A charitable bequest is a provision from your living will or your trust which provides all or a portion of your estate to pass to a charitable organization, such as Youth Bridge. It is the most popular form of estate gift plans and provides Youth Bridge the ability to create an endowed legacy to benefit the youth in our programs. Please contact your estate planner or attorney to assist you with your will preparation.
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions and Responses to Them:
Won’t making a charitable bequest be complicated and time consuming?
If you've given your time and attention to a cause in the past, taking the extra step to include it in your will makes good sense. Many people are surprised to learn that making a charitable bequest can be relatively simple. A bequest may be made as an addition to an existing will (codicil), or as part of an overall estate plan revision.
I want to provide for my family before making gifts to charity.
Share your ideas with your children or other family members. Creating a charitable bequest can provide a positive focal point in the estate planning process and can reinforce a family’s values; a named fund can serve as a meaningful legacy. You may decide to make a charitable gift contingent on individuals in your family receiving certain amounts. In the case of an estate that is subject to federal estate tax, a charitable bequest redirects money that would otherwise be paid in taxes.
I won’t be around to see my gift at work. How can I be sure it will be used wisely?
If you use a bequest to add to our endowment fund or create a named fund at Youth Bridge, you can be sure your gift will have an impact far into the future. An outside accounting firm conducts an annual audit which is published in an annual report. Additionally, we are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that sets policies and procedures, and monitors the budget and expenditures.
How can I make sure my gift and my estate planning will remain private?
For someone who wants to give “quietly,” a charitable bequest is an excellent option. Your attorney can gather all necessary information on your behalf. Endowed funds at Youth Bridge can help donors maintain anonymity within the greater community.
To learn more about including a charitable bequest in your will for Youth Bridge, please contact:
Nancy Hairston
479-575-9471
nhairston@youthbridge.com
