Bequest Giving

What is Bequest Giving?

Have you ever asked yourself what would happen to the charity you support if you were not around? Have you ever thought of how to keep on giving beyond your years on earth?  Have you also thought of gifting a charity a gift that will keep on giving for tens of years on?

A fraction of benefactors have made it their goal to give consistently, while the majority will give when it is a special occasion or a major call out for assistance.

Even so, there is a minority who decide to give gifts that will outlive them by leaving instructions through a legal document, such as a will. It is called Bequest Giving.

Simply put, bequest charity is a gift that will benefit charities for years and years to come - a gift that keeps on giving.

At Develop Africa, some projects require continuous giving. From education sponsorship, skills and talent development, health, and financial assistance, Develop Africa would need partnerships that span several years.

Steps in Planning a Bequest Gift

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1. Our Goals

Develop Africa seeks to develop the whole person by supporting children in their education, and young adults in developing their skills, and extending financial support to build tomorrow's businesses.

Bequest giving can go a long way in achieving these objectives. As a potential partner, you can decide what type of projects you can extend your bequest giving in this regard.

2. Your Goals

What are your personal goals in giving? Being that Bequest giving can outlive the benefactor, the alignment of visions could be the best mix in producing successful future results.

Such a vision is the bedrock of bequest giving. It supports a goal you might not see in your life but strongly believe in. An appropriate vision will steer you to the right bequest gift.

3. Legal Representative

Once you have considered partnering with us and assigning a bequest gift, speaking to your lawyers or legal representative is the next crucial step. Bequest giving is usually included in a will, and it becomes an issue of the law.

A consultation with your lawyer or legal representative will shed light on how your bequest giving can be allocated and how it will be administered in case of your demise.

4. Speak to Us

We welcome any potential bequest giver to speak to us and make the journey to your giving smoother and clearer.

Types of Bequest Donation

There are a couple of ways you can administer your estate when planning for a bequest donation. Here they are:

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1. Specific Bequest

These are gifts that are expressly written in a will, e.g., land, the sum of money, cars, etc. It is straightforward, and there is no interpretation of such gifts. It can also be called General Bequest.

2. Percentage Bequest

This specifies the percentage of the estate or ownership of the bequest to be given to charity. It could be “20 percent of my land to go to charity” or “50 percent of returns from x company to be given to charity”. This could also be classified as a demonstrative bequest.

3. Residual Bequest

The remaining portion of your real estate, or what you own after other distributions have been made.  Residuary gifts can come from an insurance policy or annuity.

Benefits of Bequest

1. It helps charities plan better

Bequest giving allows charities to plan well in the pursuit of their goals. Funds would provide consistent funding over some time or in the long term.  This will enable us to provide consistent, uninterrupted services to beneficiaries.  Uninfluenced by donor trends, no need to depend on special grants.

2. Tax benefits

As a bequest benefactor, several tax benefits are available depending on the region. Ensure to speak to your financial experts to explain what exemptions are offered.

3. Easy to adjust

Just as it’s easy to change an existing will, bequest giving is as stress-free. If your circumstances have changed, you can adjust them to suit the season.

Are you considering a bequest giving? Do you want to know more about our projects and how you can be a partner? Get in touch with us through these contacts:

Develop Africa,

1906 Knob Creek Road, Suite 3,

Johnson City, TN 37604, USA.

Phone: 423-282-0006

Or email us here