Bequests

A bequest is a gift of personal property (such as cash, stocks, tangible
property, etc.) made after death, generally through a will or other estate plan. The usual method to make a bequest is as follows: the estate's executor may transfer cash or other assets to your organization. Your organization should have a gift acceptance policy in place that states how bequest gifts will be used if not specified by the donor in his/her will or other legal documentation. Please note that bequests that are more than $10,000 can establish a named endowed fund at The Community Foundation to benefit your organization in perpetuity. Bequests of any size can be added to an existing fund of The Community Foundation.

Sample Language for a Bequest

For your organization:

"I give (or bequeath) to {official name of your organization}, located in {city, state}, a non-stock, charitable corporation, for general charitable purposes, the following assets:.................."

To establish a permanent endowed fund at The Community Foundation designated for your organization the additional following language would be appropriate:

"This gift is intended to create an endowed designated fund for charitable purposes in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Inc. It is my desire that this fund be known as the [insert name] Fund. Annual distributions from the Fund, as determined in accordance with the spending rule policies of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, shall be awarded to (Your organization)."

To add to an existing fund at The Community Foundation the additional following language would be appropriate (if your organization has an existing fund at The Community Foundation you may want to suggest this to your donor):

" This gift is intended to be an addition to the .............. Fund (insert Fund Name) in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Inc."