exempt from federal estate taxes. The following language can be used to name Drayton Hall as a beneficiary:

"I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for the benefit of Drayton Hall, a National Trust historic site located in Charleston, SC."

There are four special types of bequests to consider when naming a charitable organization like Drayton Hall in your will.

An unrestricted bequest is a gift for our general purposes, to be used at the discretion of our senior leadership staff and advisory Site Council. A gift like this — without conditions attached — is frequently the most useful, as it allows us to determine the wisest use for the funds, often helping us fulfill our most critical preservation needs at the time of receipt.

A restricted bequest allows you to specify how the funds are to be used. Perhaps you have a special purpose or project in mind. If so, we hope that you will advise us when you make your will so we can review plans to ensure your intent is carried out.

An honorary or memorial bequest is given "in honor of" or "in memory of" someone. We are pleased to honor your request and have many ways to grant appropriate recognition.

An endowed bequest allows you to restrict the principal of your gift, requiring us to hold the funds permanently and use only between 4 to 5% of the return of a three year rolling average. By creating an endowment in this manner, you will give at gift that can continue giving indefinitely.