Bequests

Estate gifts provide significant generous support for the students, faculty, and staff at Miami University. There are many methods available for making a contribution through your will or trust. The examples below will help facilitate your planning discussions with your advisors.

	Specific Bequest: With this method, you designate the Miami University Foundation to receive a specific dollar amount or a specific piece of property. For example, "I give (insert dollar amount or description of property) to the Miami University Foundation, 725 East Chestnut Street, Oxford, Ohio 45056.
	Percentage Bequest: A bequest of this type is expressed as a percentage of the estate or residuary estate. For example, "I give (insert percentage) of my estate to the Miami University Foundation, 725 East Chestnut Street, Oxford, Ohio 45056."
	Residuary Bequest: This method allows you to provide an estate gift after all debts, taxes, expenses, and all other bequest have been paid. The residual in its entirety or a portion of it may be provided as a contribution. For example, "I give the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to the Miami University Foundation, 725 East Chestnut Street, Oxford, Ohio 45056."

A gift through your will or trust may qualify your estate for a charitable tax deduction. This would reduce the size of your taxable estate as well as offset the remaining estate tax that may be due upon your death. You can also structure your bequest to provide after-death income tax benefits.

While unrestricted support allows for an estate gift to be used for the most pressing needs of Miami University at the time the proceeds are received, the gift may be designated to a specific school, college, department or program at Miami University. We recommend you or your advisors contact the Office of Gift Planning to discuss the appropriate language to insure that your philanthropic goals are met.

Once your attorney has prepared the necessary documentation, it is helpful to have a photocopy of the section that mentions the Miami University Foundation sent to the Office of Gift Planning. This will enable us to review your plans and work with you to insure that we follow your exact wishes. Additionally, by providing a copy or providing us with written details, we can count your commitment towards our campaign goal if your age will be 65 or over before December 31, 2010.