Leaving a Legacy

Everyone, not just the wealthy, benefits from drawing up a will. One of the ways UNF and the Coggin College of Business receive charitable contributions is through wills and bequests. The typical estate, or total of all assets, is larger than one would think. Even a small portion of the typical estate provides a meaningful gift to higher education at UNF.

There may be advantages to planning for charitable giving through a will. For example, the use of one or more charitable trusts in a will may reduce or eliminate taxes on both spouses' estates. It's important to use the services of an attorney educated in estate planning to make sure the will is constructed correctly and to learn about details such as possible limits to charitable bequests in some states.

Another key to making sure the bequest goes where intended is to use the correct legal name of the charitable organization. Even a small change in the name may prevent the bequest from getting to its intended recipient. Here is the specific information needed to include within your estate plans for a bequest to UNF:

"I give, devise, and bequeath to the University of North Florida Foundation, Inc. (federal tax identification number 23-7167701) or its successor(s); (state: (1) dollar amount; (2) percentage of estate value; (3) specific item; OR (4) all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal property, of whatever kind and wherever situated which I may own at the time of my demise. This bequest is to be used to: (state): (1) purpose of fund; AND, (2) if fund is to be an endowed (principal not invaded, only part of earnings spent annually as defined by then Foundation policy) or a non-endowed fund."

Donors who make provisions in their estate plans for future gifts and notify UNF of their intent in writing will be recognized as a member of the Lamplighters Society.

To learn more about other important considerations in planning for charitable giving through a will, please contact David Kritzmacher, director of Planned and Major Gifts at the University of North Florida Foundation, (904) 620-2112 or dkritzma@unf.edu.