Will Language for Gifts

The below bequest language results in different types of gifts.

“I give to The Northwest CT Community Foundation, a Connecticut nonprofit public benefit corporation, (the sum of $ ______) OR (all my right, title and interest in the following described property ________) to be used in such manner as the Board of Directors of said Foundation shall, in its sole discretion, determine.” (OR, state gift condition).

“I give to The Northwest CT Community Foundation, a Connecticut nonprofit public benefit corporation, the residue of my estate to be used in such manner as the Board of Directors of said Foundation shall, in its sole discretion, determine.” (OR, state gift condition).

“I give to The Northwest CT Community Foundation, a Connecticut nonprofit public benefit corporation, (a stated percentage or a fraction of my estate) to be used in such manner as the Board of Directors of said Foundation shall, in its sole discretion, determine.” (OR, state gift condition).

“In the event that ________ (name of wife, son, brother…) shall not survive me, then I give the same to The Northwest CT Community Foundation, a Connecticut nonprofit public benefit corporation, to be used in such manner as the Board of Directors of said Foundation shall, in its sole discretion, determine.” (OR, state gift condition).

A trust established by will or separate agreement would state: “Upon the death of _________ (spouse, child, etc.), the trustee shall distribute all of the then remaining principal and income of the trust, other than any amount due to _________, to The Northwest CT Community Foundation, a Connecticut nonprofit public benefit corporation, to be used in such manner as the Board of Directors of said Foundation shall, in its sole discretion, determine.”

Will Language for Establishing a Named or Anonymous Fund

Any of the below bequest language will result in a named (or anonymous) fund in the Foundation as long as the gift meets the minimum for a permanently named fund, currently $50,000. Should you wish to make specific recommendations about the fund, the following language will help:

“The principal and income of the fund established by this gift shall be known as the _________ Fund, the income of which shall be distributed by the Board of Directors of The Northwest CT Community Foundation as it shall, in its sole discretion, determine.”

To which may be added: “In determining the charitable purposes to which this bequest is to be applied, it is my wish, though not my direction, that the Board give special consideration to the support of _______ (a particular charitable organization(s) or purpose). My expression of such wish is prefatory in nature and shall not be construed to constitute a charge on the absolute nature of this bequest, to require the creation of a separate component fund for the support of such purpose or to otherwise limit the discretion of the Board to distribute the income and principal of this bequest as it sees fit.”

“This gift shall be used to create a fund to be known as the _________ Fund, the income of which shall be devoted to the support of _________ (name of charity or charities)* and so distributed according to the judgment of the Board of Directors of The Northwest CT Community Foundation.”

*To specify more than one charity, include the following:

Name of Charity Percentage of Support from Fund


charity name%
charity name%
charity name%
charity name%

“This gift shall be used to create a fund to be known as the ________ Fund, the income of which shall be devoted to the support of ________ (name particular charitable purpose) and so distributed according to the judgment of the Board of Directors of The Northwest CT Community Foundation.”

“This gift shall be used to create a fund to be known as the _________ Scholarship Fund, the income of which shall be devoted to the support of the educational enrichment of students from/going to________ (name particular educational institution or geography the student is graduating from or the institution the recipient must attend) and so distributed according to the judgment of the Board of Directors of The Northwest CT Community Foundation.”

Scholarship funds should include instructions for selection criteria, whether the Community Foundation's Scholarship Committee or the college financial aid office should determine the scholars, and any conditions on the use of the award (tuition, books, lab fees, etc.).