A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, a car, other property or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $XXX,000 to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

If you are considering making an outright bequest to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, we recommend the following language:

Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount

I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a nonprofit organization located at P.O. Box 982, New York, NY 10272, Federal Tax ID #36-2167000, for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ general use and purpose.

Bequest of Specific Personal Property

I hereby give, devise and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a nonprofit organization located at P.O. Box 982, New York, NY 10272, Federal Tax ID # 13-2522784 for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ general use and purpose.

Bequest of Specific Real Estate

I hereby give, devise and bequeath all of the right, title and interest in and to the real estate located at ADDRESS OR DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a nonprofit organization located at P.O. Box 982, New York, NY 10272, Federal Tax ID # 13-2522784 for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ general use and purpose.

Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, we recommend the following language:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ percent (___%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death, to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a nonprofit organization located at P.O. Box 982, New York, NY 10272, Federal Tax ID # 13-2522784, for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ general use and purpose.

A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests. A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

If you are considering making a residual bequest to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, we recommend the following language:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a nonprofit organization located at P.O. Box 982, New York, NY 10272, Federal Tax ID # 13-2522784, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ general use and purpose.

A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

If you are considering making a contingent bequest to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, we recommend the following language:

If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a nonprofit organization located at P.O. Box 982, New York, NY 10272, Federal Tax ID # 13-2522784, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to be used for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ general use and purpose.

If you are considering a bequest but would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, please let us know. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your charitable objectives. We will also work with you and your attorney to craft language to accomplish your goals.

If you are making a restricted bequest, we recommend that your attorney include the following provision to give Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights flexibility should it no longer be possible for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights to use your gift as you originally intended:

If, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, it shall become impossible for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights may use the income and principal of this gift for such purpose or purposes as the Board determines is most closely related to the restricted purpose of my bequest.

Another simple way to leave a human rights legacy is to name Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights as a beneficiary of any individual or group life insurance policy. You will get an estate tax deduction for insurance proceeds that go to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights upon your death.

With a charitable lead trust, you transfer cash or appreciated property to a trust that makes payments to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights for a period of time, after which the assets of the trust are transferred to your beneficiaries. These trusts are particularly useful for managing capital gains and gift taxes for assets that have appreciated in value.

An IRA, 401(K), 403(b), or another qualified retirement plan has tax benefits for accumulating assets, but at death they may be subject to income and estate taxes. Without planning, over 60 percent of the value of your tax-deferred accounts may go to taxes. Bequeathing these accounts makes use of the full value of the assets. To leave your IRA or other retirement plan to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (either as primary or contingent beneficiary), contact your retirement plan company to request a change in beneficiary designation form.