Gift Planning
The John Cobb Legacy Fund (Legacy Fund) solicits and accepts gifts that are consistent with the missions of our founding and member charities. The generous gifts from donors and supporters are crucial to our charities’ very existence. Because they support our members’ present and future sustainability, donors are partners to their missions in the truest sense of the word. Donations to the Legacy Fund through its Trustee, the Institute for Ecological Civilization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Generally, the Legacy Fund is designed as a planned giving program, meaning its emphasis is on receiving gifts that are planned for the future, such as bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable trusts, and endowment gifts. For major gifts of cash or property that are intended to support a member charity’s current operations, we recommend that such gifts be given directly to the charity for which it is intended.
Let Us Help You with Your Gift Plans
Types of planned gifts include:
- Bequests
- IRA Rollovers
- Beneficiary Designation Gifts
- Charitable Trusts (various kinds)
- Gifts through Donor Advised Funds
Bequest Gifts
One way for you to further the work initiated by John Cobb is to leave a bequest to the John Cobb Legacy Fund. A bequest is a gift made to charity in your will or trust, allowing you to continue to use the assets or property you may leave to charity during your life. At the same time, a bequest allows you to leave a lasting legacy for the work of the John Cobb Legacy Fund.
Before meeting with your attorney to make a gift to the John Cobb Legacy Fund, you should consider where you want your support to be used. If you would like to continue the transformational work initiated by John Cobb, you may choose to direct your gift toward the Cobb Institute, the Institute for Ecological Civilization (EcoCiv), or to Process Studies International. Gifts without designation will be shared equally among member charities.
Once you know how you wish to include the John Cobb Legacy Fund in your estate plans, contact us for the correct designations and language (which your attorney will need).
Keep in mind that your gift can be for a specific amount, a percentage, or some portion of the remainder (after family, relatives, and friends have gotten their designated share). We have provided examples below of bequest language to help you in your estate planning.
Types of Bequests
There are a number of ways you can make a bequest to John Cobb Legacy Fund or one of its charities.
Specific Bequest. 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 $10,000 to John Cobb Legacy Fund or one of its charities.
Percentage Bequest. Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to John Cobb Legacy Fund or one of its charities.
Residual Bequest. A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests. A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to John Cobb Legacy Fund or one of its charities.
Contingent Bequest. A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to John Cobb Legacy Fund or one of its charities.
Bequest Language
If you are considering making an outright bequest to John Cobb Legacy Fund or one of its charities, we recommend the following language:
Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount
I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to John Cobb Legacy Fund, c/o Institute for Ecological Civilization, a nonprofit organization located at 2358 University Avenue #2189, San Diego, CA, 92104, Federal Tax ID #81-2533082. (Gifts may be designated for one or more of the Cobb Legacy Fund's member charities). I understand this bequest will be for either the specified designation or for the charity's general use and purpose.
Percentage Bequest
If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to John Cobb Legacy Fund or one of its charities, 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 John Cobb Legacy Fund, c/o Institute for Ecological Civilization, a nonprofit organization located at 2358 University Avenue #2189, San Diego, CA, 92104, Federal Tax ID #81-2533082. (Gifts may be designated for one or more of the Cobb Legacy Fund's membercharities). I understand this bequest will be for either the specified designation or for the charity's general use and purpose.
Residual Bequest
I hereby give, devise and bequeath to John Cobb Legacy Fund, c/o Institute for Ecological Civilization, a nonprofit organization located at 2358 University Avenue #2189, San Diego, CA, 92104, Federal Tax ID #81-2533082, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to [member charity name] for its use and purpose.
Contingent Bequest
If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to John Cobb Legacy Fund, c/o Institute for Ecological Civilization, a nonprofit organization located at 2358 University Avenue #2189, San Diego, CA, 92104, Federal Tax ID #81-2533082, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to [member charity name] for its general use and purpose.
Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest to John Cobb Legacy Fund or one of its charities or to request any additional information that might be helpful to you and your attorney as you consider making a bequest.
If you have included a bequest for John Cobb Legacy Fund in your estate plan, please let us know of your plans. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.