Every friend of Catholic Charities can help the agency by including them in their will. Friend, when you plan your estate wont you consider making the good works of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois a part of your bequest?

Will - A will assures you that your property will be distributed as you want it to be. If you die without a valid will, state law will distribute your assets in a manner that may ignore your wishes and those of
your beneficiaries. A will is:

• Easy to put together
• Not in effect until your death
• A legal document that should be drafted by an attorney
• Revocable
• A means to make a significant gift for the future benefit of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
  

Bequest - A bequest is a way to direct some of your assets to specific individuals or agencies of your choice. This is a provision within a will that can be changed at any time. A bequest is a means to save significant estate tax and direct your funds to your areas of interest. Bequests are fully deductible from the taxable part of your estate. Estate taxes range from 37-55% of an estate's value.

Specific Bequest - You can leave a specific dollar amount or particular property to Catholic Charities. This is the simplest form of giving. Specific bequests can be cash, equipment, securities, stock, and real estate:

I give, devise and bequest the sum of___________ to Catholic Charities, a not-for-profit corporation with principal offices located in Springfield Illinois, to be utilized for the benefit of the programs of the charity.

Proportional Bequest - If you do not want to name the exact size of your intended gift, a proportional bequest is often a preferred way of giving in a will. This kind of bequest is often chosen when the size of the estate is difficult to estimate:

I give, devise and bequeath _____% of my estate (or _____% of the residue of my estate) to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, a not-for-profit corporation with principal offices located in Springfield, Illinois, to be utilized for the benefit of the programs of the charity.

Contingent Bequest - If you would like to leave a specified portion or your entire estate to the charity only under specific circumstances. Such circumstances might be the deaths of named beneficiaries before or at the same time as your death:

In the event that _______predeceases me, I give, devise and bequeath the sum of _____ (or, alternatively, ____% of the residue of my estate) to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, a not-for-profit corporation with principal offices located in Springfield, Illinois, to be utilized for the benefit of the programs of the charity.

Your gift helps us enflesh the gospel for those in need by supporting
programs like:

• Food & clothing distribution
• Financial & medical assistance
• Counseling & pregnancy support
• Foster care & adoption
• Residential programs
• Elderly services
• Prescription medicine assistance
  

If you are interested in joining the mission of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois by remembering our agency in your will, or if you have already included us in your will, please contact the Administration Office at (217) 523-9201.

To make a secure online donation using your Visa, MasterCard or checking account, click here. To mail a financial donation using our downloadable donation form, please click here. To make a memorial or tribute donation, click here to download the form to send along with your contribution. We are grateful for your support.