Planned Giving

As an organization with 30 years of history, Minnesota Atheists is proud to have many long-term supporters. In recent years, several members have carried that support over into their estate planning. If you wish to do the same, below are some suggestions that may help (with thanks to American Atheists for the borrowed wording).

Ways to Give

There are a number of ways to ensure that your legacy gift to Minnesota Atheists has the greatest impact while keeping you in complete control.

  • You can choose to make a bequest in your will;
  • You can designate Minnesota Atheists as a beneficiary of your retirement accounts or other financial accounts; or
  • You can designate Minnesota Atheists as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Bequests

Making a bequest through your will can be as simple as adding a few sentences. No matter how modest your gift, a bequest is a way to make a lasting investment in Minnesota Atheists while still providing for your loved ones or other nonprofit organizations. You are in control of your assets during your lifetime, and you are free to change your beneficiaries or the distribution of your assets at any time.

You can support Minnesota Atheists through your will in these ways:

  • A general bequest leaving Minnesota Atheists with a specific sum of money or percentage of your will or trust.
  • A residual bequest for a percentage of the “rest, residue, and remainder” of your estate once you have made all of your specific bequests and all debts and taxes have been paid.
  • A contingent bequest that leaves Minnesota Atheists with a share of your estate only if a named beneficiary does not survive you.
  • A life income bequest whereby after your death, income is paid to another individual for his/her lifetime, and Minnesota Atheists receives the remainder.

Specific examples of bequest language is below. If you wish your legacy to be used for something other than Minnesota Atheists’ general purposes, please contact the board. We will help you confirm whether we are the appropriate organization to carry out your wishes and designate the appropriate fund within Minnesota Atheists.

General Bequest

You can include a general bequest of an amount of money or specific property (stocks, bonds, etc.) to Minnesota Atheists using the following clause: “I give, devise, and bequeath to Minnesota Atheists located at P.O. Box 120304, New Brighton, MN 55112, the sum of $_____ (or describe the specific property you intend to bequeath) to be used for its general purposes.”

You can include a percentage bequest in your estate using the following clause: “I give, devise, and bequeath to Minnesota Atheists located at P.O. Box 120304, New Brighton, MN 55112 _____ percent of my estate, both real and personal property, of whatever kind and wheresoever situated to be used for its general purposes.”

Residual Bequest

Include a residual bequest for the remainder of your estate once you have made all of your specific bequests, by using the following clause: “I give, devise, and bequeath to Minnesota Atheists located at P.O. Box 120304, New Brighton, MN 55112 all (or _____ percent) of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal property of whatever kind and wheresoever situated to be used for its general purposes.”

Contingent Bequest

Include a contingent bequest should one or more named beneficiaries not survive you, by using the following clause: “If any one of the above-named beneficiaries should predecease me, I hereby bequeath his/her share of my estate to Minnesota Atheists located at P.O. Box 120304, New Brighton, MN 55112 to be used for its general purposes.”

Life Income Bequest

You can include a life income bequest whereby after your death, income is paid to another individual for his/her lifetime. After that individual’s lifetime, Minnesota Atheists will receive the remainder. This type of bequest is often arranged to provide for elderly parents, family members, or friends in special circumstances. Because it can be adapted in a variety of ways to meet your specific needs and circumstances, an attorney should always be consulted when considering a life income bequest.

Note: Each person’s legal and financial situation will differ, and the laws applicable to estates and trusts vary from state to state. Accordingly, please consult with an attorney with respect to any gifts you may wish to make in your will.