An excellent way for you to support The Ohio University Foundation's mission is to leave us a bequest in your will, living trust or with a codicil. 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. Another benefit is that you are able to leave a lasting legacy.

Types of Bequests

There are a number of ways you can make a bequest to The Ohio University Foundation.

Specific Bequest. A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset or a specific dollar amount to The Ohio University Foundation.

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 Ohio University 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 charity. For example, you may wish to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to The Ohio University Foundation.

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 The Ohio University Foundation.

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

For general unrestricted support University-wide:
"I give, devise, and bequeath to The Ohio University Foundation, tax identification number 31-6402269, a tax-exempt organization located at P.O. Box 869, Athens, OH 45701, (state percentage of estate or residual, or sum of money, or otherwise describe property) to support its general purposes."

For general support of a college or unit:
"I give, devise, and bequeath to The Ohio University Foundation, tax identification number 31-6402269, a tax-exempt organization located at P.O. Box 869, Athens, OH 45701, (state percentage of estate or residual, or sum of money, or otherwise describe property) to support (the name of the college, school, department, or unit)."

To create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment:
"I give, devise, and bequeath to The Ohio University Foundation, tax identification number 31-6402269, a tax-exempt organization located at P.O. Box 869, Athens, OH 45701, (state percentage of estate or residual, or sum of money, or otherwise describe property) to endow (name of the specific endowment), to be administered under the terms of the Gift Agreements on file with The Office of Development."

To create a new restricted (non-endowed) account or to add to an existing restricted account:
"I give, devise, and bequeath to The Ohio University Foundation, tax identification number 31-6402269, a tax-exempt organization located at P.O. Box 869, Athens, OH 45701, (state percentage of estate or residual, or sum of money, or otherwise describe property) to support (name of the specific restricted account), to be administered under the terms of the Gift Agreements on file with The Office of Development."

Contact Us

Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest to Ohio University 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 Ohio University in your estate plan, please contact us to let us know. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.