Ways to Give

There are many ways to support McLean. Find out how your gift can help us most.

You can make a difference in the lives of people affected by psychiatric illness. There are many ways to support McLean Hospital.

Express Your Support

Donate now to support mental health care, research, and education at McLean. Make a secure gift online, today.

To reach McLean’s Development Office, call 617.855.3415.

Mary Belknap Society

An Annual Leadership Gift Is a Public Expression of Support

Mary Belknap Society logo

The Mary Belknap Society honors donors who give unrestricted gifts of $1,000 or more to McLean Hospital each year.

Such leadership annual giving provides crucial resources to strengthen clinical services, seed novel research, recruit and train talented faculty, and fulfill McLean’s mission.

Some of McLean’s most important pursuits are directly helped by unrestricted support. The following examples have all advanced through generous gifts by friends like you:

This annual giving program is named after McLean’s first major female donor who in 1832 bequeathed the bulk of her estate to McLean—valued at $89,882. In our first century of operation, her gift was second only to that of the hospital’s namesake, John McLean.

View the 2023 Mary Belknap Society members list.

Join the Mary Belknap Society

Make an unrestricted gift of $1,000 or more online to join now.

For more information about the Mary Belknap Society or to discuss a gift, please contact Ben Ogilvy at 617.855.3623.

To explore other options for making a gift to McLean, please contact the Development Office at 617.855.3415.

Shape the Future of Mental Health–Make a Lasting Gift Through Your Estate Plan

How would you like to be remembered for your philanthropy?

Legacy giving is an impactful way to support McLean’s mission well into the future. Most commonly using a will or estate plan, legacy donors can choose to have hospital leadership direct their gift where it is most needed, or they can designate their gift to the programs and services that are personally meaningful to them.

Planning your legacy gift has many benefits:

  • Simple: It can be as easy as filling out a beneficiary designation form
  • Flexible: Assets remain in your control should you need them later in life
  • Revocable: You can change the percentage or amount of your gift at any time
  • Tax-Smart: Certain assets passed to charity, unlike assets passed on to family, are not subject to income or estate tax; this means 100% of your gift is available for use by McLean
  • Satisfying: Know that your gift will help improve the lives of others

In Their Own Words

Man and woman pose for camera

“McLean helped us learn more about our daughter’s illness and give back in a way that is a lasting tribute to her. It is an amazing place and has provided us a way to move forward and make impactful decisions about our philanthropic choices.”

– Donors Tom & Laura Shehan made a provision for McLean in their estate plans

Man and woman pose for camera

The most common type of legacy gift is a gift in your will, but there are other ways and assets to support McLean Hospital. No matter the size, vehicle, or purpose of your gift, we will work with you to ensure your legacy has a meaningful impact at McLean.

Will or Trust

A gift made through a will or revocable living trust, known as a bequest, can be of any amount and by anyone who believes in the mission of McLean Hospital.

Including McLean in your will can be as simple as including this sentence: “I give (the sum of $________ or ________ percentage of my estate) to McLean Hospital, a Massachusetts not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation having a principal place of business on 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, Massachusetts, federal tax ID number 04-2697981.”

Retirement Plan

Giving through your retirement account is one of the most tax-wise ways to give. Your retirement assets, an IRA, or other retirement accounts—such as a SEP IRA, 401(k), or 403(b)—if left to your family (other than a spouse), will be subject to income tax in addition to any applicable estate tax.

If you wish to make a future gift, it is often better to leave other types of assets—such as cash, securities, or real estate—to your heirs and give the more heavily taxed retirement asset to McLean Hospital. These gifts avoid the probate process.

Contact your retirement plan administrator for a change-of-beneficiary form. The beneficiary designation form can usually be mailed or completed online on the administrators’ website.

IRA Qualified Distribution

If you are at least 70 1/2 years of age and want to make a tax-smart gift today, you can use your IRA. Contact your IRA administrator to direct an IRA qualified charitable distribution to McLean Hospital.

Life Insurance Policies

If you are still carrying a life insurance policy you or your family no longer need, please consider donating it. You can transfer ownership of your paid-up insurance policy by naming McLean Hospital as the owner and beneficiary. You will receive an immediate charitable income tax deduction based on the current value of the policy.

Life Income Gifts

We have several gift arrangements that offer tax benefits while also providing income. The type of arrangement depends on your financial goals and we would be happy to help you determine what’s best for you.

