Bequest Language

Planning for the future and creating the legacy you wish to leave is one of the most effective ways to ensure a lasting impact. Making a gift in your will or living trust, known as a bequest, can guarantee that your legacy endures. Your gift may be a percentage of your estate, specific dollar amount or the remainder after all other provisions are specified.

Our federal tax ID number is: 16-6053710.

Below is suggested language to share with your attorney for use when drafting your bequest. Please contact us at 1-888-787-0540 (toll-free) or 607-777-6756 (local) or giftplan@binghamton.edu to discuss the different options for including the Foundation in your will or living trust and to ensure that your wishes will be fulfilled.

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Sample Bequest Language

  1. Perpetual Endowment (a gift that lasts in perpetuity)
    “I give, devise and bequeath to The Foundation of the State University of New York at Binghamton, Inc., Federal Tax ID #16-6053710, a nonprofit organization currently located at PO Box 6005, Binghamton, NY 13902-6005, or its successor thereto, the rest, residue and remainder (OR state all, a percentage OR a dollar amount) to be used as a permanent endowment, for its general purposes (OR describe the specific purpose OR as per my most recent gift agreement with the institution).”
  2. Residual Bequest
    “I give, devise and bequeath to The Foundation of the State University of New York at Binghamton, Inc., Federal Tax ID #16-6053710, a nonprofit organization currently located at PO Box 6005, Binghamton, NY 13902-6005, or its successor thereto, the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for its general purposes (OR describe the specific purpose OR as per my most recent gift agreement with the institution).”
  3. Percentage Bequest
    “I give, devise and bequeath to The Foundation of the State University of New York at Binghamton, Inc., Federal Tax ID #16-6053710, a nonprofit organization currently located at PO Box 6005, Binghamton, NY 13902-6005, or its successor thereto, ____% (_____%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death to be used for its general purposes (OR describe the specific purpose OR as per my most recent gift agreement with the institution).”
  4. Specific Bequest
    1. Specific Dollar Amount
      “I give, devise and bequeath to The Foundation of the State University of New York at Binghamton, Inc., Federal Tax ID #16-6053710, a nonprofit organization currently located at PO Box 6005, Binghamton, NY 13902-6005, or its successor thereto, the sum of ___________________ and no/100 dollars (_$___________) to be used for its general purposes (OR describe the specific purpose OR as per my most recent gift agreement with the institution).”
    2. Specific Personal Property
      “I give, devise and bequeath to The Foundation of the State University of New York at Binghamton, Inc., Federal Tax ID #16-6053710, a nonprofit organization currently located at PO Box 6005, Binghamton, NY 13902-6005, or its successor thereto, _DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY____________ to be used for its general purposes (OR describe the specific purpose OR as per my most recent gift agreement with the institution).”
    3. Specific Real Estate
      “I give, devise and bequeath to The Foundation of the State University of New York at Binghamton, Inc., Federal Tax ID #16-6053710, a nonprofit organization currently located at PO Box 6005, Binghamton, NY 13902-6005, or its successor thereto, all of the right, title and interest in the real estate located at _ADDRESS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERY__ to be used for its general purposes (OR describe the specific purpose OR as per my most recent gift agreement with the institution).”
  5. Contingent Bequest
    “If (PRIMARY BENEFICIARY) does not survive me, then I give, devise and bequeath to The Foundation of the State University of New York at Binghamton, Inc., Federal Tax ID #16-6053710, a nonprofit organization currently located at PO Box 6005, Binghamton, NY 13902-6005, or its successor thereto, _INCLUDE LANGUAGE FROM OTHER BEQUEST LANGUAGE ABOVE_____.”
  6. Restricted Bequest
    If you are considering a bequest but would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, please let us know. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your charitable objectives. We will also work with you and your attorney to craft language to accomplish your goals.

We recommend that your attorney include the following provision to all restricted bequests to give the Foundation flexibility should it no longer be possible for it to use your gift as you originally intended:

"This gift should be used for (STATE PURPOSE) if and so long as The Foundation of the State University of New York at Binghamton, Inc. (the Foundation) determines that the need exists. If the Foundation shall determine at the outset or at a later time that the need does not exist, or no longer exists or for some reason it is not possible (or prudent) to administer my gift as originally intended, or accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, then the Foundation may, in its sole and uncontrolled discretion, direct the use of my bequest for a purpose related as closely as possible to that stated above.”

Be Sure to Inform Us of Your Bequest

If you have named Binghamton University Foundation in your will or trust, please let us know so we can ensure that your gift will be used according to your wishes. Notifying us of your plans will also enable us to plan for the future. If you prefer to remain anonymous, we will keep your name and gift in strict confidence. Please contact us at 1-888-787-0540 (toll-free) or 607-777-6756 (local) or giftplan@binghamton.edu to discuss bequests and any other gift option at any time.