Making a gift from your will or with a beneficiary designation?

Here is the language you’ll need to use:

Specific Percentage Bequest

A specific percentage bequest involves making a gift of a defined percentage of your overall estate. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to Denver Health Foundation. If you are considering a specific percentage bequest of your estate to Denver Health Foundation, the following language would apply:

“I hereby give, devise and bequeath __________ percent (___%) of my total estate to Denver Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization located at 777 Bannock Street, MC 0111; Denver, CO 80204, Federal Tax ID #84-1085196, for Denver Health Foundation general use and purpose.”

Specific Dollar Bequest

A specific dollar bequest involves making a gift of a defined dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave $100,000 of your estate to Denver Health Foundation. If you are considering a specific dollar amount bequest of your estate to Denver Health Foundation, the following language would apply:

“I hereby give, devise and bequeath __________ and No/100 dollars ($______) to Denver Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization located at 777 Bannock Street, MC 0111; Denver, CO 80204, Federal Tax ID #84-1085196, for Denver Health Foundation general use and purpose.”

Residual Bequest

A residual bequest is a gift from the balance or residue of an estate after the will or trust has distributed any specific percentage or dollar bequests. A residual bequest can define a percentage or the remainder of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 100% of the residue of your estate to Denver Health Foundation. If you are considering making a residual bequest to Denver Health Foundation, the following language would apply:

“I hereby give, devise and bequeath __________ percent (___%) of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to Denver Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization located at 777 Bannock Street, MC 0111; Denver, CO 80204, Federal Tax ID #84-1085196, for Denver Health Foundation general use and purpose.”

Contingent Bequest

A contingent bequest is a gift that is only made to charity if the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you may wish to leave a percentage of your estate to your relatives, however the bequest language could provide that if those relatives are not alive at the time of your death, their portion will transfer to Denver Health Foundation as the named contingent. If you are considering making a contingent bequest to Denver Health Foundation, the following language would apply:

“If (name of primary beneficiary(s)) does not survive me, I hereby give, devise and bequeath their portion to Denver Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization located at 777 Bannock Street, MC 0111; Denver, CO 80204 Federal Tax ID #84-1085196, to be used for Denver Health Foundation general use and purpose.”

If you have any questions about how to make a bequest; to report a bequest you have made; or to request any additional information related to estate or planned giving—please contact your gift officer or anyone on our Gift Planning team. Our professional staff is available to support you through the process as well as offer our appreciation and recognize your generosity.

Magda Herrera
Sr. Dir. Of Philanthropy
E: Magda.Herrera@dhha.org
O: 303.602.2931 / C: 512.680.3818

Tina Kvitek
Gift Planning Officer
E: Tina.Kvitek@dhha.org
O: 303.602.1410 / C: 720.238.3763