Through planned giving, you can make a charitable gift now or after your lifetime based on assets in your estate. A gift from your estate can provide the university with significant future support while preserving the flexibility you need to take care of yourself and your loved ones. A planned gift can be as simple as adding BSU as a beneficiary on an existing account or including us in your will. Certain planned gifts can also give you immediate tax benefits and guaranteed income for life.
Bridgewater State University has established the 1840 society to honor individuals who have included the university in their estate plans through a will, trust, gift annuity, life insurance policy, retirement plan, etc. If you have included BSU in your will, established a life-income plan or made BSU the beneficiary of an insurance policy or retirement plan, you are automatically a member of the 1840 society.
If you are interested in establishing a planned gift with BSU, or would like to let us know that BSU is already in your estate plans, contact development@bridgew.edu.
Bequests and Estate Planning
Leave a Lasting Legacy
A bequest is a way to feel good about leaving a legacy gift that supports BSU students into the future without your having to relinquish assets now — and they can be made in any amount.
What’s a Bequest?
Bequests are typically made from assets in your estate rather than disposable income, and come to university upon your passing. You can plan for a scholarship bequest intention by citing it in your will or living trust, which can be made with your attorney in a new plan or as a codicil existing document. An even easier method, which you can do without an attorney, is to assign Bridgewater as a full or partial beneficiary to a savings or investment account, retirement plan asset or life insurance policy. A bequest is flexible; you can alter or revoke it at any time.
With a bequest of $25,000 or more, you can endow a fund in your name and according to your criteria, with the peace of mind that it will be awarded for generations to come. If you share news of your bequest intention with us, we can work with you to ensure that your wishes are met. It allows us to celebrate your intention in your lifetime. And, your example may inspire others to join you.
Contact development@bridgew.edu to learn more about establishing a bequest intention or to let us know you already have!
Sample Bequest Language
I give to the Bridgewater State University Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, USA, the sum of ($___________ or _____% of my estate) (for its general charitable purposes) or (for the benefit of [include College or purpose, e.g. The College of Education and Health Sciences, or general scholarships, etc.]).The Federal Identification Number for the Bridgewater State University Foundation is 22-2678005.