Charitable Bequest
A powerful and flexible way to make a generational impact.
A charitable bequest — a gift to Cru ministries through your will, living trust, or beneficiary designation — is a simple and flexible way to share the gospel with those who have never heard. Revocable gifts like these let you make a generational impact while retaining full control of your assets throughout your life.
You may designate your gift to be used for a specific purpose or direct it to be used for the most important opportunities at the time. Either way, you have peace of mind knowing that your gift will have a multi-generational gospel impact and change the world for years to come.
Include a bequest to Cru in your will or revocable trust
Designate Cru as a full, partial or contingent beneficiary of your retirement account (IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or pension), investment account or bank account.
Name Cru as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy
Unlike most charitable gifts that happen during your lifetime, a bequest is a future gift — one you arrange in your will, trust, or beneficiary designation today, and Cru receives when your estate is settled. You don’t transfer any assets now. You don’t give up control or use of your property. You simply name Cru as a beneficiary in your estate documents.
This is what makes a charitable bequest one of the most accessible forms of generosity. You can make a meaningful gift to ministry without changing your current financial situation, and you retain full flexibility to update the gift if circumstances change. Bequests are also exempt from federal estate taxes, which means the full value of your gift reaches ministry rather than being reduced by taxation.
For Christian donors who want to leave a legacy of gospel impact, a charitable bequest is often the simplest place to start. You can give a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, the residue after other gifts are distributed, or a contingent gift that only takes effect under specific conditions.
Others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else..
- 2 Corinthians 9:13, NIV
Choose Your Path
Types of Bequests
Specific Bequest
A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, other property, or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $10,000 to Cru.
Percentage Bequest
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 Cru.
Residual Bequest
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 Cru.
Contingent Bequest
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, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is unable to receive it, the vacation home will go to Cru.
A charitable bequest fits Christian donors at a particular point in their stewardship journey.
The donors who find a charitable bequest most useful share a few characteristics:
- You want to make a meaningful gift to ministry but need full use of your assets during your lifetime. A bequest lets you commit to a future gift today without giving anything up now.
- You have a will, trust, or estate plan in place — or are about to create one. Adding a bequest is a simple line item in documents your attorney is already drafting.
- You want to leave a legacy beyond your lifetime. A bequest puts your kingdom values into your estate plan in a way your family and Cru can act on after you're gone
- You're not sure how much you can give yet. Percentage and residual bequests let you commit a portion of your estate without naming a specific dollar amount, which adjusts naturally as your estate grows or shrinks.
If any of those describe where you are, a charitable bequest is worth a conversation.
Charitable Bequest Benefits
One significant benefit of a charitable bequest is that it allows you to continue using the property during your life, and the gift only takes effect when your estate is settled. Another benefit is that your gift can make a statement about your kingdom values and what is most important to you. Bequests are exempt from federal estate taxes. If you have a taxable estate, the estate tax charitable deduction may offset or eliminate estate taxes.
If you are considering making an outright bequest to Cru, we recommend the following language:
Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount
I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, for Cru’s general use and purpose.
Bequest of Specific Personal Property
I hereby give, devise and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, for Cru’s 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 Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, for Cru’s general use and purpose.
If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to Cru, 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 Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, for Cru’s general use and purpose.
I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for Cru’s general use and purpose.
If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Cru, a nonprofit organization located at 100 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL, 32832, Federal Tax ID #95-6006173, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to be used for Cru’s general use and purpose.
Restricted Bequests
If you are considering a bequest and would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, please use the Declaration of Intent to memorialize your intent for our records. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your ministry 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 Cru flexibility should it no longer be possible for Cru to use your gift as you originally intended:
If, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of Cru, it shall become impossible for Cru to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, Cru 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.
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Cru Foundation administrates estate and beneficiary gifts on behalf of all Cru ministries and missionaries.
If you have included a Cru ministry or missionary in your will, trust, or as a beneficiary, THANK YOU! Please use the Declaration of Intent Form to share the details and allocate your gift according to your desires.
Or reach out for additional information as you consider making a bequest!
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* The content on this page is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult with qualified professional advisors regarding your specific situation before making any giving or planning decisions.