Bequest Language for Donors

Bequest Language for Donors

The following is intended to help you and your attorney in drafting a bequest that satisfies your interests.  As you consult your attorney on the selection of appropriate wording to reflect your own goals and intentions regarding Williams College. Please use the following wording to describe the college.

“PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES OF WILLIAMS COLLEGE, a non-profit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts”.

Choose the Type of Bequest that is Best for You:

• A Specific or General Bequest. Give Williams a specific asset or amount of money.
• A Percentage Bequest. Give Williams a percentage of all of your estate.
• A Residuary Bequest. Give Williams a portion of the residual amount that is left in your estate after all specific bequests have been satisfied.
• A Contingent Bequest. Give Williams an amount or percentage of your estate that will only be granted if a certain event occurs first.

SAMPLE LANGUAGE:

For a bequest providing unrestricted support:

“I hereby give and bequeath to the PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES OF WILLIAMS COLLEGE, a non-profit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, _____ dollars ($___) [or ____ percent (___%) or all of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate] to be applied to the general uses and purposes of said institution.”

We encourage everyone who would like to create a restricted bequest (a bequest allocated to a particular area of the college – for example, financial aid or faculty support), to speak with the Office of Gift Planning so that we can discuss the parameters of your desired gift, and how it matches Williams’ needs. This conversation will also help ensure that your wishes are understood and can be fulfilled by the college.

Quick Tips:

Legal Name: President and Trustees of Williams College
Williams Federal Tax ID: 04-2104847
Contact for Executors