Wills are important documents that should be updated periodically with the help of an attorney. Not only can a will name the beneficiaries of your estate, it can also provide gifts to one or more charitable organizations. A bequest to the Community Foundation of Shelby County enables you to share your estate and provide for the future of Shelby County.

Types of bequests

Percentage Bequests – provides a gift that is based on a percent of an estate. Some prefer this option, because if the size of the estate changes, the gift to a charity will change proportionately.

Specific Bequests – designates a dollar amount or piece of property, such a group of stock or real estate acreage, to be given.

Residuary Bequests – indicates that a portion (or all) of the estate is to go to the Community Foundation of Shelby County after all other commitments or responsibilities of the estate are satisfied.

Contingency Bequests – enables all or a portion of the estate to go to the Community Foundation should a beneficiary precede in death or disclaim their inheritance. It may also allow a gift to go to a second charitable preference if the first named charity has ceased to exist.

If you are including a gift in your will, please consider contacting the Community Foundation so that we can understand your intent for the gift and make any plans necessary to allow your wishes to be fulfilled.

Suggested bequest language:

“I give, devise, and bequeath to The Community Foundation of Shelby County, Ohio, an Ohio nonprofit corporation, ____________________________ (percentage of estate, specific dollar amount, a marketable security or real property, or remainder of estate). I request that the gift be used to establish (or to be added to and become a part of) the (preferred charitable fund name) Fund.”

Note: The legal name to include the CFSC as a beneficiary or in a bequest of any kind is: The Community Foundation of Shelby County, an Ohio nonprofit corporation.