A legacy gift doesn't need a new will.
Retirement accounts and life insurance generally pass to whoever is named on the form, not through a will. LotusGiving makes it easy for supporters to name your nonprofit on one or more accounts, and shows you where each gift stands.
Who should receive this account?
File with your plan administrator — you can update this anytime.
The biggest gift may already be waiting on a form.
97.7%
of U.S. household wealth is held in non-cash assets
Wealth in the United States is overwhelmingly held in non-cash assets—such as real estate, retirement accounts, and securities—which account for roughly 97.7% of household wealth. Many of these accounts pass to whoever is named on the beneficiary form, regardless of what a will says. Most supporters haven't looked at those forms in years, and most nonprofits never see a gift being planned.
Fast, private, and highly tax-efficient.
Skips probate
Accounts with a named beneficiary bypass the probate court entirely, transferring directly, privately, and efficiently to the named charity.
Tax-wise for retirement assets
Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s contain pre-tax money that carries heavy income tax for individual heirs. Because recognized nonprofits are tax-exempt entities, if the charity is named as the beneficiary, the asset's value is preserved and utilized for the mission, avoiding the tax penalty entirely.
One form, no lawyer needed
Naming a charity takes a form from the institution that holds the account. Supporters can bypass the attorney and talk to an advisor first if they'd like.
Streamline the non-probate process.
- 1
Share your page.
Link supporters from your microsite, emails, mailings, and legacy materials.
- 2
Choose accounts.
A supporter picks one or more accounts, such as a 401(k), IRA, or life insurance policy.
- 3
Get the right details.
LotusGiving provides your legal name, EIN, and address in the exact format financial institutions mandate.
- 4
Complete the form.
The supporter files it with their institution and can change it anytime.
- 5
Stay in the loop.
Your dashboard shows each supporter's step, so your team can say thank you.
Details for the beneficiary form
Formatted exactly as financial institutions require.
Visibility into non-cash giving.
Gifts you can see coming
Know who has started, who has finished, and who might welcome a conversation.
The right details, every time
Your legal name and EIN in the format institutions expect, preventing gifts from getting lost in bureaucratic routing.
Supporters who are ready now
A beneficiary form is a lighter first step than a full estate plan, bypassing the procrastination that affects 43% of un-willed adults.
Recognition, built in
Supporters who name you can join your legacy society and be recognized the way they choose.
Beneficiary designations
Last 30 days
Give supporters a simple way to say yes.
Make it easier, simpler, and accessible for your supporters to add your mission to their final plans.
Navigating Beneficiary Details
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Many name a beneficiary on a specific account without changing their foundational will.
Commonly retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and some bank and brokerage accounts. Each institution has its own form, and we provide the exact legal details needed to fill them out.
No. You see progress and the type of account, never account numbers or financial balances.
Yes. A designation can generally be updated at any time.
No. LotusGiving provides educational tools and information and is not a law firm. However, all of our wills and beneficiary designation forms are legally sound and compliant in all 50 states. Supporters with complex situations should always talk with an attorney.