One of the most difficult decisions we all have to make relates to what is politely called “estate planning”.

Article by PDG Dennis Shore - Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser

As Endowment and Major Gifts Advisor Rotarians regularly ask me about bequests. For good reason all districts are also encouraged to have a person on their Foundation Committee to discuss and facilitate bequests and Mark Anderson or myself can also be contacted to explore options.

One of the most difficult decisions we all have to make relates to what is politely called “estate planning”. It is something many people do not want to think about but it is something all of us need to do. We also need to revisit our estate plans regularly as our situations change. What your will proposes at the age of 20 will most certainly not reflect your situation at a much older age.

Most wills rightly prioritise family recipients but people without immediate family or with families that are more than self-sufficient may also like to include bequest provisions for charitable purposes.

Just as we do with our charitable donations in our lifetime there are good reasons to make The Rotary Foundation your charity of choice in your will. As the late, great Royce Abbey said, “It’s our way of saying thanks for the enrichment that Rotary has added to our lives. It’s our final way to leave this world a better place than we found it”.

Did you know that, as with all Rotary giving, you have choices to direct your legacy in the way that you want it to be used. You may choose to make your legacy unrestricted, in which case the spending portion goes to the World Fund. But you may also direct it to SHARE, whereby the spending portion is shared between your district (DDF) and the World fund. The spending portion can also be directed to one or more of the Areas of Focus or to a range of options to support Rotary Peace Centres.

Did you know that for bequests of US $25,000 or more you can have your legacy identified with your name, your family’s name or the name of a loved one?

The larger the legacy the more options there are to direct the use of funds to specific programs or regions.

Rotary’s promise: Your legacy will be carefully stewarded to provide funding for the programs you know and trust, year after year. Did you know, the principal is never spent and is managed to maintain its real value in perpetuity and the spending portion provides ongoing financial support, just as annual contributions do today. See the chart below:

Your Rotary Legacy: Doing good in the world beyond your lifetime