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United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia's Bequest Language

An excellent way for you to support ministry through the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia is to leave us a bequest in your will, living trust or with a codicil.

Types of Bequests


There are a number of ways you can make a bequest to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia.

Specific Bequest. A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, a car, other property or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $10,000 to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia.

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 the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia.

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 residual bequest involves leaving the entirety or a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave the "rest, residue, and remainder" of your estate to the United Methodist Foundation, or you could choose to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to The Foundation.

Contingent Bequest. A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, your will can provide that a certain bequest to a relative will go to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia if the relative is not alive at the time of your death.

Bequest Benefits


A bequest is generally a revocable gift, which means it can be changed or modified at any time. You can choose to designate that a bequest be used for a general or specific purpose so you have the peace of mind knowing that your gift will be used as intended. Bequests are exempt from federal estate taxes. If you have a taxable estate, the estate tax charitable deduction may offset or eliminate estate taxes, resulting in a larger inheritance for your heirs.

Bequest Language


In order to make a bequest, you should speak with your attorney. Your attorney can help you include a bequest to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia in your estate plan. We have provided some basic bequest language to assist you and your attorney.

Whether you are considering a bequest to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, we recommend the following language:

1. Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, Inc.

I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, a nonprofit organization located at PO Box 3811, Charleston, WV, 25338, Federal Tax ID #55-0545643, for the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia's general use and purpose.

2. Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount to establish an Endowment Fund

I give and bequeath to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, Inc., a not-for profit charitable corporation of Charleston, West Virginia, (tax i.d. # 55-0545643) the sum of ______________________($_____________) in trust, to be held, invested and managed by said foundation as trustee for the benefit of the principal of which shall be used to establish the _______________ Memorial Fund for ABC United Methodist Church, of _____________West Virginia, with the annual net income to be distributed to such church, to be applied for a constructive purpose, as the proper officials of such church from time to time shall establish. Such gift shall continue to be held in trust so long as such church shall continue to exist as a United Methodist Church (or successor), but if such church shall cease to exist or cease to be affiliated with the United Methodist Church (or successor), then the annual net income shall be distributed to a United Methodist Church in the same geographical area providing a similar ministry as determined by the trustee.

3. Bequest of Specific Personal Property

I hereby give, devise and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, a nonprofit organization located at PO Box 3811, Charleston, WV, 25338, Federal Tax ID #55-0545643, (see 1 or 2 above).

4. 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 the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, a nonprofit organization located at PO Box 3811, Charleston, WV, 25338, Federal Tax ID #55-0545643, (see 1 or 2 above).

5. Percentage Bequest

I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ percent (___%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death, to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, a nonprofit organization located at PO Box 3811, Charleston, WV, 25338, Federal Tax ID #55-0545643, (see 1 or 2 above).

6. Residual Bequest

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, a nonprofit organization located at PO Box 3811, Charleston, WV, 25338, Federal Tax ID #55-0545643, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate (see 1 or 2 above).

7. Contingent Bequest

If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, a nonprofit organization located at PO Box 3811, Charleston, WV, 25338, Federal Tax ID #55-0545643, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY (see 1 or 2 above).

Restricted Bequests


If you are considering a bequest but would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose or to fund a particular ministry, please let us know. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your charitable 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 the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia flexibility should it no longer be possible for the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia to use your gift as you originally intended:

If, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees of the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, it shall become impossible for the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia 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.

Christian Preamble


You can also consider a "Christian preamble." Your will is a legal document, but there is no reason it cannot be a testimony to your belief in the resurrection. It is, after all, called a "Last Will and Testament." You can download a sample Christian Preamble here.

Contact Us


Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest to the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia or to request any additional information that might be helpful to you and your attorney as you consider making a bequest to us.

If you have included a bequest for the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia in your estate plan, please contact us to let us know. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.

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