Setting yourself up for bequests

Encouraging donors to include gifts in a will or trust, or even through a beneficiary designation, is an important component of your planned giving program.

Bequests may be structured as a specific dollar amount, a percentage of the estate, or the residue of the estate (what remains after other gifts).

Donors often rely heavily on their attorneys when establishing estate plans. Often, adding a bequest to a nonprofit requires only a short amendment to an existing will or trust.

Providing sample bequest language along with your organization’s correct legal name and tax identification number can make the process easier for advisors.

Use our cut-and-paste content to populate your donor-facing website pages and materials.