Bequest Language

You may make a gift of cash, securities, real estate, or other assets by providing in your will or living trust for a bequest to Wabash. Your gift may be a specific bequest of a designated sum or asset, or it may be a percentage of your residuary estate.

The value of your bequest to Wabash is fully deductible for estate-tax purposes. You may also establish an income-producing planned gift for the benefit of others through your will, thereby reducing your taxable estate. A bequest, whether outright or to fund a planned gift, can be a useful and advantageous addition to your estate plan.

Sample Bequest Language
Following are examples of language that might be used in the body of a will. If you have any questions about the examples, contact the gift-planning office at giftplanning@wabash.edu.

Unrestricted Gift
I give, devise, and bequeath to Wabash College, an Indiana corporation, located at Crawfordsville, Indiana, the sum of $______________ (or real or personal property herein described), to be used for the benefit of Wabash College as its Board of Trustees may determine.

Endowment Fund
I give, devise, and bequeath to Wabash College, an Indiana corporation, located at Crawfordsville, Indiana, the sum of $______________ to become part of its Endowment Fund. The principal of this gift shall be commingled with and be subject to the same investment policies, from time to time, as other permanent endowment funds. The income may be used at the discretion of the Board of Trustees for any purpose of Wabash College.

Memorial Fund
I give, devise, and bequeath to Wabash College, an Indiana corporation, located at Crawfordsville, Indiana, the sum of $______________ (or real or personal property herein described) to be known as the ____________________ Memorial Fund. The Board of Trustees of Wabash College, at its discretion, shall determine the use of the income for any purpose. The said Board of Trustees may authorize the expenditure of all or any part of the principal of the Fund for some project or special purpose or in connection with the erection of a building or the acquisition of a facility, provided that an appropriate memorial, evidenced by a plaque or marker, is established in the name of _________________________.

Scholarship Fund
I give, devise, and bequeath to Wabash College, an Indiana corporation, located at Crawfordsville, Indiana, the sum of $______________ for the establishment of a scholarship fund to be known as _________________ Scholarship Fund. The principal of said fund may be commingled with the Endowment Fund. Only income shall be used in making scholarship grants or awards. The amount of income to be credited to said fund and the conditions and procedures with respect to awards shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Trustees of Wabash College.

A Specific Purpose
I give, devise, and bequeath to Wabash College, an Indiana corporation, located at Crawfordsville, Indiana, the sum of $______________ for the purpose of (be specific) or if such use, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, is or shall become impractical or unwise, then for such purpose as the Board shall determine, or ... the sum of $______________ to endow or to help endow a professorship or chair in the department of [state name]. The income therefrom shall be used to pay the salary of a professor in said department. If at any time the income is not needed for such purpose, then such income may be used for other appropriate purpose or purposes of Wabash College as its Board of Trustees may determine.

A Percentage Bequest
I give, devise, and bequeath to Wabash College, an Indiana corporation, located at Crawfordsville, Indiana, _____% of my residuary estate [optional description of purpose could be included as well as the name of the Fund]. The funds from this bequest may be commingled with the College’s Endowment Funds. The principal of this bequest and the income earned from this bequest shall be used as determined from time to time by the Board of Trustees of Wabash College.