Beneficiary Designations

Not everyone wants to commit to making a gift in their wills or estates. Some prefer the increased flexibility that a beneficiary designation provides by using:

IRAs and retirement plans
Life insurance policies
Donor advised funds
Commercial annuities

It is very simple to name Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund as a beneficiary. Start by requesting a change-of-beneficiary form from your policy administrator or download the form from your provider's website. Make your desired changes and return the form to establish your gift.

See How It Works

An Example of How It Works

Couples smiling

Robert and Carol recently updated the beneficiary designation on their $75,000 IRA to be transferred to Dana-Farber upon their deaths. Because Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund is a charitable entity, all $75,000 will be transferred tax-free.

Had Robert and Carol left the IRA to their children, approximately $18,000* would have gone to pay federal income taxes-leaving only $57,000 for their family's use. Robert and Carol are happy knowing they are making the most of their hard-earned money thanks to their updated beneficiary designations.

*Based on an assumption of a 24% marginal income tax bracket.

Fund Your Donation With:

Next Steps

Contact the administrator of your retirement plan, insurance policy, or bank account for a change-of-beneficiary form, or simply download a form from your provider's website.
Decide what percentage (1 to 100) you would like Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund to receive and name us, along with the percentage you chose, on the beneficiary form. Return the completed form to the administrator.
Contact the Planned Giving team at 800-535-5577 or planned_giving@dfci.harvard.edu to let us know your goals for the gift so we can ensure it is used as you intend.

Legal name: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
Address: 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
Federal tax ID number: 04-2263040