Support Our Work

The most useful bequest is an unrestricted bequest for the WEDO general fund. This permits us to use your gift wherever it is most needed at the time. However, some donors prefer to direct their gifts towards a specific purpose, use, or interest.

Sample language for making an unrestricted bequest:

“I give [the sum of ____ dollars] [all / ____ percent of my residuary estate] to Women’s Environment and Development Organization, 147 Prince Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11201 (IRS Tax ID Number: 52-1238773), for its general purposes.”

Sample language for making a bequest for a specific purpose, use, or interest: 

“I give [the sum of ____ dollars] [all / ____ percent of my residuary estate] to Women’s Environment and Development Organization, 147 Prince Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11201 (IRS Tax ID Number: 52-1238773), for the following purpose(s): [state the purpose or purposes].”

If you do choose to specify a specific purpose, use, or interest for your bequest, you may want to ensure that your gift will always remain productive by including language similar to the following: 

“If at any time in the judgment of the Board of Directors of WEDO the designated use of this bequest is no longer practicable or appropriate, then the organization may use the bequest to further the general purposes of WEDO, giving consideration, where possible, to my specific purpose, use, or interest as described above.”

You may have a paid-up policy that is no longer needed to protect the original beneficiary. You can name WEDO as either the sole beneficiary or one of several beneficiaries, and your estate will be eligible for a charitable tax deduction. Another possibility would be for you to take out a policy with WEDO as the beneficiary. 

Payments can be fully tax-deductible. This kind of policy enables you to make a much larger gift to WEDO than might otherwise be possible. At the same time, you enjoy current tax benefits.

If you leave a tax-deferred account to an heir, they will have to pay income taxes on the funds when they inherit them. If your estate owes estate taxes, estate taxes will also be levied on the retirement proceeds. Thus, the total impact of taxes on tax-deferred retirement accounts can reduce the money your heirs receive by up to 75%. 

If you name a charity like WEDO as beneficiary, no taxes are levied on the proceeds of the account. You can leave your heirs other assets that will be taxed more lightly and, because of the favorable tax treatment, give more money to WEDO than might otherwise be possible. You can also name other heirs or beneficiaries along with WEDO.

We are happy to accept donations of appreciated securities as a current contribution or a planned gift. You will receive a tax deduction for the full current value of the securities, thereby reducing current income taxes and also avoiding the capital gains tax on the appreciation.