Check with Charities When Making Estate Gifts

Many gift officers report that three out of four charitable bequests arrive without prior announcement from donors or their advisers.  For the most part, no problems occur, but sometimes “surprise” bequests are ineffective because donors did not have an organization’s correct legal name, or restricted the gift to purposes that could not be carried out.  Here are some famous (or infamous) examples:

• A donor made a will that left a significant bequest “to the University of Southern California, also known as UCLA” (the man had ties to both schools, which eventually divided the gift);
• A resident of a retirement community left funds to the local hospital, restricted to the purpose of establishing a birthing facility (most residents of the area were long past child-bearing age).

Donors who wish to benefit the local chapter of a national organization through their estate plans should inquire whether they need a special will provision to keep their funds “local.” 

We encourage friends to inform our office if they have made, or are planning to make, gifts through their estate plans.  We will be pleased to work with you and your advisers to arrange an estate gift that is purposeful, practical and personally satisfying.    All communications with our office will be kept completely confidential.  Sharing the good news of your bequest will also help us better plan for the future and evaluate the success of our planned giving program – and give us a chance to express our deep gratitude.  A short note, e-mail or telephone call to our office will be much appreciated…and you’ll brighten everyone’s day!

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