Leaving a Legacy: How to Make a Meaningful Charitable Bequest in Your Will

Not every charitable giving strategy requires a complex trust or a donor-advised fund. Sometimes the most meaningful gift is also the simplest: a charitable bequest in your will.

A charitable bequest is a provision in your will or trust that directs a portion of your estate to a charity or charities of your choice. It costs nothing during your lifetime, requires no current cash outlay, and can be changed or revoked at any time as long as you're alive and mentally competent.

Types of charitable bequests:

• Specific bequest. A fixed dollar amount or specific property ('I give $25,000 to the Houston Food Bank').

• Percentage bequest. A share of your estate ('I give 10% of my residuary estate to the American Cancer Society').

• Residuary bequest. The remainder of your estate after other gifts and expenses have been paid.

• Contingent bequest. A gift that takes effect only if another condition is met ('If my spouse does not survive me, I give my estate to...').

Tax considerations: Charitable bequests reduce your taxable estate dollar-for-dollar. If your estate is above the federal exemption threshold, this can meaningfully reduce estate tax. For estates below the threshold, the bequest itself is the tax benefit — your heirs receive a slightly smaller inheritance, but the charity receives a meaningful gift.

Before finalizing any charitable bequest, verify the charity's legal name, tax-exempt status, and whether they have any restrictions on accepting certain types of gifts. What seems straightforward can occasionally create complications if not properly documented.

Legacy giving isn't about the size of the gift. It's about the intention behind it — and the organizations and communities that will carry that intention forward after you're gone.

📌 A charitable bequest is one of the most lasting things you can do with your estate. Let's talk about how to build your legacy into your estate plan — schedule your consultation today.