Successful Charitable Planning
A will is your most important legal document and is the cornerstone of your estate planning efforts to ensure that you preserve and distribute your assets as you wish, such as providing security for your loved ones or making a gift to a charity.
Charitable Bequest
Several grateful patients and friends remember Cleveland Clinic in their will by supporting the institute's medical, research and education programs. You too can become a part of the pioneering efforts by remembering Cleveland Clinic in your charitable estate plans by establishing one of the following bequests:
Specific bequest designates Cleveland Clinic receive a specific piece of property.
- example: "I bequeath to The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, all of my shares in XYZ Mutual Fund to support medical research and education."
General bequest designates Cleveland Clinic receive a specified dollar amount.
- example: "I bequeath to The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, the sum of $100,000 to support medical research and education."
Residual bequest designates all or a portion of your estate comes to Cleveland Clinic after all debts, taxes, expenses and other bequests have been paid.
- example: "I bequeath to The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, fifty percent (50%) of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, to support medical research and education."
Contingent bequest takes effect only if the primary intention cannot be met. This ensures that property will pass to Cleveland Clinic rather than unintended beneficiaries, including the government.
- example: "If (NAME OF PRIMARY BENEFICIARY) does not survive me, then I bequeath to The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to support medical research and education."
Bequest Designations
The 2 primary bequest designations are unrestricted and restricted.
- Unrestricted bequests are the most useful because they allow Cleveland Clinic to allocate funds to the areas of greatest need.
- Restricted bequests designate that funds are used for a specified purpose at Cleveland Clinic, such as heart disease research, construction of a new building or program funding.
Pyramid Legacy Society
If you remember Cleveland Clinic in your will, trust, retirement plan or life insurance policy you will qualify for membership in the Pyramid Legacy Society. The Pyramid Legacy Society is a recognition group of supporters, patients and alumni worldwide who've remembered Cleveland Clinic in their estate or other charitable gift plans.
Contact Us
For a confidential discussion about the benefits of making a charitable bequest to Cleveland Clinic, please call Institutional Relations and Development at 216.444.1245 and ask to speak with a member of our gift planning team or email giftplanning@ccf.org.
