For more than 70 years, the Boston Bar Foundation has brought together lawyers, law firms, and community leaders to advance justice, support those in need, and strengthen our community and our profession. Through grants, public service initiatives, legal education, and community partnerships, the Foundation has helped ensure that access to justice is not determined by income, background, or circumstance.
A planned gift is an opportunity to extend that impact for generations to come.
By including the Boston Bar Foundation in your estate plans, you can create a lasting legacy that reflects your values and your commitment to fairness, opportunity, and the rule of law.
Your Legacy Can Open Doors
Planned gifts help sustain the Boston Bar Foundation’s mission far into the future, supporting:
Access to justice initiatives across Greater Boston
Support for legal services and community organizations
Public service and pro bono programs
Educational and civic engagement efforts
Leadership development for the next generation of lawyers
Innovation and collaboration across the legal community
Why Planned Giving?
A planned gift allows you to make a meaningful contribution while aligning with your personal, financial, and philanthropic goals.
Benefits may include:
- Leaving a lasting legacy in support of justice and community impact
- Supporting causes that reflect your personal and professional values
- Potential estate and tax planning advantages
- Flexibility to make a significant future gift without affecting current financial priorities
- The opportunity to inspire future generations of leaders and advocates
Join a Community of BBF Supporters
Donors who notify the Boston Bar Foundation that they have included the Foundation in their estate plans are invited to join the BBF Legacy Society, a distinguished community of supporters committed to sustaining justice and opportunity for future generations.
Membership is our way of expressing gratitude and honoring your enduring commitment to access to justice. Legacy Society members may choose to be recognized publicly or remain anonymous, and will receive briefings and updates on the impact of BBF programs, as well as invitations to gatherings with other BBF donors.
We would be honored to hear from you.
If you have already included the Boston Bar Foundation in your plans—or are considering doing so—we would welcome the opportunity to thank you and ensure your intentions are honored.
Notifying the BBF is not a legal commitment and does not require you to share documentation or gift amounts.
For confidential conversations, please contact:
Erica Southerland, Director of Development
[email protected]
(617) 778-1930
Ways to Give
Will/Bequest
Including the BBF in your will or trust is one of the simplest and most flexible ways to make a planned gift. You may choose to leave a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after other commitments are fulfilled.
Bequests may be unrestricted or directed to a particular area of the BBF’s work.
Sample bequest language available upon request.
IRA/Retirement Assets
Naming the BBF as a beneficiary of an IRA or other qualified retirement plan can be a tax-efficient way to support our mission. Retirement assets are often among the most advantageous funds to designate for charitable purposes.
This type of gift can usually be completed by updating a beneficiary designation form.
Appreciated Property
Donating appreciated assets—such as stocks, securities, or real estate—can allow you to make a significant charitable gift while potentially avoiding capital gains taxes.
Gifts of appreciated property may provide immediate impact or be structured as part of a longer-term plan.
Life Insurance
You may name the BBF as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or transfer ownership of an existing policy. This approach allows you to make a meaningful future gift with a relatively modest current investment.
Life insurance gifts are often appealing to donors who wish to make a substantial impact while preserving other assets for family or personal priorities.
What Your Legacy Can Make Possible
A planned gift to the Boston Bar Foundation is an investment in the future of justice, leadership, and service. Because planned gifts are often unrestricted, they provide the flexibility to meet emerging needs and sustain the Foundation's mission for generations to come. Your legacy may help support:
Our Donors
We are grateful to the hundreds of BBA members who annually support the work we do to serve our city and expand access to justice for those in need. Whether through a contribution to the Annual Campaign or support of a specific project or initiative, our donors make possible a range of projects and programs that have a profound impact in our community.