In the rush of daily life, contemplating our own mortality often takes a backseat. But ensuring our legacy lives on after we’re gone is a responsibility worth embracing. Make a Will Month provides the perfect opportunity to not only plan for the future but also leave a lasting impact through legacy giving.
Understanding Legacy Giving:
Legacy giving, also known as planned giving, includes making charitable donations in your will or estate plan. It allows individuals to support causes they care about even beyond their lifetime. Whether it’s donating a percentage of assets, a specific amount, or including a charitable organization like Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina as a beneficiary, legacy giving ensures your values endure.
Why Make a Will Month Matters:
Make a Will Month serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of estate planning. It encourages individuals to confront the inevitable and take proactive steps to safeguard their assets and ensure their wishes are honored. Moreover, it underscores the significance of considering charitable giving as part of this process, fostering a culture of generosity and philanthropy. Your Will, also known as a Last Will and Testament, shares your values and communicates to your family and loved ones what was important to you. It also has the potential to model generosity through philanthropy. Before you pass, share your values on giving with those you care about and then reinforce those beliefs in your Will. It may inspire your children and other family and friends to evaluate their own legacy.
Embracing Legacy Giving:
Legacy giving isn’t just about financial contributions; it’s about leaving behind a meaningful legacy. By including Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina in your will, you’re supporting causes that align with your values and priorities, leaving a positive impact on society long after you’re gone. Legacy giving allows you to create a better world for future generations.
Steps to Legacy Giving:
Reflect on Your Values—Consider what causes are close to your heart and reflect on the kind of legacy you want to leave behind.
Seek Professional Advice—Consult with legal and financial advisors to ensure your will reflects your wishes and complies with legal requirements.
Choose Beneficiaries Wisely—Select reputable charitable organizations that are aligned with your values and have a track record of making a difference.
Specify Your Wishes—Clearly outline your intentions regarding the distribution of assets and the percentage or specific amount allocated to charitable giving.
Communicate Your Intentions—Inform your loved ones about your decision to include charitable giving in your will to avoid any confusion or disputes in the future.
The Impact of Legacy Giving:
Legacy giving has the power to transform lives and communities. It provides vital resources to Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, enabling us to continue our important work and implement sustainable solutions to the pressing needs of vulnerable women and children, special needs adults, and senior citizens. By leaving a legacy gift to Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina you become a catalyst for change, leaving behind a positive imprint on the vulnerable for generations to come.
Make a Will Month serves as a poignant reminder to not only plan for the future but also consider the impact we can have beyond our lifetime through legacy giving. By embracing legacy giving, we ensure that our values endure, our impact reverberates, and our legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of those we touch. Let us seize this opportunity to make a lasting difference and leave a legacy of generosity, compassion, and positive change. Make a Will and bring comfort to your family and loved ones.
For more information about Wills and Planned Giving please contact Jody Yopp, Senior Director of Development and Planned Giving at jyopp@bchfamily.org or call and leave a message at 704-314-5291.
Written by Jody Yopp, Senior Director of Development and Planned Giving
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