Charitable Gift Annuity

A charitable gift annuity is ideal if you would like to make a meaningful gift to McLean and receive guaranteed fixed payments for life and an immediate income tax deduction. If you do not need the income now, you may defer your payment start date to a future time of your choosing.

The older you are when payments start, the higher your income payments will be. These gifts typically start at 60 years of age and with a gift amount of $10,000.

A gift annuity can be a great way to supplement retirement income. You might also think about funding a gift annuity for another person, perhaps an aging parent or for siblings who are struggling financially. Once those receiving income have passed, the remainder of your gift will be available for use by McLean.

Charitable Trust

A charitable remainder trust might be right for you if you have accumulated an investment portfolio over your life. It is likely the assets have substantially appreciated in value. As your financial goals have changed, you may be concerned about capital gain taxes when you sell your appreciated assets.

A charitable remainder trust also offers the benefit of a source of income without the time and effort of managing your investments. This type of trust can be structured to meet your financial needs.

A charitable remainder trust will also pay income to you and/or to others you choose. You may either receive a fixed amount or percentage of the value of the trust each year for a set period not to exceed 20 years. When the trust terminates, the assets remaining in the trust will come to McLean Hospital.

Donor-Advised Fund

You can use your donor-advised fund to recommend a grant to support McLean Hospital. Contact your fund administrator to request a distribution form or download the form from your administrator’s website.

To continue your support after your lifetime, name McLean as a successor of your account. Or you can designate McLean to receive a portion of the account value. The remaining balance can be managed by your loved ones to continue your legacy of giving.

Real Estate

You may deed your home, vacation house, or other property to McLean Hospital and still be able to live in or enjoy the property for the rest of your life.

You will receive an immediate income tax deduction for the charitable portion of the gift and avoid capital gains tax. An irrevocable gift of your home will be removed from any estate tax. This allows you to make a greater gift than you might have thought possible and receive immediate tax benefits without changing your living situation.

Other Assets: Commercial Annuities, Bank and Brokerage Accounts

In addition to the assets mentioned here you can use other accounts you own to benefit the hospital without changing your current finances. Contact your financial institution for a change-of-beneficiary form. The beneficiary designation form can usually be mailed or completed online on the institutions’ website.

Like retirement accounts, these also avoid the probate process and are easy gifts to make.

Legacy Giving

Kieth Raho

If you have already made a provision for McLean Hospital in your estate plan, please consider informing us so we may thank you and ensure we can fulfill your intentions.

To learn more about legacy giving at McLean Hospital, please contact Keith Raho, Major Gifts & Planned Giving Officer, at 617.855.3421.

Legacy Giving

Fundraise for McLean

Support McLean in your own way. Community, or peer-to-peer, fundraising is a wonderful way to turn your passion for mental health into action by creating your own fundraiser to benefit McLean.

From dinner parties to music nights, from walkathons to road races, and from birthdays to graduations—there are unlimited opportunities to get creative and raise money and awareness for a great cause.

We’re here to help you make your event a success. Contact Ben if you want to talk through your ideas. Or better yet … just get started!

Get Started Today

Women’s Mental Health Leadership Council

Supporting Mental Health in Women and Girls

Women’s Mental Health Leadership CouncilThe Women’s Mental Health Leadership Council is a group of influential women with a strong interest in and dedication to improving mental health care for women and girls, and a willingness to make women’s mental health a philanthropic priority.

The council continues to grow as we regularly welcome new participants. As of early 2019, the council boasts nearly 80 active and engaged members.

More About the Women’s Mental Health Leadership Council

Learn more about the mission and activities of the council, including how to join or renew your membership.

Join or Renew

Other Ways to Give

Every day, donors like you make a difference in the lives of people affected by psychiatric illness. There are many ways to make your philanthropic contribution to McLean. To explore your options for making a gift to McLean, please contact the Development Office at 617.855.3415.

Tribute Gifts

We welcome gifts in recognition of a McLean caregiver, or in honor or in memory of a friend or family member. For wording to use in an obituary or to share with family and friends, please call 617.855.2191.

Matching Gifts

A matching gift from your employer can be an easy way to double your contribution to McLean. Please check with your employer to find out if it matches donations to hospitals.

Stocks/Securities

If you wish to make a gift of securities, please call (or have your broker call) 617.855.2191 for instructions.

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