Thank you for your interest in making a planned gift to the Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Here you will find basic information about how to make a planned gift, including sample language you may wish to use to make a bequest.

When you notify us of your intended bequest, you will join other generous individuals who share a commitment to help future generations continue the mission of our congregation. We will gratefully welcome you as a member of our Legacy Circle.

Please note that the following information is provided for general information only and is not intended to be legal or financial advice. We encourage you to seek legal and/or financial planning advice as you make your decisions regarding planned giving.

BEQUESTS FROM YOUR WILL OR LIVING (REVOCABLE) TRUST

You can use your will or living trust to give a specific dollar amount, or a percentage of your estate, or specific property, to the congregation. You can also make a residual bequest from the remaining assets in your estate after all other specific bequests and settlement costs are satisfied.

The advantages of a bequest include:

• Simplicity. Just a few sentences in your will or trust are all that is needed.
• Flexibility. Because you are not actually making a gift until after your lifetime, you can change your mind at any time.
• Versatility. You can structure the bequest to leave a specific item or amount of money, make the gift contingent on certain events, or leave a percentage of your estate to us.
• Tax Relief. If your estate is subject to estate tax, your gift is entitled to an estate tax charitable deduction for the gift’s full value.

The following sample language can be used by you and your attorney to make a bequest to CVUUF in your estate plan:

Percentage Bequest: I give, devise and bequeath __________ % of my gross estate, as determined as of the date of my death, to the Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (CVUUF), a nonprofit organization located at 3331 Old Conejo Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320-2115, Federal Tax ID #77-0290801, for its unrestricted use.

Specific Amount: I give, devise and bequeath $ ______________ to the Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (CVUUF), a nonprofit organization located at 3331 Old Conejo Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320-2115, Federal Tax ID #77-0290801, for its unrestricted use.

Residuary Bequest: I give, devise and bequeath [ALL/A PERCENTAGE OF] the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to the Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (CVUUF), a nonprofit organization located at 3331 Old Conejo Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320-2115, Federal Tax ID #77-0290801, for its unrestricted use.

Contingent Bequest:  If [PRIMARY BENEFICIARY] does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath [DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY] to the Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (CVUUF), a nonprofit organization located at 3331 Old Conejo Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320-2115, Federal Tax ID #77-0290801, for its unrestricted us.

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 meet your charitable objectives.

When making a restricted bequest, we recommend that your attorney include the following provision to give CVUUF flexibility should it no longer be possible for the congregation to use your gift as you originally intended:

If, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees of the Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (CVUUF), it shall become impossible for CVUUF to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, then CVUUF may use the income and principal of this gift for such purpose or purposes as the Board of Trustees determines is most closely related to the restricted purpose of my bequest. 

Beneficiary Designations

MAKE A GIFT IN 3 EASY STEPS

Not everyone wants to commit to making a gift in their wills or trusts. Some prefer the increased flexibility that a beneficiary designation provides by using:

• IRAs and retirement plans
• Life insurance policies

It only takes three simple steps to make this type of gift. Here’s how to name the CVUUF as a beneficiary:

1. Contact your retirement plan administrator, insurance company, bank or financial institution for a change-of-beneficiary form.
2. Decide what percentage (1 to 100) you would like us to receive and name us, along with the percentage you chose, on the beneficiary form.
3. Return the completed form to your plan administrator, insurance company, bank or financial institution.

RETIREMENT PLAN ASSETS

Many individuals today have substantial qualified retirement plans such as IRAs, 401(k) plans, or 403(b) plans. The congregation can be designated as a beneficiary of all or a percentage of what remains in these accounts at death. This is the easiest way to leave a legacy to CVUUF, because it does not require changes to your will or trust.

Moreover, this type of gift may help you get the most value from your estate and protect your heirs from taxes. Retirement plan assets are subject to income taxes of as much as 35% when paid out to your heirs, while a payment to a nonprofit organization such as CVUUF is not subject to federal tax.  You should contact your plan administrator to complete the appropriate forms (often available on-line) to carry out your wishes.

LIFE INSURANCE

A traditional life insurance policy (with an accumulated cash value) can be a valuable asset. Some people no longer need the life insurance that was purchased many years ago to provide for children or other family members. If you are in this situation, you could name the congregation as a full, partial, or contingent beneficiary of the policy. Change of Beneficiary forms are typically available online from your insurance company.