Change Lives with Just a Sentence

Leave St. Joseph's Indian School a Gift in Your Will or Living Trust

If you are interested in partnering with St. Joseph’s Indian School to break the cycle of poverty, addiction and abuse facing many Lakota children, but feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing another check or giving up your assets today, there's a simple solution. 

By including just one sentence in your Will or Living Trust, you can make a positive impact on Lakota children. This gift is a simple, flexible and versatile way to ensure the continued education of Native American children for years to come.

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Ready to start planning today? View and download your FREE guide, A Guide to Making Your Will.

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See How it Works

See How it Works

Why Other Donors Give

family looking at iPadAt St. Joseph’s Indian School, we provide our students a stable learning environment and a path out of poverty. Our donors want to ensure we are able to continue providing life-changing educational opportunities for future generations, even if they aren’t able to write us a check today. That’s why a bequest is a popular option for many donors.

“The Lakota boys and girls attending St. Joseph’s Indian School are included in my Will. I feel I can help them much more after I am gone than I can at the present. It fills my heart with joy to include them as part of my legacy.”
— F. Aberwald, Wisconsin
“I have always felt a spiritual connection to the Native American beliefs. After traveling in South Dakota and seeing how some of the people live, we felt we could help through our estate.”
— T. & M. Carney, Pennsylvania

Learn How to Fund It

You can use the following assets to fund a bequest:

Delay Your Payments

If you are younger than 60 or don't need your payments immediately, you can set up a deferred gift annuity. This allows you to delay receiving payments until a later date — such as when you reach retirement. To learn more, view and download the FREE guide Deferred Gift Annuities: Plan Now, Benefit Later.


SJIS minimum age for a one-life CGA is 50 and 54 for a two-life CGA. Please contact our planned giving office with any questions you may have.
smiling girl in a classroom

Next Steps

  1. Contact Denise Hyland at 1-800-584-9200 or dhyland@stjo.org for additional information on bequests or to chat more about the different options for including St. Joseph’s Indian School in your will or estate plan.
  2. Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor.
  3. If you include St. Joseph’s Indian School in your plans, please use our legal name and Federal Tax ID.

Legal name: St. Joseph's Indian School
Address: P.O. Box 100, Chamberlain, SD 57325-0100
Federal Tax ID: 46-0235912

Our Mission

St. Joseph’s Indian School, an apostolate of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, partners with Native American children and families to educate for life — mind, body, heart and spirit.

St. Joseph’s Indian School is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

Privacy Policy | Planned Giving Disclaimer

1301 North Main Street
Chamberlain, SD 57325
1-800-341-2235
saintjosephs@stjo.org

© 2023 St. Joseph's Indian School

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave St. Joseph’s Indian School a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.  

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give to St. Joseph’s Indian School, a nonprofit corporation currently located at P.O. Box 100, Chamberlain, SD 57325-0100, or its successor thereto, ______________ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor-advised fund is an account you set up but is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much money (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to St. Joseph's Indian School or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset — such as real estate or stock — since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to St. Joseph’s Indian School as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to St. Joseph’s Indian School as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and St. Joseph’s Indian School where you agree to make a gift to St. Joseph’s Indian School and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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