Charitable Bequest
A powerful and flexible way to make a generational impact.
A gift through your will, living trust or beneficiary designation — known as a bequest — is a simple and flexible way to share the gospel with those who have never heard. Revocable gifts like these enable you to make a significant impact while retaining full control of your assets throughout your life.
You may designate your gift to be used for a specific purpose or direct it to be used for the most important opportunities at the time. Either way, you have peace of mind knowing that your gift will have a multi-generational gospel impact and change the world for years to come.
Include a bequest to Cru in your will or revocable trust
Designate Cru as a full, partial or contingent beneficiary of your retirement account (IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or pension), investment account or bank account.
Name Cru as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy
Others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else..
- 2 Corinthians 9:13, NIV
Types of Bequests
Specific Bequest
A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, other property, or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $10,000 to Cru.
Percentage Bequest
Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to Cru.
Residual Bequest
A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests. A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to Cru.
Contingent Bequest
A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is unable to receive it, the vacation home will go to Cru.
Benefits
One significant benefit of making a gift by bequest is that it allows you to continue to use the property you will leave to charity during your life. Another benefit is that your gift can make a statement about your kingdom values and what is most important to you. Bequests are exempt from federal estate taxes. If you have a taxable estate, the estate tax charitable deduction may offset or eliminate estate taxes.
If you are considering making an outright bequest to Cru, we recommend the following language:
Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount
I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, for Cru’s general use and purpose.
Bequest of Specific Personal Property
I hereby give, devise and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, for Cru’s general use and purpose.
Bequest of Specific Real Estate
I hereby give, devise and bequeath all of the right, title and interest in and to the real estate located at ADDRESS OR DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, for Cru’s general use and purpose.
If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to Cru, 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 Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, for Cru’s general use and purpose.
I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for Cru’s general use and purpose.
If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to be used for Cru’s general use and purpose.
Restricted Bequests
If you are considering a bequest and would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, please use the Declaration of Intent to memorialize your intent for our records. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your ministry objectives. We will also work with you and your attorney to craft language to accomplish your goals.
If you are making a restricted bequest, we recommend that your attorney include the following provision to give Cru flexibility should it no longer be possible for Cru to use your gift as you originally intended:
If, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of Cru, it shall become impossible for Cru to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, Cru may use the income and principal of this gift for such purpose or purposes as the Board determines is most closely related to the restricted purpose of my bequest.
Contact Us
Cru Foundation administrates estate and beneficiary gifts on behalf of all Cru ministries and missionaries.
If you have included a Cru ministry or missionary in your will, trust, or as a beneficiary, THANK YOU! Please use the Declaration of Intent Form to share the details and allocate your gift according to your desires.
Or reach out for additional information as you consider making a bequest!
