Gifts Through Your Estate
Bequest Gifts
A bequest in your will or living trust is one of the easiest ways to make a legacy gift. It gives you the opportunity to make a meaningful gift to provide for the future, yet you retain control and use of your assets during your lifetime. A bequest is also flexible, and you may modify your plans if your circumstances or family needs change. Gifts from your estate may also be exempt from federal estate taxes.
Bequest gifts can take many forms – a specific bequest, percentage bequest, residual bequest (percentage or specific), and contingent bequest. See resources below for sample bequest language and additional information.
If you have already left a Corewell Health Foundation in your will or trust, or if you plan to do so, please let us know.
Beneficiary designations
Making a gift through a beneficiary designation may provide you with increased flexibility compared to making a gift in your will or living trust. Some examples include:
- Retirement plans (IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc.)
- Life insurance policies
- Donor advised funds
- Bank and brokerage accounts
- Mutual funds
- Savings bonds
Naming the Foundation as a beneficiary is an easy process:
- Contact the administrator of your retirement plan, life insurance policy, donor advised fund, etc. and request a change-of-beneficiary form, or simply download a form from your provider’s website
- Determine the percentage/amount that you would like us to receive and name the Foundation, along with that percentage/amount, on the beneficiary form
- Return the completed form to your administrator, insurance company, bank, financial institution, etc
- If willing, please let us know so that we can personally thank you and recognize your generous gift