Sample Bequest Language

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. Including a charitable bequest in your will is a simple way to make a lasting gift to your community.
October 06, 2014
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. Including a charitable bequest in your will is a simple way to make a lasting gift to your community. When you make this gift through The Community Foundation, we establish a special fund that benefits the community forever and becomes your personal legacy of giving.

The usual method to make a bequest to The Community Foundation is as follows: the estate's executor may transfer cash or other assets to The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Inc. Donors may also make bequests through The Community Foundation's Trustee Banks. Bequests that are more than $10,000 can establish a named endowed fund. Bequests of any size can be added to an existing fund of The Community Foundation.


The following sample language should be used for the bequest:

"I give (or bequeath) to The Community Foundation for Greater New
Haven, Inc., a non-profit charitable corporation, for the public, charitable and education uses and purposes, the following assets: ______________________________.

To add to an existing fund at The Community Foundation the additional following language would be appropriate:

"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."

To establish an unrestricted fund for broad charitable purposes, the additional following language would be appropriate:

"This gift is intended to create an endowed unrestricted 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 _______________ Fund (insert fund name).

Annual distributions from the Fund, as determined in accordance with the spending rule policies of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, as reviewed from time to time, shall be used for general charitable purposes."

To establish a designated fund for the benefit of one or more organizations, 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 (name of the particular charitable organization.)"

If more than one organization is to be designated, the language could read as follows:

"Annual distributions from the fund, as determined in accordance with the spending rule policies of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, shall be allocated as follows:

10% to (name of the particular charitable organization);
20% to (name of the particular charitable organization);
70% to (name of the particular charitable organization);"

You may also add the following:

'Should the prior named organization(s) cease to exist, annual distributions will be (select the appropriate phrase below)
Made to organizations which serve as nearly as possible the same purposes as the prior-named organizations, or,
Made at the discretion of the Board of Directors of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Inc."

To establish a Preference Fund the additional following language would be appropriate:

"This gift will create an endowed Preference 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 used to make grants for the following charitable purposes: (insert general purposes, e.g., youth development programs, elderly services programs, environmental causes, etc.)"

To establish a Scholarship Fund (Designated) the additional following language would be appropriate:

"This gift will create an endowed Scholarship 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 [name of the particular charitable/educational organization(s)]. Should the prior named organization(s) cease to exist, distribution will be made to [insert preference language]."

For more information, please call The Community Foundation at 203-777-2386.