A bequest is a gift made through your will or living trust. It takes effect only after your death, costs nothing during your lifetime, and is one of the most accessible forms of planned giving.
How it works
You add a clause to your will or living trust naming the nonprofit as a beneficiary. The clause can leave a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, a particular asset (like a piece of real estate), or whatever remains after your other obligations are met (a "residuary" gift).
During your lifetime, nothing changes — you can use, spend, or even revoke the bequest at any time. The nonprofit receives the gift only when your estate is settled.
Why donors choose this option
Bequests let people make a more significant gift than they could comfortably afford during their lifetime, without affecting their current finances or their ability to care for family.
They’re also one of the few ways nonprofits can plan for the future. Many organizations track expected bequests (without knowing the donor’s identity) when projecting long-term financial health.
Tax considerations
Bequests to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits are deductible from your taxable estate. For most Americans, federal estate tax doesn’t apply (the exemption is in the millions of dollars), so the deduction may not be meaningful — but for larger estates, it can substantially reduce estate taxes.
Oregon has its own estate tax with a lower threshold than the federal one, so bequests may be more relevant for Oregon estates than the federal landscape suggests.
Getting started
Talk to an estate attorney about updating your will or trust. The actual language is short — most attorneys can add a charitable clause in a routine review. You don’t need to be wealthy or have a complex estate.
Once it’s in place, consider letting the nonprofit know your intention (without committing to a specific amount). Knowing that bequests are coming helps them plan, and many organizations recognize bequest donors in a legacy society.
