Many people spend their lives supporting the causes they care about, one act of generosity at a time. They volunteer, attend fundraisers, make annual gifts, and invest in the organizations that strengthen their communities.
But what if your generosity could continue long after you're gone? For many donors, the answer is bequest planning.
A charitable bequest is one of the easiest and most flexible ways to create a lasting legacy. By including a charitable organization or fund in your will or trust, you can ensure that the causes you care about continue to receive support for generations to come.
What Is a Charitable Bequest?
A charitable bequest is a gift made through your estate plan. You can designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, a particular asset, or even the remainder of your estate after other distributions have been made.
Because the gift is made through your will or trust, you retain complete control of your assets during your lifetime. If your circumstances change, your plans can typically be updated with your attorney.
Why People Choose Bequest Planning
It's Simple: Unlike some charitable giving strategies, bequests don't require transferring assets today.
It Costs Nothing Today: A bequest allows you to make a future charitable gift without affecting your current financial resources.
It Reflects Your Values: Estate planning is about more than distributing assets—it's about communicating what matters most.
It Creates Long-Term Community Impact: Many donors choose to establish endowed funds through their estate plans. This creates a permanent charitable legacy to continue supporting the causes they care about.
Options for Your Charitable Bequest
At Truman Heartland Community Foundation, donors can use bequests to add to an existing charitable fund, create a new endowed fund, establish a scholarship fund, support community grantmaking, or provide long-term support for a favorite nonprofit through a Designated Fund.
A Gift That Reflects a Lifetime
The most meaningful legacies are often built one act of generosity at a time. A charitable bequest provides an opportunity to make one final statement about the values you hold dear, the community you love, and the future you hope to create.
Start the Conversation
If you've already created an estate plan, now is a great time to review it and ensure it reflects your current charitable goals. If you don't yet have a plan in place, consider speaking with your attorney, financial advisor, or the team at Truman Heartland Community Foundation about how a charitable bequest can help you create a lasting legacy.
