Leave Your Legacy at Union Station With Planned Giving in Kansas City

For over a century, Union Station has served as both a historic Kansas City landmark and a destination for year-round attractions. Thousands of visitors gather here every year to enjoy everything from stunning architecture and world-class exhibits to a night on the town.  

The generous donations we receive from individuals and businesses are, ultimately, what makes this possible. Union Station sustains its entire operating budget through donations, and these gifts ensure that we can continue to create lifelong memories for our visitors. 

There are so many ways to leave a legacy by donating to Union Station. One avenue involves the promise of future donations through planned giving in Kansas City. Read on to learn more!

What is Planned Giving in Kansas City?

Planned giving at Union Station gives individuals an opportunity to donate beyond providing a cash gift. Believe it or not, one of the most common ways people participate in this type of giving is by including donations in their will or estate plans!

There are a number of reasons that people do this. For some, it may be as simple as wanting to donate their money or possessions to a good cause after they pass on. Others take immense pride in knowing that their impact will be felt and appreciated for generations after they’re gone. 

Regardless of the reason, we greatly appreciate planned estate donations of all types and sizes. We also make the process easy thanks to our partnership with Freewill, which allows prospective donors to create a legal will in 20 minutes or less. Even if you have complex estate planning needs, this tool allows users to create documented requests that they can review with an attorney.

Estate gifts also aren’t the only for people to participate in planned charitable giving in Kansas City! For those who’d rather see the legacy they helped create first-hand, charitable stock transfers and IRA rollover donations both provide additional avenues to leave a planned gift. 

With stock transfers in particular, donors can make a significant impact while actually saving money—as donating appreciated stock allows you to skip on paying income AND capital gains taxes!

Memberships/Giving Circle 

Speaking of tax breaks, a tax-deductible membership at Union Station is one of the best ways for individuals and families to support our mission! 

Like any good partnership, becoming a Union Station member is a mutually beneficial experience for everyone involved. Starting at $250, your membership contributions will directly help in funding new activities and exhibits that thousands of visitors will enjoy. Simply put, just having a membership makes your membership better!

Oh, and there’s also the individual benefits that you’ll get to enjoy as well, which include:

• Free admission to Science City for 12 months
• Discounted tickets to exhibits
• ASTC Travel Passport Program with discounted admission to 300+ museums
• Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium — first visit for free and additional tickets for only $4.
• Regnier Extreme Screen — theater popcorn for only $1.
• 10% discount at Union Station Tenants

And those benefits only become more wide-ranging the more that an individual donates! Starting at $1,000, individual donors can become a part of our Giving Circle—which features 8 different levels that offer varying benefits based on the specific person’s financial contributions. 

What Does Union Station Do With Donations?

Union Station is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The main thing to know about that distinction? It essentially means that we rely on the generosity of our community to cover our operating costs and receive no  local, state, or federal tax dollars. The amount of funding we get from our generous donors fluctuates on a year-to-year basis, so setting an annual budget for our operating expenses is a must. 

In this case, operations encompasses just about everything it takes for Union Station to run successfully on a daily basis. This means that our operating budget covers everything from behind-the-scenes maintenance to rare artifacts you see in our traveling exhibits.

To put it simply, more donations via charitable giving in Kansas City means more money for our operating budget. Having more money in our budget then gives us the capability to make your favorite Union Station attractions even better! 

Donating any amount, big or small, is an investment that ensures Union Station can continue to create deeper community connections and lifelong learning opportunities for years to come.

Make a Donation Today—Make a Difference Tomorrow!

Union Station has been an iconic Kansas City landmark and source of civic celebration for over 100 years. Planned giving in Kansas City is one way to  ensure Union Station can continue to create deeper community connections and lifelong learning opportunities for years to come.

We appreciate any and all contributions made by both individuals and businesses. Start leaving your legacy today by donating through our online donation portal!