USE THE WISCONSIN UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION IN YOUR FINAL CHARITABLE GIVING
When you are ready to complete basic estate planning documents you may wish to use this efficient way to distribute any charitable bequests. In your Last Will and Testament you may leave a percentage of your estate or a specific amount or the residual of your estate.
“to the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation, Inc., to be used for such exempt purposes of the Foundation as are provided in a specific written instrument (“written instrument”) provided by you to the Foundation. If there is no such written instrument, the remainder shall be distributed to the Foundation for its general purposes. Such written instrument may be amended or revoked by a later written instrument, adding or substituting other charitable remainder purposes and/or changing the percentage (shares) of any one or more charitable remainder purposes. If more than one written instrument is so delivered to the Foundation, the written instrument bearing the latest date shall control and shall be deemed to revoke all prior written instruments unless the most recent written instrument shall provide otherwise.”
Using this strategy provides an easy no cost way for you to update or change your charitable beneficiaries without rewriting your Will or preparing a Codicil. All you need to do is write a new written instrument or “Letter of Instruction” and deliver it to the Foundation office and we will follow the revised instructions when your estate is settled and the bequest is received. Keep in mind, however that you can only include qualified public charities in this bequest and Letter of instruction.