Wills and Trusts

Leaving a bequest by including language in wills and trusts is the most common way to leave an estate gift to the IEEE Foundation.

Bequests offer a powerful way to sustain and strengthen the IEEE Foundation’s ability to invest in IEEE programs that empower and nurture technologists and future leaders.

A bequest costs nothing now, yet gives you the satisfaction of knowing you have provided for IEEE and its Foundation in the future:

• You retain control of and use of your assets during your lifetime
• You may modify your bequest if your circumstances change
• Gifts to the IEEE Foundation from your estate are exempt from US federal estate taxes

If you let the IEEE Foundation know of your plans, we will be able to thank you now and recognize you as a member of the IEEE Goldsmith Legacy League.

Making a Bequest to the IEEE Foundation

A bequest to the IEEE Foundation can be made for a specific amount, for a percentage of your estate, or for all or a portion of what is left after you have made bequests to your family. To make a gift to the IEEE Foundation from your estate, you must sign a new will or living trust instrument, add a codicil to your present will, or make an amendment to your present trust instrument.

A specific bequest designates a dollar amount or percentage to the IEEE Foundation (or a specific IEEE Organizational Unit, program, or project).

A residuary bequest is fulfilled after all other specific bequests, debts, taxes, and expenses have been paid and designates the IEEE Foundation to receive all or a stated percentage of the "rest, residue, and remainder" of your estate.

A contingent bequest directs that the IEEE Foundation receive all or a part of your estate, if certain circumstances were to occur, such as all other named beneficiaries predecease you.

Planning a Bequest to the IEEE Foundation

When planning for a bequest, you will need to consider how you would like your gift to be used to benefit IEEE —whether unrestricted in purpose or restricted to a specific school or purpose, and whether you would like it to be an expendable fund (to be spent when received) or an endowed fund (to last in perpetuity).

An unrestricted bequest allows the IEEE Foundation to direct the bequest to the areas of greatest need. Unrestricted bequests are extremely valuable because the Foundation can use them flexibly to meet its future needs.

A restricted bequest allows you to specify how the bequest will be used. You may wish to designate a specific IEEE Organizational Unit or IEEE program.