Planned Giving FAQs
Learn more about frequently asked questions about our planned giving.
FAQs About Planned Giving
What is a bequest?
A bequest, which is a type of planned gift, is a percentage or amount of your estate that you can designate to support a charitable cause beyond your lifetime. Many visionary donors have chosen to include charitable bequests to Dean College in their will or trust.
What if I do not have a will?
If you don’t have an estate plan in place, you’re not alone: 70% of Americans do not have an up-to-date will. However, creating your will is essential, and can be a highly impactful way to support the people and causes you love. It ensures that your wishes are known, saving your loved ones the stress and cost of probate proceedings, and letting you (and not the government) decide where your property goes. And creating a will doesn’t have to be costly or complicated — in fact, we have partnered with FreeWill to make it easy and completely free.
What is FreeWill?
FreeWill is a team of 90+ engineers, lawyers, designers, nonprofit experts, and more who are dedicated to making estate planning more accessible — and have raised $2.2B in planned gifts — through their free will-writing tool. Through this online platform, you can join the 170,000 others who have created their legal wills, along with countless charitable bequests, in under 20 minutes at zero cost. All you have to do is answer simple questions about you and your wishes. Once you’re finished, you will receive a document to download, print, and sign. Your final will is valid in all 50 states.
I already have a will. Can I use FreeWill to update it and create my bequest?
Yes, you can! To do so, simply create and execute a new will using FreeWill, and destroy the earlier version. If this is your first time using FreeWill, the site will not know your previous information, so you will create an entirely new will. If you have previously worked with a lawyer to create your will, you can put together your updated wishes on FreeWill and bring them to your lawyer to incorporate into your existing will.
What if I have a complex or large estate?
FreeWill can still help — even if you’d prefer to finalize your will with an attorney! At the end of your will-making process, you’ll get a set of your documented wishes that may save you time and money with your lawyer.
Where can I get started?
Are you ready to protect your loved ones while making a powerful impact for Dean College?
Begin your legacy today