Planned Giving: Leave Legacy - Bequest
Bequests
A bequest may express your special interests, such as to endow a specific JFS program or service. The following suggested language may help you and your attorney when drawing up a bequest. By incorporating language such as this into your estate plan or planned gift, you ensure that a permanent endowment fund for the benefit of Jewish Family Service will provide for future generations. Please let us know your intentions to name JFS as a beneficiary so that we can acknowledge your generosity.
Specific Bequest
If you intend to make an outright bequest for a specific purpose, such as to support or to establish a program to meet an existing or future need:
“I give and bequeath (dollar amount or description of asset) to Jewish Family Service of Greater Harrisburg, Inc. (JFS), a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, specifically for addition to or to establish the (Name of Fund) as an endowment fund.”
It is recommended that the following paragraph be added if the bequest is for a restricted purpose:
“If, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees of Jewish Family Service, it should become impossible, inadvisable, or impractical to use this gift for the specified purpose(s), then the Board may in its discretion use the gift for other purposes, keeping in mind my original wishes. In any such alternative application, the support provided by this bequest shall be clearly identified with my name.”
Residual Bequest
If you intend to leave the residue portion of your assets after other terms of your will have been satisfied:
“All the rest, residual and remainder of my Estate, of whatsoever nature and wheresoever situate, including that over which I have a Power of Attorney, I give, devise, and bequeath to Jewish Family Service of Greater Harrisburg, Inc. (JFS), a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, specifically for addition to or to establish the (Name of Fund) as an endowment fund.”
Beneficiary Designation
If you intend to name JFS as your beneficiary for insurance policies and qualified retirement funds:
“Jewish Family Service of Greater Harrisburg, Inc. (JFS), a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, specifically for addition to or to establish the (Name of Fund) as an endowment fund.”
Contingency Bequest
If you wish to make a contingency gift, so that JFS will receive a portion of your estate if your named beneficiary does not survive you:
"I devise and bequeath the residue of the property, real and personal and wherever situated, owned by me at my death, to (name of beneficiary), if (she/he) survives me. If (name of beneficiary) does not survive me, I devise and bequeath my residuary estate to Jewish Family Service of Greater Harrisburg, Inc., (JFS) a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, for its general purposes (or specifically) for addition to or to establish the (Name of Fund) as an endowment fund.”
Unrestricted Bequest
If you intend to make an outright bequest of cash, securities, or other property by designating a specific dollar amount, a particular asset, or a fixed percentage of your estate to JFS to be used for its general purposes:
“I give, devise, and bequeath to Jewish Family Service of Greater Harrisburg, Inc., (JFS), a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, the sum of $_____ (or a description of the specific asset or proportion of the estate), for the benefit of Jewish Family Service of Greater Harrisburg, Inc. to be used for general purposes.”
Bequests are vital to the future of Jewish Family Service. When JFS is named in a will or other estate planning instrument, we always appreciate receiving a copy of the relevant portion of the document. Copies may be sent to:
Helene Cohen, CEO
Jewish Family Service
3333 N. Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
When you inform Jewish Family Service of your gift, you are helping us plan for the years ahead. In addition, you give us an opportunity to express our sincere appreciation. For further information or if you have questions about the proper designation of a bequest, please contact us at 717-233-1681 or by email.
The information provided here does not constitute legal, financial, tax or estate planning advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for such advice. JFS encourages you to consult with your own professional advisors and welcomes their involvement as you determine how you would like to proceed.