Bequests
An excellent way for you to support Dakota State University'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.
What are the benefits of making a bequest?
- You leave a lasting legacy to be remembered
- You lessen the burden of taxes on your family
- You may receive estate tax savings
How do I make a bequest?
A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to family, friends or Dakota State University Foundation as part of your estate plan.
What are my options?
A bequest can be made in several ways:
- You can gift a specific dollar amount or asset
- You can gift a percentage of your estate
- You can gift from the balance or residue of your estate
- You can make a beneficiary designation of certain assets
Types of Bequests
There are a number of ways you can make a bequest to Dakota State University.
A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, a car, other property or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $10,000 to Dakota State University.
Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to Dakota State University.
A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests. A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to Dakota State University.
A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to Dakota State University.
Bequest Benefits
A bequest is generally a revocable gift, which means it can be changed or modified at any time. You can choose to designate that a bequest be used for a general or specific purpose so you have the peace of mind knowing that your gift will be used as intended. Bequests are exempt from federal estate taxes. If you have a taxable estate, the estate tax charitable deduction may offset or eliminate estate taxes, resulting in a larger inheritance for your heirs.
Bequest Language
In order to make a bequest, you should speak with your attorney. Your attorney can help you include a bequest to Dakota State University Foundation in your estate plan. We have provided some basic bequest language to assist you and your attorney.
If you are considering making an outright bequest to Dakota State University Foundation, we recommend the following language:
Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount
I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to Dakota State University, a nonprofit organization located at 820 N. Washington, Madison, SD, 57042, Federal Tax ID #23-7299995 for Dakota State University Foundation's general use and purpose.
Bequest of Specific Personal Property
I hereby give, devise and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to Dakota State University Foundation, a nonprofit organization located at 820 N. Washington, Madison, SD, 57042, Federal Tax ID #23-7299995 for Dakota State University Foundation's general use and purpose.
Bequest of Specific Real Estate
I hereby give, devise and bequeath all of the right, title and interest in and to the real estate located at ADDRESS OR DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to Dakota State University, a nonprofit organization located at 820 N. Washington, Madison, SD, 57042, Federal Tax ID #23-7299995 for Dakota State University Foundation's general use and purpose.
If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to Dakota State University, we recommend the following language:
I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ percent (___%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death, to Dakota State University, a nonprofit organization located at 820 N. Washington, Madison, SD, 57042, Federal Tax ID #23-7299995 for Dakota State University Foundation’s general use and purpose.
I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Dakota State University Foundation, a nonprofit organization located at 820 N. Washington, Madison, SD, 57042, Federal Tax ID # 23-7299995, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for Dakota State University's general use and purpose.
If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Dakota State University, a nonprofit organization located at 820 N. Washington, Madison, SD, 57042, Federal Tax ID # 23-7299995, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to be used for Dakota State University's general use and purpose.
Restricted Bequests
If you are considering a bequest but would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, please let us know. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your charitable objectives. We will also work with you and your attorney to craft language to accomplish your goals.
If you are making a restricted bequest, we recommend that your attorney include the following provision to give Dakota State University Foundation flexibility should it no longer be possible for Dakota State University to use your gift as you originally intended:
If, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees of Dakota State University Foundation, it shall become impossible for Dakota State University to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, Dakota State University Foundation may use the income and principal of this gift for such purpose or purposes as the Board determines is most closely related to the restricted purpose of my bequest.
Contact Us
Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest to Dakota State University Foundation 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 Dakota State University Foundation in your estate plan, please contact us to let us know. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.