Bequests

A bequest is the simplest and most common form of planned giving. bequests are simple and common

A bequest can perpetuate your annual gift...forever!

Making a bequest simply requires naming Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County in your will.

For example, you may add a line that reads, "I bequeath the sum of $ _______ to Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County, to be utilized as its Board of Directors deems appropriate." Or, "I bequeath the property located at (address) to Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County..." Or, "I bequeath all my shares of (X stock) to Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County..." Etc.

Alternatively, you may wish to leave a gift to Domestic Violence Solutions only after the needs of your loved ones have been met. In that case, you would name Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County as a contingent beneficiary. Your attorney can draft the appropriate language that will ensure that your estate benefits the people and organizations you intend, in the order that your gifts are intended.

For example, Mrs. Wilson, a widow, wanted to make a charitable bequest to Domestic Violence Solutions. However, she had a younger sister she wanted to provide for first. Mrs. Wilson set up a charitable remainder trust in her will that benefits her sister for the remainder of her sister's life, whereupon the remainder interest is directed to Domestic Violence Solutions. By donating the remainder interest to charity, Mrs. Wilson not only provided for her sister, her estate gained a tax deduction for the charitable portion of her bequest--thereby increasing the amount that generated income for her sister. This is an example of how thoughtful charitable estate planning not only enables you to do more for the causes you cherish, it also enables you to do more for the people you love.

Although donors may always designate the use for which their gift is intended, Domestic Violence Solutions encourages donors to leave unrestricted funds whenever possible. That way, we have the freedom to use your gift where it is most needed.

bequests are simple and common You don't have to make a new will to add a bequest to Domestic Violence Solutions.

If you already have a will, you can include a gift to Domestic Violence Solutions simply by adding a "codicil"--an addition to your existing will. The codicil must meet all the legal requirements of your state of residence, and generally must be signed by you in the presence of witnesses. The simplest way to ensure that your will and any codicils are legally drawn is to ask you attorney to draft them.

You can also remember Domestic Violence Solutions through your life insurance or retirement account!

Another easy way to benefit Domestic Violence Solutions is by making us the beneficiary of your life insurance or retirement account. Although in most cases, your surviving spouse is your beneficiary, where there is no surviving spouse, or when the surviving spouse is adequately provided for by other means, Domestic Violence Solutions can be named. DVS can also be listed as a contingent beneficiary--meaning our organization would benefit if there were no other surviving beneficiaries.

bequests are simple and common A bequest can perpetuate your annual gift...forever!

One way to maximize the impact of even a relatively small bequest is to endow it, so that it distributes five percent of the principal year after year--forever. A bequest of just $5,000, for example, if endowed, will generate an annual gift of $250 in perpetuity. What an incredible way to care for future generations of battered women and children!