How It Works

Include a donation to Valerie’s House, Inc. in your Will or Trust! A gift to us in your Will or Revocable Trust enables you to support our mission and make a difference in the lives of future grieving families.

Here is sample language for your Will or Revocable Living Trust.

Residual Gift Language

A residual bequest comes to us after your estate expenses, and specific bequests are paid:

“I give and devise to Valerie’s House, Inc., headquarters located in Fort Myers, FL, all (or state a percentage) of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, to be used for its general support (or for the support of a specific fund or program).”

Specific Gift Language

Naming Valerie’s House, Inc. as a beneficiary of a specific amount from your estate is easy:

“I give and devise to Valerie’s House, Inc., headquarters located in Fort Myers, FL, the sum of $___________ (or asset) to be used for its general support (or for the support of a specific fund or program).”

Contingent Gift Language

Valerie’s House, Inc. or its affiliates can be named a contingent beneficiary in your will or personal trust if one or more of your specific bequests cannot be fulfilled:

“If (insert name) is not living at the time of my demise, I give and devise to Valerie’s House, Inc., headquarters located in Fort Myers, FL, the sum of $ _______ (or all or a percentage of the residue of my estate) to be used for its general support (or for the support of a specific fund or program).”

Retirement Plan Beneficiary Language

You may name Valerie’s House, Inc. as a beneficiary of your IRA or other qualified retirement benefits. Donors should consult with their tax advisor regarding the tax benefits of such gifts.

Naming Valerie’s House, Inc. as the beneficiary of a qualified retirement plan asset such as a 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Keogh, or profit-sharing pension plan will accomplish a charitable goal while realizing significant tax savings. It can be costly to pass such assets on to heirs because of substantial tax consequences. By naming Valerie’s House, Inc. as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, the donor maintains complete control over the asset while living, but at the donor’s death, the plan passes to support Valerie’s House, Inc. free of both estate and income taxes.

Making a charitable gift from your retirement plan is easy and should not cost you any attorney fees. Request a change-of-beneficiary form from your plan administrator. When you have finished, please return the form to your plan administrator and notify us. We can also assist you with the proper language for your beneficiary designation to Valerie’s House, Inc.

Valerie’s House, Inc. is not giving legal or tax advice. A legal or tax professional should be consulted if you have questions.

Benefits

  • Your assets remain in your control during your lifetime.

  • You can modify your gift to address changing circumstances.

  • It is easy to arrange and will not alter your current lifestyle in any way.

  • You can direct your donation to a particular purpose (be sure to check with us to make sure your gift is used as intended).

  • Under current tax law, there is no upper limit on the estate tax deduction for your charitable bequests.

Contact Us

Planning your estate and legacy for future generations, including your charitable interests, takes careful evaluation. Discussing your charitable intentions with us can lead to a much better result than going it alone — and will ensure that your gift is used just as you wish. We can provide valuable information about any of the creative giving techniques mentioned in these planned giving pages.

For more information about Legacy Giving, please contact:

Angela Melvin

Founder & CEO PO Box 1955
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Phone: 239-478-6734
Email: angela@valerieshouse.org