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Macalester College's Bequest Language

A gift to Macalester in your will or trust enables you to support the college’s mission and make a difference in the lives of future generations. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying that a gift be made to family, friends or Macalester as part of your estate plan. 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. 
 

Types of Bequests


There are a number of ways you can make a bequest to Macalester College.
 
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 Macalester College.

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 Macalester College.

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 Macalester College.

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 not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to Macalester College.
 

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


We have provided some basic language to assist you and your attorney. The following suggested clauses can be added at the time of creation or can be added as a codicil.

1. Specific Bequest

If you are considering making an outright bequest to Macalester College, we recommend the following language:
 
Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount

I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to Macalester College, a nonprofit organization located at 1600 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55105, Federal Tax ID #41-0693962, for Macalester College's general use and purpose.

Bequest of Specific Personal Property

I hereby give, devise and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to Macalester College, a nonprofit organization located at 1600 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55105, Federal Tax ID #41-0693962, for Macalester College'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 Macalester College, a nonprofit organization located at 1600 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55105, Federal Tax ID #41-0693962, for Macalester College's general use and purpose.
 
2. Percentage Bequest

If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to Macalester College, 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 Macalester College, a nonprofit organization located at 1600 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55105, Federal Tax ID #41-0693962, for Macalester College's general use and purpose.
 
3. Residual Bequest
 
I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Macalester College, a nonprofit organization located at 1600 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55105, Federal Tax ID #41-0693962, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for Macalester College's general use and purpose.
 
4. Contingent Bequest
 
If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Macalester College, a nonprofit organization located at 1600 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55105, Federal Tax ID #41-0693962, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to be used for Macalester College's general use and purpose.
 

Restricted Bequests


If you are considering a bequest but would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, 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 Macalester College flexibility should it no longer be possible for our Macalester College to use your gift as you originally intended:
 
If, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of Macalester College, it shall become impossible for Macalester College to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, Macalester College 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


Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest to Macalester College 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 Macalester College 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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