Planned Giving: Invest in the Future — Leave a Legacy

How many times have you said…

“I want to give back to my community.”
“I want to honor my organ donor.”
“I want to do something in memory of …”

It’s not too soon to take the first steps to planned giving.

Planned giving refers to gifts that provide economic or tax benefits to those who want to help a nonprofit organization fulfill its mission.

Gifts of all sizes, for today or the future, enable Donate Life Northwest to be the voice for those who await transplants.  Your gift can bring many bright tomorrows to these people and their families.

Donate Life Northwest encourages individuals to learn more about planned giving by talking with a financial planner, tax advisor, attorney or Donate Life Northwest staff.

Here are ways you can leave your legacy:

• Bequests
• Gift of Life Society
• Endowment 

Designate Donate Life Northwest as a Beneficiary in Your Will or Estate Plan

A will is central to estate planning. Think about your personal financial planning and the importance of creating a will or estate.  Even a modest estate should be sensibly planned to assure your wishes are met.

General Bequests

General Bequests are legacies left to certain people or causes that come from the general value of the estate, and are made by designating a specific dollar amount, a particular asset or a fixed percentage of your estate to the cause of your choice.

"I give, devise, and bequeath to Donate Life Northwest, Portland Oregon, the sum of \$________(or a description of the specific asset), for the benefit of Donate Life Northwest and its general purposes."

Residuary Bequests

Residuary Bequests are made when you intend to leave the residue portion of your assets after other terms of the will have been satisfied. Residuary bequest language:

"All the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, I give to Donate Life Northwest, Portland, Oregon, for its general purposes."

Contingency Bequests

Contingency Bequests allow you to leave a portion of your estate to a particular charity if your named beneficiary does not survive you. Contingency bequest language:

"I devise and bequeath the residue of the property, real and personal and wherever situated, owned by me at my death, to (name of beneficiary), if (she/he) survives me. If (name of beneficiary) does not survive me, I devise and bequeath my residuary estate to Donate Life Northwest, Portland, Oregon, for its general purposes."

For more information contact Sara Patinkin at 503.494.2289 or 800.452.1369 x7888 or email patinkin@ohsu.edu.

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Gift of Life Society

Individuals who have established a planned gift for Donate Life Northwest qualify for membership in the Gift of Life Society. This can be done through a bequest in your will or trust, designation of life insurance beneficiary, charitable remainder trust or other gifting vehicles.

Please let us know if you have established a planned gift for Donate Life Northwest so we can add your name to the Gift of Life Society. For more information contact Sara Patinkin at 503.494.2289 or 800.452.1369 x7888 or email patinkin@ohsu.edu.

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Endowment — An Investment in the Future

Donate Life Northwest is working toward growing its endowment fund to meet the needs of the future. An endowment fund, built carefully over the years, provides a stable and predictable source of income. This is a permanent fund and only the interest is spent, as such, the principle value of a gift is never decreased.  To date, Donate Life Northwest elects to reinvest all interest earnings, in order to build an adequate fund sufficient to generate future income.