Help WES and Your Family–Estate Planning Opportunity and 101 Session this Sunday

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All,
We are getting interest in people who want to let the UUA know they have put WES in their will, which will help WES raise money as part of a generous grant opportunity.
We have been getting three common question from the last email we sent out. They are:
  • I have included WES in my estate planning, how do I sign up for the match?
  • I have a will and would like to include WES in my estate planning but don’t know how. What do I do?
  • I don’t have a will but probably need one and want to participate in the legacy campaign. What do I do?
See detailed answers for each question below. Please consider attending the Estate Planning 101 event this Sunday at noon in the Social Hall. While this event is focused on your own estate questions, Tom and Hannah will be there to answer any questions you may have about the campaign after the event.
Please note: Although it is not required, we would appreciate that anyone submitting a pledge form to the campaign also let Tom know that they have done so. That way we can be sure that your commitment is successfully received and processed.
Sincerely,
WES Stewardship Team

Q: I have included WES in my estate planning, how do I sign up for the match? 

A. Wonderful–thank you for your commitment! You can simply complete and submit the legacy challenge pledge form (available here). You may also need to submit documentation (for example, a copy of the relevant section of your will) in order to receive the greatest match, depending on the type of commitment you have made.

Q. I have a will and would like to include WES in my estate planning but don’t know how. What do I do?

A. You can use the below sample bequest language to get started. We recommend you work with your attorney or financial advisor to decide how to structure your gift. Many people like to designate a percentage of their estate, rather than a dollar amount.

Sample bequest language:
“I give to the Washington Ethical Society, a charitable organization located at 7750 16th St. NW Washington, D.C. 20012, [insert $ amount, percentage of estate or residuary estate, or otherwise name gifted assets].”
If you would like to designate the gift for a particular fund, add the following language: “…for the [insert name of use or fund designation, such as “endowment fund”, “building fund”, or “general fund”].” Gifts without this restriction will be divided among two funds according to our policy (our current policy puts 80% into the endowment fund and 20% into the general fund. 
 
Q. I don’t have a will but probably need one and want to participate in the legacy campaign. What do I do? 
A. First, consider attending our Estate Planning 101 session this Sunday, July 22 directly after platform. Estate planning attorney, Jennifer Concino of Tobin, O’Conner & Ewing, will walk us through all aspects of estate planning, from finances and power of attorney to healthcare directives and what to do with your digital assets.
Second, if creating a will is too costly or time-consuming at the moment but you still want to participate in the matching campaign, consider making WES a beneficiary or partial beneficiary of your IRA, life insurance, or other asset. Updating a beneficiary designation can usually be done online in a matter of minutes! If you go this route, don’t forget to complete and submit the pledge form (available here).

Thank you all!