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  • Home
  • About ECPA
    • History & Vision
    • Our Team
    • Virtual Tour
    • Press
    • In The News
    • Blog
    • Milestones Reached
  • Shows/Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Partner Events
    • Past Events
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Advertise With Us
    • Estate Planning
  • Our Sponsors
    • Sponsors
    • Artistic Partners
    • Be A Sponsor
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Mailing List
    • Employment and Internships
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Home
  • About ECPA
    • History & Vision
    • Our Team
    • Virtual Tour
    • Press
    • In The News
    • Blog
    • Milestones Reached
  • Shows/Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Partner Events
    • Past Events
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Advertise With Us
    • Estate Planning
  • Our Sponsors
    • Sponsors
    • Artistic Partners
    • Be A Sponsor
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    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Mailing List
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    • Volunteer Opportunities

Estate Planning

Estate Planning

Share your passion for the arts and help ensure a vibrant cultural future in the wesstern suburbs by including ECPA in your estate plans. Here are a few simple ways to make a lasting impact:

Bequests through Your Will or Living Trust

  • Include ECPA as a beneficiary in your will or trust

  • Choose to give a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or a particular asset (such as stock or property)

  • Consult your attorney to incorporate your gift and honor your legacy of support for the arts

IRA or 401(k) Beneficiary Designation

  • Name ECPA as a beneficiary of your retirement account

  • Reduce tax burdens on your family, as retirement accounts are often subject to both estate and income taxes

  • ECPA, as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is exempt from federal estate taxes

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

  • If you’re age 70½ or older, you can make a tax-free donation directly from your IRA today

  • This gift counts toward your required minimum distribution without increasing your taxable income


ECPA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Gifts made through your estate can support the arts for future generations while offering meaningful tax advantages.

This overview is for informational purposes only. Please consult your financial or legal advisor to explore the best options for you and your family.

For further information on how ECPA can be included in estate planning, please contact the ECPA office at 224-283-7889 or email [email protected].

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From the Blog

Healing on a Higher Note: ECPA’s Freedom Sings Event Featured in Elmhurst Magazine

Meredith Krantz July 9, 2026

A huge thank you to Elmhurst Magazine, and to co-authors Laura Michaud and Melissa G. Wilson, for capturing the story of our recent Freedom...

A huge thank you to Elmhurst Magazine, and to co-authors Laura Michaud and Melissa G. Wilson, for capturing the story of our recent Freedom Sings collaboration. Laura, a founding member of ECPA and  ECPA's Board Secretary, brought her firsthand perspective as event co-chair to this piece, alongside Melissa's talent for storytelling.

The article walks through how Nashville's Freedom Sings paired professional songwriters with local veterans for an extraordinary one-day process: intimate morning sessions where veterans shared deeply personal stories, followed by a live evening performance where those stories became original songs, debuted on stage and dedicated to the veterans who inspired them.

Veterans including Christine Seagrave and Staci Boyer spoke to how profoundly the experience affected them, and the night closed with the audience calling for the event's return next year.

Read the full story at Elmhurst Magazine.

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Study Says ECPA is Financially Viable

Laura Michaud June 5, 2026

Johnson Consulting has submitted the feasibility study to ECPA and the city of Elmhurst stating that a state-of-the-arts performing arts center is Financially Viable!...

Johnson Consulting has submitted the feasibility study to ECPA and the city of Elmhurst stating that a state-of-the-arts performing arts center is Financially Viable! See Facts Here

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