
The Community Foundation works with hundreds of families to manage their charitable estate plans. I am sharing some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from donors and how we help answer them.
How can I give meaningfully to the community I so appreciate while providing appropriately for my family?
How do I witness to and convey those values and commitment I have had in my life?
We know these decisions are deeply personal and will vary from person to person. The best answer depends on an individual or family’s circumstances, objectives, and values. We typically share these three popular giving models to help spur the conversation.
- Adopt Child Named Charity. Consider a married couple with three children, each who might typically receive a third of their parents’ estate. Some families choose to add a “child named Charity” to their wills. By this method, for example, each of the children would receive 1/4 of their remaining assets, and the remaining 1/4 could go toward charity.


2. Percentage or Tithe. Many individuals or couples allocate a certain percentage of their will toward charity. Some designate 10 percent to charity to reinforce the biblical concept of tithing to their families.
3. Gifts of Assets. Some may choose to designate a specific asset such as real estate, business interests, life insurance, or retirement assets. There are several reasons people do this, whether it is because the property has special meaning, their children have no further use for it, or because they wish to protect their families from unnecessary taxes.
To start a conversation about your charitable estate plans, contact Colleen Hill, VP of Development & Donor Services by email or call 616–994–8853.