Bequest Language
Below is language you can use to make a bequest to advance the Kingdom through your estate plan after you are gone.
1. Specific Bequest
If you are considering making an outright bequest to your church or other ministries through the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, we recommend the following language:
Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount
I hereby give, devise and bequeath $_________ to the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, a Louisiana nonprofit corporation located in Alexandria, LA, Federal Tax ID #72-0478545, for the benefit of [YOUR CHURCH OR MINISTRY] located in [CITY, STATE] to be used for its general purposes, or if the organization is nonexistent or the bequest inoperable, then to the Louisiana Baptist Convention for the Cooperative Program or similar purposes.
Bequest of Specific Personal Property
I hereby give, devise and bequeath [DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY] to the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, a Louisiana nonprofit corporation located in Alexandria, LA, Federal Tax ID #72-0478545, for the benefit of [YOUR CHURCH OR MINISTRY] located in [CITY, STATE] to be used for its general purposes, or if the organization is nonexistent or the bequest inoperable, then to the Louisiana Baptist Convention for the Cooperative Program or similar purposes.
Bequest of Specific Real Estate
I hereby give, devise and bequeath all of my right, title, and interest in and to the real estate, including all improvements thereon and all component parts thereof, located at [ADDRESS OR DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY] to the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, a Louisiana nonprofit corporation located in Alexandria, LA, Federal Tax ID #72-0478545, for the benefit of [YOUR CHURCH OR MINISTRY] located in [CITY, STATE] to be used for its general purposes, or if the organization is nonexistent or the bequest inoperable, then to the Louisiana Baptist Convention for the Cooperative Program or similar purposes.
2. Percentage Bequest
If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to your church or other ministries through the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, we recommend the following language:
I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____% of my remaining estate to the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, a Louisiana nonprofit corporation located in Alexandria, LA, Federal Tax ID #72-0478545, for the benefit of [YOUR CHURCH OR MINISTRY] located in [CITY, STATE] to be used for its general purposes, or if the organization is nonexistent or the bequest inoperable, then to the Louisiana Baptist Convention for the Cooperative Program or similar purposes.
3. Residual Bequest
I hereby give, devise and bequeath the remainder of estate to the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, a Louisiana nonprofit corporation located in Alexandria, LA, Federal Tax ID #72-0478545, for the benefit of [YOUR CHURCH OR MINISTRY] located in [CITY, STATE] to be used for its general purposes, or if the organization is nonexistent or the bequest inoperable, then to the Louisiana Baptist Convention for the Cooperative Program.
4. Contingent Bequest
If [PRIMARY BENEFICIARY] predeceases me or otherwise disclaims this bequest, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath the same to the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, a Louisiana nonprofit corporation located in Alexandria, LA, Federal Tax ID #72-0478545, for the benefit of [YOUR CHURCH OR MINISTRY] located in [CITY, STATE] to be used for its general purposes, or if the organization is nonexistent or the bequest inoperable, then to the Louisiana Baptist Convention for the Cooperative Program.
5. Restricted Bequests
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 Louisiana Baptist Foundation flexibility should it no longer be possible or practical for the Louisiana Baptist Foundation to use your gift as you originally intended:
If, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, it becomes unlawful, impracticable, wasteful, or impossible to use this bequest to accomplish the stated restricted purposes, then the Louisiana Baptist Foundation may use this gift for such purposes as it determines is most closely related to the restricted purpose of my bequest.
Contact Us
Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest to your church or other ministries through the Louisiana Baptist Foundation or to request any additional information that might be helpful to you and your attorney as you consider making a bequest to your church or other ministries. If you have included a bequest for your church or other ministries in your estate plan, please contact us to let us know. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.
