A powerful way for you to support The Berkeley Public Schools Fund’s mission is to leave a bequest in your will, living trust or with a codicil. One significant benefit of making a gift by bequest is that it allows you to continue to use the property you will leave to charity during your life. Another benefit is that you are able to leave a lasting legacy.
A bequest is generally a revocable gift, which means it can be changed or modified at any time. You can choose to designate that a bequest be used for a general or specific purpose so you have the peace of mind knowing that your gift will be used as intended. Charitable bequests are exempt from federal estate taxes. If you have a taxable estate, the estate tax charitable deduction may offset or eliminate estate taxes, resulting in a larger inheritance for your heirs.
Types of Bequests
There are a number of ways you can make a bequest to The Berkeley Public Schools Fund.
Specific Bequest
A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as a car, boat or other property or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave $10,000 to The Berkeley Public Schools Fund.
Percentage Bequest
Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 5% of your estate to The Berkeley Public Schools Fund.
Residual Bequest
A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has distrubted each of the specific bequests. A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to The Berkeley Public Schools Fund.
Contingent Bequest
A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a car, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the car will go to The Berkeley Public Schools Fund.
Bequest Language
If you are considering making a specific bequest to The Berkeley Public Schools Fund, we recommend the following language:
Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount
I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to The Berkeley Public Schools Fund, a nonprofit organization located at 2020 Bonar Street, Berkeley, CA 94702, Federal Tax ID #94-2918219, for The Berkeley Public Schools Fund’s general use and purpose.
Percentage Bequest
If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to The Berkeley Public Schools Fund, we recommend the following language:
I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ percent (___%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death, to The Berkeley Public Schools Fund, a nonprofit organization located at 2020 Bonar Street, Berkeley, CA 94702, Federal Tax ID #94-2918219, for The Berkeley Public Schools Fund’s general use and purpose.
Residual Bequest
I hereby give, devise and bequeath to The Berkeley Public Schools Fund, a nonprofit organization located at 2020 Bonar Street, Berkeley, CA 94702, Federal Tax ID #94-2918219, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for The Berkeley Public Schools Fund’s general use and purpose.
Contingent Bequest
If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to The Berkeley Public Schools Fund, a nonprofit organization located at 2020 Bonar Street, Berkeley, CA 94702, Federal Tax ID #94-2918219, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to be used for The Berkeley Public Schools Fund’s general use and purpose.