Letter – Future Legacy Gift Request, Estate Planning

This copy can be used as a letter/handout and it can be also repurposed for your website to let donors know how they can bequest to your non-profit, animal shelter, or rescue organization.

SAMPLE LETTER

Make a Big Impact With a Future Gift

When you include {ORGANIZATION} in your estate plan, your generosity provides relief for animals in need.

Some of the Ways to Help Include:

Naming {ORGANIZATION} as a beneficiary in a will or living trust
Establish a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)

Designate {ORGANIZATION} as a beneficiary of a bank account.

Naming {ORGANIZATION} as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement account

Bequest Options & Sample Attorney Language
Your attorney or financial advisor can work with you to include {ORGANIZATION} in your will, trust, or codicil.

Below is specific language that you and your attorney can use to remember {ORGANIZATION} in your will. Bequest options include:

Specific Bequest: States a specific dollar amount, percentage of your estate, or property to the {ORGANIZATION}. Sample language to get you started: “I give, devise and bequeath ____% of my estate (or specific assets) for the benefit of the {ORGANIZATION},{ADDRESS}, {BUSINESS NUMBER}, to be used for its general purposes.”

Residuary Bequest: Made when you intend to leave the residue portion of your assets after other terms of the will have been satisfied. Sample language: “All the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, I give to the {ORGANIZATION},{ADDRESS}, {BUSINESS NUMBER}, to be used for its general purposes.”

Contingency Bequest: Allows you to leave a portion of your estate to {ORGANIZATION} if your named beneficiary does not survive you. Sample language: “If (beneficiary) does not survive me, I devise and bequeath my residuary estate the {ORGANIZATION},{ADDRESS}, {BUSINESS NUMBER}, to be used for its general purposes.”

Restricted Bequest: Allows you to designate how your gift to {ORGANIZATION} will be used, such as to name an endowment or to support a specific purpose.

Other Gifts: You can leave real estate, IRA’s, insurance policies and personal property. Gift annuities and stock are also considered planned gifts and may offer substantial tax advantages. Trusts may provide life income while ultimately benefiting the {ORGANIZATION}.

Regards,

[Sender]
[Position], [Organization Name]
[email address]

Feel free to customize this brochure with your shelter’s specific details and branding elements to create a compelling and informative piece for your Legacy Giving program.