At the end of that time period, the remainder of the trust passes to your designated heirs or other non-charitable beneficiaries. Most people leave an estate when they die, even though they may not have a great deal of wealth. Even an individual with a small estate can arrange to leave a charitable bequest. You can arrange to bequeath a gift from your estate in several different ways. You can set aside a specific dollar amount, leave a percentage of your estate, or leave any assets left over after your family has been provided for.
Some people use a bequest to give a charity something they own, such as a car, home, art or jewelry.
Others leave a paid life insurance policy or other financial investments, such as stocks, bonds or CDs. Consult a professional advisor for details. By designating a charity as the beneficiary of your life insurance or retirement assets, you can enjoy some flexibility in your charitable giving as well as certain tax advantages. The designated charity will receive the specified assets upon your death, and you have the option of changing the eventual recipient throughout your life. For more information, go to the life insurance or retirement assets sections under What to Give .