Planned Giving

When you create or update your will, you can include charitable bequests of a specific dollar amount; a percentage of what is left after other bequests have been made; or even a particular asset. Bequests can also be added to an existing will through a codicil or amendment. 

Sample Bequest Language: 
“I give to Notre Dame Academy, located in Hingham, Massachusetts (Tax ID 04-2143551) a gift of [specific dollar amount or percentage of estate] for its general purposes.”  

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Make Your Plans Matter 

Creating a will costs nothing today but brings peace of mind for the future. 

NDA is proud to announce its partnership with The Planned Legacy Program, a nationwide initiative and subsidiary of The U.S. Will Registry. Through this collaboration, alumnae and friends can create a legally valid will online – for free – and leave a lasting legacy.  

We invite you to take advantage of this service to begin or modify your estate plan at no cost. You may choose to leave a bequest to NDA and join others who have shaped their legacy around supporting the future of NDA.  

The process is simple, and the secure platform will guide you through each step. 

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How It Works:

1. Click the link to access our secure will creation platform. 

2. Follow the guided steps to create your legal will (you can update it anytime). 

3. Download or print your will with clear signing instructions. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really free to make a will? 
Yes. Thanks to NDA’s partnership with The Planned Legacy Program, there’s no cost to create, download, store and print your legal will. 

Do I have to leave a gift to Notre Dame Academy-Hingham to use the tool? 
Not at all. We’re honored to offer this resource to our entire community, no matter what you decide. 

Can I update my will later? 
Yes. The platform makes it easy to update your will as your life or priorities change. 

What kinds of gifts can I leave? 
You can leave a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or a meaningful item of value. Every gift, large or small, makes a difference. 

Is my information secure? 
Absolutely. Your privacy and security are a top priority, and the platform meets the highest standards for data protection. 

When you leave the balance of an IRA of 401(k) to your spouse, child, grandchild or other loved ones they are generally subject to federal income tax on any distributions received – and possibly state income tax as well. 

Alternatively, you can leave other assets to your loved ones and name Notre Dame Academy  as a beneficiary of your retirement accounts. This approach offers significant income tax and estate planning benefits while supporting future generations of Billiart Leaders.  

Designating a charitable beneficiary can be done directly through your IRA or 401(k) administrator. 

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Make a Tax-Free Gift from your IRA

If you are age 70 ½ or older, you can make a tax-free gift directly from you IRA to Notre Dame Academy. This type of gift is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), also known as an IRA Charitable Rollover. 

Benefits of an IRA Charitable Rollover: 

• The amount transferred from an IRA to charity is not added to taxable income. 

• The amount you transfer will count towards your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) if you have attained the age when required distributions begin. That age, which had been 72, was raised to 73 for those who become 72 between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2032, and 75 for those who reach 74 after December 31, 2032. 

• The rollover gift can be made outright to support NDA today, or it can be used for to establish a charitable gift annuity that pays income to you or your designated beneficiary and support the future of NDA. 

How It Works: 

• You must be 70 ½ or older at the time of the gift. 

• Gifts must be made directly from your IRA to Notre Dame Academy or another eligible charitable organization. 

• You can give any amount up to the maximum of $108,000 for 2025 from your IRA directly to a qualified charity such as NDA. 

• If you choose to establish a charitable gift annuity, you can fund the CGA with a one-time election of up to $54,000 coming from your IRA tax-free. This option can only be done once and the limit to all charities combined is currently $54,000. 

To make your gift, contact your IRA administrator to request a direct transfer to Notre Dame Academy. Please be sure to notify us of your gift so we can ensure that it is properly credited and acknowledged. 

Helpful Information for Your Plan Administrator: 

• Legal Name: Notre Dame Academy  
• Mailing Address: 1073 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043 
• Federal Tax ID Number: 04-2143551 
   

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A sample letter to your IRA Administrator can be found here.

As your life circumstances change over the years, you may find that you have a life insurance policy that is no longer needed for its original purpose.  

One meaningful way to make a lasting impact is by naming NDA as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy. This can be done easily by requesting a “change of beneficiary” form from your life insurance company.  

Your gift will help ensure future generations of young women receive the transformative education that defines NDA. 

You can support Notre Dame Academy by naming NDA as the “payable on death” (POD) beneficiary of: 

• A bank account 

• A brokerage account 

• A mutual fund account  

• A certificate of deposit (CD) 

This is a simple and meaningful way to make a future gift. Your financial institution can provide the necessary forms to complete this process. 

Designating NDA as a beneficiary ensures your legacy continues to empower young women for generations to come.  

In partnership with the National Gift Annuity Foundation (NGAF), NDA is pleased to offer charitable gift annuities (CGAs) to our alumnae and friends.  

A charitable gift annuity allows you to make a meaningful gift to NDA while receiving fixed payments for life. Payment rates are based on the age(s) of the annuitant(s) at the time the gift is made and remain unchanged, regardless of market fluctuations.  

Charitable gift annuities may offer federal and state income tax deductions at the time of the gift and potential income tax benefits on the annuity payments.

Types of Charitable Gift Annuities 

1. Immediate CGA 
   Begins paying a fixed income for life to one or two annuitants immediately. Minimum age of 55 for both annuitants when payments start. 

2. Deferred CGA 
   Provides fixed income for life to one or two annuitants, with payments beginning on a specified future date. 

3. Flexible-Deferred CGA 
   Offers fixed income payments for life to one or two annuitants. The donor specifies a range of possible starting dates, with progressively higher payment rates for later start dates. 

Deferred and flexible-deferred CGAs allow you to establish an annuity now and begin receiving payments later — offering immediate tax benefits and higher payment rates when payments begin. 

Charitable gift annuities can be funded with cash, marketable securities such as stock, and mutual funds, as well as illiquid assets like real estate or closely held stock. 

This is a powerful way to support future generations of Billiart Leaders while receiving financial benefits in return. 

How It Works: 

1. You make a gift of cash or securities, by check or wire-transfer and complete the standard CGA contract and application, locking in the annuity rate based on the age(s) of the annuitant(s).  The minimum age for an annuitant is 55 and the minimum amount required to establish a CGA is $20,000.  

2. Dechomai Foundation, Inc. (DFI)/National Gift Annuity Foundation (NGAF) provides fixed payments for the rest of the annuitant’s life.  

3. After the annuitant’s lifetime, NDA receives the remainder to continue our mission of educating young women to lead lives of exceptional leadership and service.  

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Request your Personalized CGA Calculation 

Contact us today to learn more or request a customized CGA calculation.