Bequests

This giving option can help you: protect assets for heirs or others
This giving option can help EMM: in the future
This option can gain tax benefits: future years

What is a bequest?

A bequest is a gift of stocks, bonds, or any other assets to beneficiaries through a will. Beneficiaries may be people, or charities such as Eastern Mennonite Missions. What you choose to do with your estate is a final reflection of your life and faith. It may be your last witness to family. A future bequeathed gift to Eastern Mennonite Missions leaves a testament of faith to your family through missions, while allowing you the flexibility to access the funds during your lifetime if necessary. You can structure a bequest in many ways:

as a specific monetary amount
as a percentage of the estate
as a residual gift after all other commitments in a will have been met
as a contingent amount based on other factors having been met
or some variation of forms to meet your needs and your family’s.

You can also modify a bequest at points throughout your life to address your changing needs. Your estate may obtain large tax benefits through a bequest gift. A bequest to Eastern Mennonite Missions shows your confidence that God will continue to send workers and spread hope through EMM for years to come. Your bequest can ultimately make a difference, when it matures, in the lives of those around the world. For more information, contact Joe Hollinger. Also, see below for sample wording for bequests.

Sample bequest language

Specific dollar bequest:
A specific value or dollar amount named for a charitable gift by will.
Sample language:
I give $___[specific amount]___ to Eastern Mennonite Missions, a non-profit, IRS approved 501(c)(3) agency based in the state of Pennsylvania and incorporated in 1916, in support of their [Impact Fund or a specific area of interest].

Specific percentage bequest:
A specific percentage of estate named for a charitable gift by will.
Sample language:
I give ___[specific % of estate]___ to Eastern Mennonite Mission, a non-profit, IRS approved 501(c)(3) agency based in the state of Pennsylvania and incorporated in 1916, in support of their [Impact Fund or a specific area of interest].

Residuary Bequest:
A residuary bequest will provide remaining /residuary property of the estate after all the special gifts designated in the will were made.
Sample language:
I give and bequeath the residue of my estate to Eastern Mennonite Mission, a non-profit, IRS approved 501(c)(3) agency based in the state of Pennsylvania and incorporated in 1916, to be used to further its purposes through their [Impact Fund or a specific area of interest].

Contingent Bequest:
This gift in your will depends upon an event which may or may not occur. For example, should your beneficiary pass on or disclaim the property this contingency would ensure your estate is distributed as you requested.
Sample language:
In the event that ___[beneficiary]___ does not survive me, I give the rest, residue and remainder of my estate (or $___[specific amount or percentage]___) to Eastern Mennonite Missions, a non-profit, IRS approved 501(c)(3) agency based in the state of Pennsylvania and incorporated in 1916, to be used to further its purposes through their [Impact Fund or a specific area of interest].

Another contingency might be an event such as a dependent reaching a certain age.
Sample language:
In the event that ___[dependent]___ has reached the age of 21 or greater, I give $___[specific amount]___ to Eastern Mennonite Missions, a non-profit, IRS approved 501(c)(3) agency based in the state of Pennsylvania and incorporated in 1916, in support of their [Impact Fund or a specific area of interest].

Combination bequest:
This gift in your will may combine several of the bequest types above. It allows for a specific amount to be assured as a charitable gift by will as well as adding to the gift if the estate has sufficient assets to do so.
Sample language:
I give $___[specific amount]___ to Eastern Mennonite Missions, a non-profit, IRS approved 501(c)(3) agency based in the state of Pennsylvania and incorporated in 1916, in support of their [Impact Fund or a specific area of interest]. Provided that all of my other will obligations have been met, I give and bequeath the residue of my estate to Eastern Mennonite Mission, a non-profit, IRS approved 501(c)(3) agency based in the state of Pennsylvania and incorporated in 1916, to be used to further its purposes through their [Impact Fund or a specific area of interest].