Legacy | August 2026

Jerry Richardson has led a life of service as a lawyer for the state of New Mexico and as a longtime volunteer for the New Mexico Museum Foundation and the History Museum. “I love history and I love Santa Fe and am happy to make a difference in our community by supporting one of the most important cultural institutions in the state. I’ve been able to do my part in securing a future for the Museum Foundation and the History Museum by including them in my will.”

Often legacy donors are people who give significant gifts during their lifetime, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. “I’m an example of someone who put their time, energy, and wisdom into volunteer work for the museum and I’m also able to include a legacy gift in my will to support the Museum Foundation and the History Museum in the future,” says Jerry.

Jerry was asked to join the New Mexico Historical Society where he got to know the leadership at the Palace of the Governors. He learned that the Museum of New Mexico needed to build a history museum to provide a larger space for the state’s historical artifacts. Jerry helped form a citizens group that enabled the history museum to be funded and built in 2009.

He was able to do meaningful work as a lawyer for the state of New Mexico on a professional level as well as volunteering for local organizations including the Foundation board. His interest in art led him to work for Georgia O’Keefe as a young lawyer. Jerry joined the board of the Museum Foundation in 1992 and early in his career he became chair of the board as well as president of Friends of the Palace of the Governors.  He became Trustee Emeritus after 30 years on the board.

August is Make-A-Will Month. Is the Museum in Your Plans?

A serious health issue caused Jerry to recognize that he needed a will and through that he created a legacy gift to the Museum Foundation and the History Museum.

“The value of legacy gifts and endowments is especially important during challenging economic times when cultural institutions need to survive through the ups and downs of the economy. When things are down it’s crucial to have these kinds of gifts to keep the doors open until things turn around,” says Jerry.

Preserve Your Legacy through a Will

If you are considering making an outright bequest to the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and to benefit the cultural institutions we support, we recommend the following language:

Bequest Language
I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ ($DOLLARS) to the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, a nonprofit organization located at PO Box 2065, Santa Fe, NM, 87504-2065, Federal Tax ID #85-0202503, for the Foundation’s [and named institution(s)] general use and purpose.

If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, we recommend the following language:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ percent (___%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death, to the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, a nonprofit organization located at PO Box 2065, Santa Fe, NM, 87504-2065, Federal Tax ID #85-0202503, for the Foundation's [and named institution(s)] general use and purpose.

Go to our webpage for more information click here. 

If you are thinking of leaving a legacy to the Foundation or the Museums and Institutions we support,  become a member of the Legacy Society, joining museum donors, community leaders, volunteers, artists and others from New Mexico and across the country who believe in supporting our mission for future generations.

For more information about making a planned gift, please contact Laura Sullivan, Director of Planned Giving, at [email protected] or 505.216.0829, or visit the Museum of New Mexico Foundation website.