Giving Through Your Estate Via Your Will

Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation Sample Bequest Language

Although legal consultation is advisable before you establish any type of will provision, know that a bequest - which is typically a gift of personal property or assets left by a will - could be stated as simply as the text that follows:

I bequeath to the Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation, a Maryland nonprofit corporation having a principal place of business at 1125 West Street, Suite 241, Annapolis, MD 21401, Federal Tax ID # 52-2156183, $_____ or _____ percent of my total estate (or other property) to be used or disposed of as the Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate."

You can make a bequest of cash or marketable securities. Marketable securities are defined as equity or debt instruments, typically shares listed on a stock exchange, which can be readily bought or sold. Bequests may also include real estate, or personal property such as art or jewelry. In many cases, a bequest can reduce the taxes that would be levied against your estate in the same way that donations during your lifetime entitle you to charitable income tax deductions.

Three Types of Bequests

Outright Bequests

An unrestricted or outright bequest assures that your gift will be directed by the Foundation's leadership to meet our most pressing needs. You may also designate your gift for a special purpose or program within the scope of the Foundation's mission. You can restrict the use of principal, income, or both. See below for sample wording.

Residuary Bequests

Residuary bequests help you to balance the needs of your heirs with your desire to provide for the future of the Foundation. Through such a gift, a fixed amount or a percentage of your estate is reserved to provide for your heirs first. Any remainder or residue, or a percentage thereof, is then passed on to the Foundation. See below for sample wording.

Contingent Bequests

A contingent bequest results in a gift to the Foundation only under the circumstances you describe, such as the death of your primary heirs. By naming the Foundation as a contingent beneficiary you can determine the disposition of your estate despite changes in circumstances resulting from unexpected events. See sample wording.

When making or revising a will, you should obtain the assistance of an attorney. The following are suggested forms for making various types of bequests to Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation.

1. Outright Bequest in Will (Unrestricted)

The following provision in your will creates an unrestricted bequest, which assures that your gift will be used where it is most needed.

1. Specific dollar amount:
   

   "I bequeath the sum of $_______to the Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation, a Maryland nonprofit corporation having a principal place of business at 1125 West Street, Suite 241, Annapolis, MD 21401, Federal Tax ID # 52-2156183, to be used or disposed of as Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation in its sole discretion deems appropriate."

2. Percentage amount:
   

   "I bequeath the sum of (______ percent) of my estate to Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation, a Maryland nonprofit corporation having a principal place of business at 1125 West Street, Suite 241, Annapolis, MD 21401, Federal Tax ID # 52-2156183, to be used or disposed of as Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation in its sole discretion deems appropriate."

2. Residuary Bequest in Will

Unrestricted Use

I devise and bequeath (all) (______ percent) of the remainder of my property to the Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation, a Maryland nonprofit corporation having a principal place of business at 1125 West Street, Suite 241, Annapolis, MD 21401, Federal Tax ID # 52-2156183, to be used or disposed of as the Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation in its sole discretion deems appropriate."

Restricted Use

You may want to designate your gift for some special purpose within the scope of the Foundation's mission. You can restrict the use of the principal, income, or both in this fashion:

I bequeath the sum of $______ to the Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation, a Maryland nonprofit corporation having a principal place of business at 1125 West Street, Suite 241, Annapolis, MD 21401, Federal Tax ID # 52-2156183, for the following use: ___________________________________________."

3. Contingent Bequest in a Will

Insert the conditional language in one or more of the above provisions. For example:

"If my husband [wife] does not survive me [or other condition], I bequeath the sum of $______ to the Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation, a Maryland nonprofit corporation having a principal place of business at 1125 West Street, Suite 241, Annapolis, MD 21401, Federal Tax ID # 52-2156183, to be used or disposed of as the Environmental Engineering and Science Foundation in its sole discretion deems appropriate."

Please contact us to learn more about variations of how you may direct your support, such as designating your gift for a special purpose or program within the scope of the Foundation's mission.

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