Planned Giving

Welcome

Designing your legacy now with a planned gift can be a rewarding and significant philanthropic investment in the organizations you treasure. Planned gifts to the Aspen Music Festival and School are typically directed to the AMFS endowment and will sustain the organization’s vision to offer transformational and inspirational experiences for students, artist-faculty, and audience members alike.

Planned gifts represent options that can be designed to meet your personal philanthropic and financial goals. Some planned gifts, such as a gift in your will, require no current outlay of funds at all. And other planned gifts, including the charitable gift annuity, make it possible to support our work, enjoy a tax deduction if you itemize, and receive a lifetime income at the same time. Please contact us if we can provide more information or begin a conversation about your philanthropic goals and interest in the Aspen Music Festival and School.

P.S.—We invite attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, and other professional advisors to use our Advisor Reference Tool. It provides more detailed information about planned giving concepts and techniques.

Contact us if you are interested in making a Planned Gift—call Lenor Leeds at 970-205-5062 or email lleeds@aspenmusic.org.

A Note About Charitable Income Tax Deductions

Many charitable gifts qualify for an income tax deduction. These deductions are subject to limitations based on your adjusted gross income (AGI). For gifts to qualified public charities like ours, those limits are 60% of AGI for gifts of cash, 30% of AGI for gifts of long-term appreciated assets (such as stock or real estate), and 50% of AGI for other non-cash gifts. Excess gift amounts can typically be carried forward for up to five years.

Starting in 2026, there are two new limitations:

1. A new “giving floor.” Only gift amounts that exceed 0.5% of AGI qualify for a charitable income tax deduction. For example, if your AGI is $300,000, only gift amounts over $1,500 are eligible for a deduction.
2. A new cap on deductions for high earners. If you’re in the top 37% tax bracket, the tax benefit of your charitable deductions is limited to 35%.

In addition to these new limits, there is a new deduction for cash gifts. Even if you don’t itemize, you can deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 for joint filers) for cash gifts to qualified charities (not including donor-advised funds), making even modest gifts more rewarding.

The Gordon and Lillian Hardy Planned Giving Society

In salute to the legacy of the Hardys, the Gordon and Lillian Hardy Planned Giving Society honors those donors who have given us the highest compliment—including our organization in their estate plans.

Visit our Hardy Society page to learn more about joining and to see a list of current members.

Will and Estate Planning Guide

A gift in your will is an easy, flexible way to ensure inspirational, transformational musical experiences for all. If you don't have a will yet, or if it's time to update your will, we can help.  

Request our complimentary Will and Estate Planning Guide.

Free access to legal documents through AMFS partnership with Giving Docs 

To benefit our alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters, the AMFS recently contracted with Giving Docs, an independent third-party platform, to offer free lifetime access to online estate planning and other legal tools, legally binding in all 50 states. You can create or amend a will, establish healthcare directives, assign power of attorney, and more. You do not have to include the AMFS in your future planning and you do not need to disclose your private information to us—it is simply our gift to you!

Please learn more at givingdocs.com/aspenmusic.