National Estate Planning Awareness Week

National Estate Planning Awareness Week is October 21 – 27! Founded in 2008 and observed every year during the third full week of October, it’s a reminder that we all need to prepare for the inevitable. National Estate Planning Awareness Week is about drawing up the most important document of your life: An estate plan that protects your interests and your loved ones.

It’s never too early to give yourself peace of mind by ensuring a thoughtful estate plan is in place. Download the Foundation’s Estate Planning Guide to help you get started.

An estate plan can include a will or a trust, or both. It can detail beneficiary designations, like those you created for your bank account, retirement account, or life insurance. And it should include powers of attorney for your finances and your healthcare decisions, in the event you become incapacitated.

An estate plan is also a smart way to shape your legacy and support the causes you love. You can establish a legacy fund in your name at Foundation through your will or trust. After your lifetime, the fund will continue to support your favorite causes, including the Foundation, in perpetuity. It’s a simple and tax-friendly way to leave a legacy.

You can give through a legacy fund in one of four ways:

• Advised Grantmaking: Choose a successor advisor – typically a child or close relative — to make grants from your fund on your behalf. Grants align to the charitable goals and focus areas you define in your fund agreement.
• Broad Purpose Giving: Support a chosen cause — for instance, protecting the environment. This type of fund is best if you are passionate about specific impact areas, but you do not want to choose specific organizations to support.
• Designated Support: Support specific organizations that you choose during your lifetime. This type of fund is best when you know the exact organization(s) you want to support, each of which receives a set percentage adding up to 100%.
• Scholarship Awards: Set scholarship award criteria to support students’ academic pursuits that match your interests. Our team reviews applications on your behalf.

If you are ready to start to make your legacy a reality or have questions, set up a one-on-one consultation to discuss legacy funds with Monika Callins, call 610-744-1015 or email mcollins@delcofoundation.org.