Bequest Language

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 $10,000 to the League of American Orchestras.

If you are considering making an outright bequest to the League of American Orchestras, we recommend the following language:

Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount

I hereby give, devise, and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to the American Symphony Orchestra League d/b/a the League of American Orchestras, a nonprofit organization located at 520 8^th Avenue, Suite 2005, New York, NY 10018, Federal Tax ID #23-7300636, for the League of American Orchestras’ general use and purpose.

Bequest of Specific Personal Property

I hereby give, devise, and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to the American Symphony Orchestra League d/b/a the League of American Orchestras, a nonprofit organization located at 520 8^th Avenue, Suite 2005, New York, NY 10018, Federal Tax ID #23-7300636, for the League of American Orchestras’ 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 the American Symphony Orchestra League d/b/a the League of American Orchestras, a nonprofit organization located at 520 8^th Avenue, Suite 2005, New York, NY 10018, Federal Tax ID #23-7300636, for the League of American Orchestras’ general use and purpose.

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 the League of American Orchestras.

If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to the League of American Orchestras, 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 the American Symphony Orchestra League d/b/a the League of American Orchestras, a nonprofit organization located at 520 8th Avenue, Suite 2005, New York, NY 10018, Federal Tax ID #23-7300636, for the League of American Orchestras’ general use and purpose.

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 the League of American Orchestras.

If you are considering making a residual bequest to the League of American Orchestras, we recommend the following language:

I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to the American Symphony Orchestra League d/b/a the League of American Orchestras, a nonprofit organization located at 520 8^th Avenue, Suite 2005, New York, NY 10018, Federal Tax ID #23-7300636, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to be used for the League of American Orchestras’ general use and purpose.

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 to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the property will go to the League of American Orchestras.

If you are considering making a contingent bequest to the League of American Orchestras, we recommend the following language:

If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to the American Symphony Orchestra League d/b/a the League of American Orchestras, a nonprofit organization located at 520 8th Avenue, Suite 2005, New York, NY 10018, Federal Tax ID #23-7300636, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to be used for the League of American Orchestras’ general use and purpose.

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 the League of American Orchestras flexibility should it no longer be possible for the League to use your gift as you originally intended:

If, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the American Symphony Orchestra League d/b/a the League of American Orchestras, it shall become impossible for the League of American Orchestras to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, the League of American Orchestras 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.