Planned giving
Planned giving can have a lasting impact. Join the Michael A. Hughes Planned Giving Society – and invest in the future of the Reeve Foundation – by including us in your will or financial and estate planning.
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Include the Reeve Foundation in your estate planning
Making a bequest or other estate gift assures the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation of future funding that will help us continue to speed the development of treatments and new resources for paralysis.
Common questions about planned givingEstate planning doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Since I have the opportunity, I will leave behind resources to help push ahead on issues that are important to me.Read more stories from our generous donors

Get in touch to discuss planned giving
☏Give us a call
Our team is available Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm ET. You can also leave a message, if you are calling after hours.
1-800-225-0292
☷Use our form
Leave your contact details and tell us the best time to discuss planned giving. We’ll be in touch.
>Complete formWant to know more?
Download our planned giving brochureAbout Michael A. Hughes
Our Planned Giving scheme is named for our dear friend, ally and mentor Michael A. Hughes. Motivated by the accident that left his son paralyzed, Mike went on to become our most generous supporter.
Read Mike’s story
Frequently asked questions
What is a bequest?
A charitable bequest can take many forms. It might be a sum of money or specific item of property (such as real estate, an automobile, or other physical asset) that you decide to leave to a charity. A contingent charitable bequest, meanwhile, can be made if an alternate beneficiary named in your trust or will was to be deceased.
Do I need to change my will to make a bequest?
You don’t need a will to make a charitable beneficiary designation, and you don’t need to change an existing will. You can simply name the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation as a beneficiary of your private and/or employer sponsored life insurance policy or policies. You may also name the Reeve Foundation as a beneficiary of any retirement accounts, or other savings, brokerage, annuity, or retirement accounts.
What is my estate?
Your personal estate is the sum of your assets, including real estate and all other property you own, insurance policies, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, bank accounts, cash on hand, etc. Regardless of your social status, and whatever your family and financial situation, there are many flexible, affordable ways to plan an estate gift that will have a profound impact on the people and causes closest to your heart for generations to come.
How do I designate the Reeve Foundation as a beneficiary?
To designate the Reeve Foundation as a beneficiary, simply request the appropriate beneficiary designation form from your employer, insurance company, bank or broker and provide them with the following information:
- Beneficiary Name: Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
- Beneficiary Address: 636 Morris Turnpike, Suite 3A, Short Hills, NJ 07078
- Beneficiary Phone Number: 800-225-0292
- Tax ID# of Beneficiary: 22-2939536
Can I only make a planned giving contribution after my death?
No. While you can of course make a provision in your will, you can arrange for the Reeve Foundation to become a beneficiary of your estate at any time. This is especially useful if you wish to include us in a retirement plan or life insurance policy. Making a donation through your estate assets enables you to make a contribution larger than you may be able to make from your income, and it may also be eligible for tax benefits.
Read our donors’ stories
Richard A. Coker
Rick helped many people during his lifetime, and planned a generous legacy to a cause close to his family's hearts.
Richard’s storyGladys Field
A mathematician during World War II, Gladys made arrangements to leave several philanthropic legacy investments.
Gladys’s storyEvelyn Costello Marineau Lamont
Inspired by Christopher Reeve’s search for cures, Evelyn’s kind bequest came as no surprise to her family.
Evelyn’s story