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Leave a Legacy

Planned Giving

Making a planned gift is a wonderful way to show your support and appreciation for the ABF and its mission while accommodating your own personal, financial, estate planning, and philanthropic goals. Including the ABF in your estate planning may actually enhance the value of the assets you leave to your loved ones and/or reduce the tax burden on your heirs. Just as important, you will know that you have made a meaningful contribution to the ABF.

Sample Bequest Language

Naming the American Bar Foundation (ABF) in your will is a simple way to benefit the ABF in a significant way, leaving a lasting legacy. You may share this sample bequest language with your attorney as you plan your estate: 

Specific Sum Gift 

I give to the American Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Federal Tax ID #36-6110271, now having its principal place of business located at 750 N. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, the sum of $_______ to be used for its general purposes. 

Percentage Gift 

I give to the American Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Federal Tax ID #36-6110271, now having its principal place of business located at 750 N. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, an amount equal to _____% of the net value of my estate [or trust] to be used for its general purposes. 

Residuary Gift 

I give to the American Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Federal Tax ID #36-6110271, now having its principal place of business located at 750 N. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate [or trust] to be used for its general purposes. 

 

The most useful type of gift to the ABF is unrestricted. An unrestricted gift allows the ABF to allocate your gift wherever the need is greatest. Nonetheless, if you have specific goals for your gift, you may restrict its use to specific purposes. However, for restricted gifts, ABF would like the following wording to be added at the end of your gift provision: 

“If, in the future, changed circumstances make it impractical to continue administering the gift for the purpose designated, then the American Bar Foundation’s Board of Directors may redirect the use of the gift in the best interests of the Foundation and in a manner as close as possible to my original intent.” 

This language will ensure that, in the remote possibility a specified purpose may cease to need funds in the future, an alternate use for the gift may be determined. 

THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS NOT INTENDED AS LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE, THE ABF DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL COUNSEL OR TAX ADVICE IN ANY FORM. PLEASE SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF A LICENSED ATTORNEY, TAX ADVISOR, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO ENSURE ANY GIFT YOU ARE CONSIDERING FITS APPROPRIATELY WITH YOUR SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. 

Legacy Society

The ABF Legacy Society recognizes and honors those who make a commitment to the future of the ABF by providing for the ABF in their estate plans or other planned giving instruments. You may become a member of the ABF Legacy Society by committing to any of the following: 

  • Making a gift to the ABF in your will or trust. 
  • Creating a life-income arrangement for the benefit of the ABF, such as a charitable remainder trust. 
  • Naming the ABF as a beneficiary of an IRA, retirement plan, or life insurance policy. 
  • Establishing an endowment fund for the ABF. 

 There are no dues or fees associated with membership in ABF Legacy Society. With their permission, members are listed in the ABF’s Annual Report and on the ABF’s website. Members also receive invitations to exclusive events from time to time. Most importantly, ABF Legacy Society members know they are ensuring the ABF’s ability to continue to carry out its mission of expanding knowledge and advancing justice through innovative, interdisciplinary, and rigorous empirical research on law, legal processes, and legal institutions. 

Please allow the ABF to say thank you and recognize your generosity. If you have provided a legacy gift for the ABF or if you intend to do so, you qualify for membership in the ABF Legacy Society. If you would like to become a member or if you have any questions about making a legacy gift, please contact Erla Teli, Director of Major Gifts & Grants, at 312-988-6511 or eteli@abfn.org. 

Membership in the ABF Legacy Society is one way that we can acknowledge our deep appreciation for your support of the ABF. We are grateful for the support of our Legacy Society members. 

Click here to download Legacy Society Enrollment Form. 

We are enormously grateful for your generosity.