Bequests & Endowments
Bequests and Endowments are ways of giving that enable you to express your personal values by integrating charitable and financial goals. They are simply additional opportunities for generous donors to make gifts, distinct from annual contributions, to those Friends organizations whose missions you support. Bequests and Endowments are not just for the wealthy. They are means by which ordinary people make extraordinary gifts that can help to provide for the solid financial foundation of our Friends meetings and organizations.
Bequests
Drafting a Will, no matter your level of wealth, is a key component of an estate plan. It enables you to care for your estate, family and the organizations you value beyond your lifetime. Many donors can provide more substantial gifts through a bequest than through annual contributions. As a result, bequests are often the financial foundation for organization’s major programs, building maintenance, scholarships and support to those in need. Simple language, provided below, can be included to establish a bequest when you prepare a new Will or add a codicil to an existing one.
I give [indicate a dollar amount or a specific % of the remainder of your estate]
to [name of the Quaker organization of your choice], presently located at [provide current address of organization],
[for its general use] or [for some specific purpose].
Endowments
You can also give a cash gift or leave a direct bequest to Friends Fiduciary to establish an endowment to support Friends meetings and organizations. As the donor, you can feel confident that your gift will be stewarded wisely and invested according to our socially responsible guidelines. Through your Will you can direct Friends Fiduciary to:
- Add the gift or bequest to endowment funds to benefit one or more Quaker organizations; it will be invested and income will be distributed to the organization(s) the donor names
- Add the gift or bequest to existing funds that support the ongoing work of Friends in a specific area such as education, care of the elderly, social justice or peace.
- Use the gift or bequest as we may determine to benefit Friends organizations, projects and programs.
- Use the bequest (via your Will) as designated on your gift document on file in our office. The gift document enables you to change charitable beneficiaries as interests and concerns change and evolve over the years, without the need to modify your will.
Please contact Mimi Blackwell, Director of Philanthropic Services, mblackwell@friendsfiduciary.org or 215-241-7272 for sample gift language for a bequest and to discuss these options in more detail.