Maximize Your Giving Impact

Planned giving is personal, and your legacy should reflect what matters most to you. It is also flexible—you can make a difference without impacting your finances today.

Lake Champlain

Bequest

Making a bequest to the Foundation is easy, and you can decide to do it at any age by adding to an existing will or drafting a new one.

If you're not in a position to make a charitable gift today, but you wish to leave a lasting legacy that will support the charitable needs of Vermont, you may want to consider including the Community Foundation in your will.

Bequest Overview

Benefits of a bequest

  • Receive an estate tax charitable deduction
  • Reduce the burden of taxes on your family
  • Leave a lasting legacy

How a bequest works

  • Partnering with a philanthropic advisor at the Vermont Community Foundation, you'll have the opportunity to bring your charitable vision to life in a way that truly reflects your values. We're here to help guide you and work with your attorney, offering thoughtful language to seamlessly include the Vermont Community Foundation in your will.
  • You can decide what you would like to support with your bequest—whether gifting to an existing fund or establishing a new fund that supports a particular cause that is most meaningful to you.
  • After your passing, a fund can be established in your name, your family's name, your business, or in honor of someone or something special to you.
  • Your generous gift is fully deductible from estate taxes, offering a meaningful benefit to both you and your community.

A bequest may be made in several ways

  • Specific Bequest - A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, other personal property, or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $10,000 to Vermont Community Foundation.
  • Percentage Bequest - Another kind of bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to our organization. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to Vermont Community Foundation.
  • 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 our organization. For example, you may wish to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to Vermont Community Foundation.