Legacy Gifts

Leave a Legacy of Faith and Peace

For generations, The Grotto has been a place of prayer, reflection, and encounter with Christ and Our Lady. People come here in moments of gratitude, sorrow, hope, and trust. They find great comfort during these turning points in their lives.

Many of those who love The Grotto choose to ensure this sacred place endures by remembering it in their will. A gift in your will is a simple, faith‑filled way to pass forward what has mattered most in your life and ensure future pilgrims always find peace, prayer, and beauty here.

A Legacy Rooted in Meaning, Not Wealth​

You don’t need great wealth to leave a meaningful legacy. Many people include The Grotto with:

  • A small percentage of their estate
  • A modest dollar amount
  • A gift from retirement assets or investments

What matters most is not the size of the gift, but the love and devotion behind it. Research consistently shows that people who give in this way do so as a heartfelt expression of identity, faith, and meaning, not their financial capacity.

A Simple, Free, Catholic Way to Create Your Will

To support our community, The Grotto partners with Catholic Legacy,  a nonprofit ministry that provides a free, faith‑centered way to create a legally valid will, consistent with Catholic teaching.

Through Catholic Legacy, you can:

  • Create or update your will in about 30 minutes
  • Reflect your Catholic values clearly and confidently
  • Include The Grotto, if you wish
  • Update your plans at any time, at no cost

Catholic Legacy exists to walk alongside Catholics during one of life’s most meaningful moments by offering peace of mind to you and clarity to those you love.

 Learn more by clicking this link.

Join The Grotto Legacy Circle

Those who include the Sanctuary in their estate plans are invited to become members of The Grotto Legacy Circle.

Members receive:

  • Spiritual benefits and prayers
  • Ongoing connection to The Grotto community
  • Recognition (if desired) as a faithful steward of this sacred place
 

If you have already included The Grotto in your will or if you choose to do so in the future, we invite you to let us know so we can thank you and welcome you personally to The Legacy Circle.

Contact us at office@thegrotto.org

Your Faith, Continuing

A legacy gift is not about looking backward. It is about entrusting your heritage to the future.

Many people find peace in knowing that long after their own life’s journey is complete, prayer will continue at The Grotto, votive candles will still be lit, and pilgrims will still encounter Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary in this sanctuary of peace, prayer, and natural beauty.

 

Types of Legacy Gifts

Cash Bequest

Give a specific dollar amount or percentage of your estate.

Giving appreciated stocks and bonds is a tax-wise way to support The Grotto. For securities held longer than one year, you can deduct their full fair market value, regardless of what you originally paid for them. You also avoid paying capital gains tax.

A security is a tradable financial asset of any kind, which may be classified into the following groups:

  • Debt securities: Treasury bonds, banknotes, corporate bonds, CDs, and debentures
  • Equity securities: Common stocks and mutual funds
  • Derivative securities: Stock options, futures, forwards, and swaps

To transfer appreciated stock to The Grotto:

You will need to work directly with your broker to initiate a transfer of stock to the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother (The Grotto).

The Grotto receives a percentage of the remainder of your estate after the payment of any specific bequests and expenses.

A distribution from your retirement plan is treated as ordinary income under federal and state laws. Instead of paying a large tax bill, you can donate your 401(k), IRA, or other qualified pension plan.

Benefits

Avoid the potential double taxation your retirement savings would face if you designated these savings to your heirs.

Continue to take regular lifetime withdrawals.

Maintain flexibility to change beneficiaries if your family’s needs change during your lifetime.

You can direct your annual Qualified Minimum Distribution to The Grotto.

To make this gift :

  • Notify the plan administrator
  • File a “Change of Beneficiary” Form
  • Include beneficiary designation in your estate document

 

Sample beneficiary designation language for a spouse and The Grotto:  The beneficiary is my spouse as long as he/she survives me. The beneficiary of any amount(s) remaining in the plan after the death of my spouse, or of the entire amount in the plan upon my death if my spouse does not survive me, or of any portion thereof that my spouse may disclaim, is the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother (The Grotto), 8840 NE Skidmore St., Portland, OR 97220, Tax ID# 93-0386924, for its general charitable purposes.

A Gift of Life Insurance is an easy and convenient way to support The Grotto. This gift can be made without diluting the control of a business or other investments. Assets earmarked for family members can be kept intact.

Life Insurance provides a great giving opportunity in simple ways:

  • Name The Grotto as beneficiary of your policy without changing the policy’s ownership. Your heirs will pay no tax on the asset removed from your estate.
  • Donate your policy to The Grotto and you will be entitled to charitable income tax deduction for the cash surrender value of the policy.
  • Charitable Giving Riders can be placed on your policy.

 

Benefits of giving Life Insurance:

  • Efficient: Gifts of life insurance allow you to make a large impact; one that is not dependent on income or cash flow. Make your greatest gift while receiving a tax deduction.
  • Private: The transaction is confidential.
  • Revocable: You may change your mind in the future if your circumstances change.
  • Meaningful: Allows you to take care of not just the people you love, but the ministries closest to your heart.

 

Once you decide to give the gift of life insurance, contact The Grotto and tell us of your gift.

Tip: The most tax-effective way to donate life insurance is to transfer the policy so that the charity becomes the owner and beneficiary. You are entitled to an immediate charitable deduction for income tax purposes. If you continue to pay the premiums, each payment is also a deductible charitable donation.

Codicil

If you already have a will, draft a codicil to make a change without creating an entirely new document.

Tax ID

The Internal Revenue Service recognizes The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother (The Grotto) as a tax-deductible, 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Our tax identification number is 93-0386924.

Bequest Language

A General Bequest

Name The Grotto as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. 

 

“I (NAME) give, devise and bequeath to The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother (The Grotto), whose current legal address is 8840 NE Skidmore St., Portland, Oregon 97220, ____% of all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, to be used for its general charitable purposes.”

You can direct that a beneficiary receive all that remains in an estate after payment of funeral costs, debts, taxes, administrative and probate expenses, and specific and general bequests have been honored.

“The beneficiary is my spouse as long as he/she survives me. The beneficiary of any amount(s) remaining in the plan after the death of my spouse, or of the entire amount in the plan upon my death if my spouse does not survive me, or of any portion thereof that my spouse may disclaim, is the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother (The Grotto), 8840 NE Skidmore St., Portland, OR 97220, Tax ID# 93-0386924, for its general charitable purposes.”