Legacy | September 2025

Photo by Cousineau Studios, Inc.

A Simple Step, A Lasting Legacy: Support the Foundation through your IRA. If you’re 70½ or older, your IRA can be a powerful way to give back. By directing a gift from your IRA to the Foundation, you can support the museums you love while also meeting your Required Minimum Distribution.

In 2025, you may give up to $108,000 through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) or what's commonly known as a IRA Charitable Rollover. You may also designate the Foundation or your favorite museum as a beneficiary, ensuring your support continues for future generations. Your generosity has always been the cornerstone of the Foundation’s success, enabling us to preserve and celebrate the cultural heritage of New Mexico and the world’s folk arts.

One inspiring example comes from Trustee and Circles member Caroline Burnett, who has made annual gifts from her IRA to support both the Foundation and the New Mexico Museum of Art. In addition, she has named the Foundation and the Museum as beneficiaries of her IRA, ensuring that her legacy will enrich future generations. Half of her gift will support her passion for photography—funding restoration and acquisitions—and the other half will fund youth education programs.

Caroline shared her motivation: “Photography is an integral part of my life. I began collecting in the early 1990s with my late husband, Bill, and have continued to expand my collection to include themes ranging from the beauty of nature to the spiritual aspects of life. A legacy gift, including the bequest of my photography collection, is my way of ensuring that others can share in the joy and inspiration I’ve found in Santa Fe.”

Like Caroline, you may be uniquely positioned to leverage the power of a QCD through:

  1. Tax Efficiency: QCDs can satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution while reducing taxable income.
  2. Maximized Giving: Because QCDs are not taxable, you may be able to give more than through a traditional cash gift.
  3. Simplicity: QCDs transfer directly from your IRA to the Foundation.
  4. Optimized Impact: More of your gift goes directly to exhibitions, programs, and preservation efforts.
  5. Legacy: Naming the Foundation or a museum as a beneficiary ensures your values live on.

We know decisions about giving require thoughtful planning. We are here to help and encourage you to consult your financial advisor about how a QCD or other planned gift may fit your goals.

Interested in creating your own cultural legacy? To learn more about QCDs and other planned giving options, contact Laura Sullivan at laura@museumfoundation.org or 505.216.0829, or visit our website to download our estate planning guide.

Together, we can preserve the stories, traditions, and artistry that define New Mexico’s rich cultural heritage and the world’s folk arts. Thank you for considering this meaningful way to give.