Leave a Legacy of Hope and Healing

Thank you for your interest in learning more about how legacy gifts, put into place now, can help you provide a secure future for your loved ones and support the Mercy Ships mission well into the future. A legacy gift is a lasting investment in Mercy Ships, advancing our mission and ensuring our ability to help those in need for years to come.

For over 40 years, the heart of Mercy Ships has focused on bringing hope and healing to the forgotten poor. Our fleet of state-of-the-art hospital ships bring world-class healthcare and medical training to regions where clean water, reliable electricity, and medical personnel and supplies are limited or even nonexistent. Onboard our hospital ships, staffed by volunteer professionals from around the world, surgeries are performed that transform the lives of people who might otherwise face a lifetime of suffering. Tumors are removed, orthopedic conditions are corrected, sight is restored, cleft lips are repaired, and more!

We invite you to consider adding Mercy Ships to your will, leaving a legacy of hope and healing well into the future.

"You can't change the whole world. But you can change the whole world for one person."
-Dr. Gary Parker, volunteer surgeon

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A Bequest to Save Taxes

A Bequest to Save Taxes
Thomas was a widower who had a great love for our organization. As an individual who had directly benefited from our work, Thomas wanted to thank us with a gift from his estate.

Thomas told his attorney that he wished to leave a bequest to us as part of his estate plan. Thomas's estate included some stocks, real estate and an IRA. Thomas's attorney recommended that he give the appreciated stock and real estate to his children and leave his IRA to charity.

Thomas: My attorney told me that if I gave the stock and real estate to my children, these assets would receive a step up in basis at my death. My children could then sell them without paying tax. However, if I gave my children my IRA, the IRA would be subject to estate and income tax. After paying all of these taxes, very little would be left for my family. By giving the IRA to this organization, I could make a nice gift and avoid any additional tax for my estate and children.

Thomas contacted his IRA custodian to obtain a beneficiary designation form. He filled out the form and designated our organization as the 100% recipient of his IRA account. Thomas's attorney then specified in Thomas's will the bequest of his other assets to his children.

Thomas: I was so impressed with my attorney's advice that I named him executor of my will!

Thomas called and notified us of his bequest. He was pleased that because our organization was a tax exempt institution, it would receive the full amount of the IRA value when he passed away, creating a legacy for the future.

Is a bequest right for you?


It is easy and convenient to include a bequest in your will or living trust. This link includes sample bequest language that can very easily be included in your will.

You might find it helpful to print this page and the bequest language to give this information to your attorney. If you or your attorney have any questions, please contact us.

*Please note: The name and image above are representative of a typical donor and may or may not be an actual donor to our organization. Since your benefits may be different, you may want to click here to view a color example of your benefits.


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Mercy Ships
15862 State Highway 110 North
Lindale, TX 75771-5932
Federal EIN Tax ID # 26-2414132 | Mercy Ships is a 501(c)(3) organization

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  • Mercy Ships
    (903) 939-7000
    P.O. Box 2020
    Garden Valley, TX 75771

  • Mercy Ships is a 501 (c)(3) organization. EIN: 26-2414132

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This site is informational and educational in nature. It is not offering professional tax, legal, or accounting advice.

For specific advice about the effect of any planning concept on your tax or financial situation or with your estate, please consult a qualified professional advisor.