The Unforeseen Society: Franklin Furnace’s Legacy Giving Circle
Franklin Furnace was created by and for people who choose to support experimental art that may not yet be fully understood. The Unforeseen Society (U.S.) honors dedicated Franklin Furnace aficionados who help carry our mission forward by naming Franklin Furnace in their legacy plans. Joining U.S. is an action with long reach: a way to sustain avant-garde artists, protect Franklin Furnace’s archives and programming in posterity, and keep the organization nimble enough to continue taking risks and supporting artists’ free expression for decades to come.
Planned giving is a way to support Franklin Furnace through your estate or financial plans. Most planned gifts cost nothing today and can be adjusted at any time.
Common ways to give include:
Naming Franklin Furnace in your will or trust
Designating Franklin Furnace as a beneficiary of a retirement account, life insurance policy, or donor-advised fund
Making a charitable bequest of a specific amount or percentage of your estate
A planned gift helps:
Sustain early-career artists
Protect and preserve Franklin Furnace
Ensure the organization remains independent and artist-first
Build long-term stability and relevance for next generations
Members of the Unforeseen Society may choose to remain anonymous or be publicly recognized. There is no minimum gift amount.
Franklin Furnace exists to help artists make even their seemingly impossible ideas a reality. Planned giving is the long-range version of that same passionate motivation. It is an act of faith in what has not yet happened — in artists not yet discovered, performances not yet staged, archives not yet opened, futures not yet written.
Members of the Unforeseen Society understand that the most radical ideas often begin quietly. Their commitments may be public or private. The timing may be determined or unpredictable. But the generative impact on future generations is real, and really important.
As part of this circle, members are invited to annual Unforeseen Society gatherings at Franklin Furnace. Those who have already included Franklin Furnace in their wills, trusts, or estate plans — and those considering their options — are welcomed for tea, conversation, and hands-on access to selections from our event archives and artists’ books collection. These events are opportunities to spend time with Franklin Furnace’s leaders, see unique and rare materials up close, and connect with others who believe in protecting artistic freedom for the ages.
A conversation can be the best and easiest first step. We would be pleased to work with you and your advisors to structure a legacy arrangement that reflects your philanthropic goals and honors your commitment to avant-garde art.
Please contact: Harley Spiller, Ken Dewey Director, at harley@franklinfurnace.org or 917-553-4831.
Legal Name: Franklin Furnace Archive, Inc.
Address: 38-38 43rd Street, Long Island City, NY 11101
Tax ID: EIN 13-2879766