Legacy giving

Gifts by will are one of MSF's most important sources of support. Unrestricted gifts give us the greatest flexibility to use funds where they are most needed. 

You may leave MSF:

• A stated dollar amount
• A percentage of your residual estate (what remains after gifts to loved ones and expenses have been paid), or
• Specific liquid assets, such as securities

How to name MSF in your will

Legal name: Doctors Without Borders USA
Address: 40 Rector Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10006
Federal tax ID#: 13-3433452

This sample language may be useful:

"I give and bequeath to Doctors Without Borders USA, 40 Rector Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10006 [the sum of __________ Dollars ($____)] [ _______ % of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate], to be used for its general charitable purposes."

Notifying MSF of your gift

We hope you’ll let us know when you have named MSF in your will or trust so that we can thank you and include you in our Legacy Society.

Please use this Bequest Intention Form to notify us of your intention.

Request a copy of our legacy brochure to learn more.

If you have questions, please contact  Casey Saunders, Director of Planned Giving, at 212.763.5750 or [email protected]

Naming Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) as a beneficiary on your retirement account or life insurance policy is a simple and powerful way to support the lifesaving work of our organization without changing your will or living trust. Beneficiary designation gifts pass directly to MSF without going through the probate process and go right to work to help us provide life-saving medical care.

Retirement accounts

Many of our donors name MSF as a beneficiary of all or a specified percentage of their IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other retirement plan.

Individuals who inherit retirement plan assets are usually required to pay income tax on them, so they're often considered among the best assets to leave to charity.

How to name MSF as a beneficiary on your retirement accounts

Ask your retirement plan administrator or financial institution for a change of beneficiary form. Please list us as:

• Legal Name: Doctors Without Borders USA
• Address: 40 Rector Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10006
• Federal Tax ID #: 13-3433452

Notify us of your beneficiary designation

Please let us know when you’ve made a beneficiary designation for MSF so that we can thank you and include you in our Legacy Society.

Notify us of your intention or request a copy of our legacy brochure.

To learn more, please contact Casey Saunders, Director of Planned Giving, at 212.763.5750 or [email protected]

Other ways to name MSF as a beneficiary

Bank and investment accounts & commercial annuities

You can leave a legacy by naming MSF as a Transfer-on-Death (TOD) or Payable-on-Death (POD) beneficiary on a bank or investment account, or a commercial annuity. Check with your financial institution to see if this option is available to you.

Life insurance policies

If you have a life insurance policy that is no longer needed for your family, designating MSF as a beneficiary is a simple way to support our work.

A charitable gift annuity provides you with a fixed lifetime annuity at an attractive rate, as well as the satisfaction of providing long-term support to MSF.

How does a charitable gift annuity work?

You make a gift of at least $10,000 to Doctors Without Borders. We invest the assets and pay one or two annuitants fixed payments for life. You will be eligible for an immediate income tax deduction if you itemize on your tax return. At the end of the contract, we use the remaining funds to provide emergency medical aid to people threatened by conflicts, epidemics, or natural disasters.

Charitable gift annuity requirements

• Minimum Age: 65
• Minimum Amount: $10,000
• Assets Accepted: Cash or marketable securities such as stocks or bonds
• Payment Schedule: Annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly

Under certain circumstances, a charitable gift annuity may be funded with a one-time tax-free Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from a donor’s IRA, though the terms of the annuity differ from those funded with cash or securities. Please contact us for more information.

Annuity rates

MSF applies the annuity rates recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities, effective as of January 1, 2024. Please contact us for the specific rate for your age. 

Note: MSF does not issue annuities to residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, or North Dakota.

Sample single-life gift annuity rates

Deferred gift annuities

If you are under the age of 65 and planning for your income needs during retirement, you may want to consider a deferred gift annuity. This allows you to make a gift with payments to begin at a future date—at least one year after the gift is made. The minimum age at which payments may start is 65. Both the annuity rate and amount are set at the time the gift is made.

For more information, please refer to our charitable gift annuity policy.

To receive a personalized illustration showing how an annuity could work for you, or for answers to other gift annuity-related questions, contact Jennifer Lessard, Senior Associate, Planned Gift Administration, at 646.253.4520 or [email protected].

Charitable remainder trusts

A charitable remainder trust is a separately managed trust that allows you to make a significant gift toward the future of MSF's work, while providing an income for yourself or loved ones. After transferring cash, securities, or other assets to a trust, a trustee invests the assets, and the trust pays income to you or to individuals you name for life, or for a set term of years. When the trust terminates, MSF receives the remainder.

The trust may be a charitable remainder annuity trust (fixed payments) or a charitable remainder unitrust (fixed percentage).

To learn more, please contact your attorney or accountant, or  Casey Saunders, Director of Planned Giving, at 212.763.5750 or [email protected].

The above information is not intended as tax or legal advice, and your tax treatment may vary depending on your circumstances. Please consult with your tax advisor.

What is a charitable lead trust?

A charitable lead trust allows you to support the lifesaving work of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) while safeguarding assets for your loved ones. You transfer cash, securities, or other assets to a trust. The trustee invests the assets, providing annual payments to MSF for a period of time that you select. When the trust terminates, the remaining amount is paid to you or your heirs with the benefit of a reduced transfer tax.

The trust may be a charitable lead annuity (fixed payments) or a charitable lead unitrust (fixed percentage).

What are the benefits of a charitable lead trust?

• Reduction in transfer tax on the amount passing to your heirs
• Appreciation in trust value passes to your heirs free of gift and estate tax
• Control over when your heirs inherit trust assets

To learn more, please contact your attorney or accountant, or  Casey Saunders, Director of Planned Giving, at 212.763.5750 or [email protected].

The Legacy Society honors those who share our commitment to providing medical care to those who need it most.

As a member of the Legacy Society, you’ll have access to special events and teleconferences. You’ll also receive updates on our programs through the quarterly Alert newsletter and our Executive Director's Insider Letter. 

Request a copy of our legacy brochure or if you have made plans to leave a gift in your will please notify us of your intention.

For more information, you can also contact Casey Saunders, Director of Planned Giving, at 212.763.5750 or [email protected].

We are proud of the way we spend donor dollars. To find out more, read our commitment to our supporters.

Meet our donors