One of the most important things you can do for yourself and those you care about is to thoughtfully plan your finances and estate. No matter how little or great your net worth, proper planning is key to providing for your future financial needs and ensuring your assets are ultimately distributed as you intend.

When evaluating your objectives, consider integrating a charitable gift into your plans- both as an expression of your values and a means for supporting an organization that matters to you, like Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley.

Besides being personally satisfying, making a planned charitable gift can be financially sensible, too. Tax savings and, in some cases, guaranteed income are benefits you can enjoy, along with the knowledge that you’re helping others in need.

Estate and planned gifts enable Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley to continue to provide life-changing programs and services to people with disabilities and other barriers for generations to come.

There are many ways to leave a planned gift to Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley including:

• Provisions in a will or trust to leave all or part of your estate to Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley
• Naming Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley as a beneficiary in a life insurance policy
• Gifts of securities
• Retirement Plan beneficiary designations
• A Charitable Life-Income Plan such as a Charitable Remainder Trust, Charitable Lead Trust, or Gift Annuity
• A Remainder Interest or Life Estate in a personal residence.

The following information is provided to assist you in developing your charitable gift and estate plans in consultation with your family, and other advisers. This is not to be construed as legal advice. Please consult your attorney.

Legal Name

The legal name to be used when making gifts to Goodwill Easterseals via wills, trusts, and other gift-transfer documents is:
“Goodwill Easter Seals of Miami Valley, an Ohio not-for-profit, with its principal place of business in Dayton, Ohio.”

Language for Including Goodwill in Your Will or Living Trust

Sample wording is provided below, for making a bequest to Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley. Please consult your attorney for preparation of any addition or changes to your will or trust.

A specific bequest is a bequest of a specific item or dollar amount. Sample wording you can use to make a specific bequest to Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley:

“I give, devise, and bequeath to Goodwill Easter Seals of Miami Valley, located in Dayton, OH, or its successor organization, a nonprofit organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code $__________________.”

A percentage bequest is a bequest of a certain percentage of your estate or of another asset.

Sample wording you can use to make a percentage bequest to Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley:

 “I give, devise, and bequeath to Goodwill Easter Seals of Miami Valley, located in Dayton, Ohio, or its successor organization, a nonprofit organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code ________________ percent of my estate.”

A residual bequest is a bequest of all or a portion of the remainder or residue of the estate after specific and other bequests have been distributed. Sample wording you can use to make a residual bequest to Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley:

 “All the residue of my estate, including real and personal property, I give, devise and bequeath to Goodwill Easter Seals of Miami Valley, located in Dayton, Ohio or its successor organization, a nonprofit organization as described in section 501c3 of the internal revenue code. My Executor shall, at the request of Goodwill Easter Seals of Miami Valley, liquidate and sell any real estate or tangible personal property which is part of the residue of my estate before making distribution.”

Edgar Society

Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley recognizes those who have included Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley through planned giving in the Edgar Society, named for Goodwill founder Edgar J. Helms and Easterseals founder Edgar Allen. As a member of the Edgar Society, you will receive several important membership benefits, including:

•  Invitations to special Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley Edgar Society events and workshops;
•  Invitations to Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley special events throughout the year;
•  Recognition on Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley’s website and in the lobby at the Community Services Center in Dayton,   Ohio; and
• Regular updates about the impact Goodwill Easterseals and the successes of the clients who receive services.

If you would like more information on planned giving opportunities, please contact Caryl Segalewitz,, CFRE, c.segalewitz@gesmv.org, Director of Development.