Charitable Bequest
A charitable bequest is one of the easiest and most flexible ways that you can leave a gift to Alliance Defending Freedom that will make a lasting impact.
Benefits of a bequest
- Receive an estate tax charitable deduction
- Reduce the burden of taxes on your family
- Leave a lasting legacy
- Honor a loved one through a memorial bequest
How a bequest works
A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. Three of the most common options are to:
- With the help of an attorney, include language in your will or revocable trust specifying a bequest to Alliance Defending Freedom
- Designate Alliance Defending Freedom as a full, partial or contingent beneficiary of your retirement account [IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or pension]
- Name Alliance Defending Freedom as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy
A bequest in your will or trust may be made in several ways
- Percentage bequest - make a gift of a percentage of your estate
- Specific bequest - make a gift of a specific dollar amount or a specific asset
- Residual bequest - make a gift from the balance or residue of your estate
You can also choose to honor a loved one through a memorial bequest
An Example of How a Memorial Bequest Works
Jan Smythe's husband, David, passed away several years ago after many years in his beloved vocation as a college professor. Jan wants to honor David, who loved the work of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and often talked with friends about court cases where ADF was standing up for freedom of speech on college campuses. She decides to update the bequest language in her will to state that her estate gift to Alliance Defending Freedom is made in memory of David-to honor his legacy and to continue his passion for the work of Alliance Defending Freedom for generations to come.
This memorial bequest enables Jan to honor her loved one in a special way by extending his legacy through a gift to a mission they both loved.*
* The names above represent a typical Ministry Friend but do not represent an actual donor story.
Contact us
If you have any questions about leaving a bequest to us, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you. If you have been so generous as to include a bequest to Alliance Defending Freedom as part of your estate plan, please take the time to let us know. We would like to recognize you and your family for your generosity.
Additional Information
The method used to make a bequest will depend on the kind of gift you choose to leave to Alliance Defending Freedom.
Bequests of real estate, personal property, business interests and cash are typically made by way of a will, revocable trust or even a simple codicil to your current estate plan. Your estate-planning attorney can assist you in preparing the necessary papers for you to complete the bequest.
Other bequests, such as those involving retirement assets, insurance policies, bank accounts and stocks and bonds, are typically made by completing the appropriate beneficiary designation form. Simply contact your retirement plan administrator, life insurance company, bank or investment broker and ask them to send you the appropriate "beneficiary designation" or "payable on death" form. To complete your bequest, you will need to complete and sign the form and then send it back to the person who originally sent the form to you.
The last step in leaving any bequest involves the transfer to charity. When you pass away, the bequest property will be transferred to Alliance Defending Freedom. The full value of this gift will be transferred tax-free and your estate will receive an estate tax charitable deduction.