Giving to St. James through your Will
Gifts through your will are also called “bequests.” A charitable bequest is a very simple gift to arrange, that will have a tremendous impact for many years to come on our community.
Anyone, at any age, can make a charitable bequest for any amount. It’s as simple as adding one sentence to your will.
How to Make a Bequest/ Sample Language
We suggest the following wording to include St. James School in your will. Please consult with your lawyer or financial advisor when making estate and planned giving decisions.
Legal name: St. James School
Federal Tax ID number: 45-2353683
Giving a specific dollar amount in your will:
“I give to St. James School, 3217 W. Clearfield Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132, Federal Tax Identification Number 45-2353683, ___________________ Dollars ($___________ ) for its general use and purposes.”
Giving a specific percentage of your estate:
“I give to St. James School, 3217 W. Clearfield Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132, Federal Tax Identification Number 45-2353683, an amount equal to _______ percent of my estate for its general use and purposes.”
Giving the remainder of your estate, after other bequests and expenses have been paid:
“I give to St. James School, 3217 W. Clearfield Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132, Federal Tax Identification Number 45-2353683, [all] [a portion] of the rest of my estate, for its general use and purposes.”
We are proud to include a bequest to St. James School in our will. We are legacy donors because we want to continue to contribute after we are gone. St. James School is one of three places we support, Saint Mark’s, St. James, and Urban Promise. It is a joy to be a small part of St. James School. St. James shows how the Lord works in community, we are glad to be a part of it.
Why Consider a Gift Through Your Will?
Why do people like you make planned gifts to the nonprofits they believe in? The reasons mostly boil down to LEGACY — leaving a legacy from the life they lived that reflects their values and continues their impact, while ensuring the nonprofit will endure to create its own legacy of ongoing impact.
People make planned gifts to St. James because they value the holistic work being done to educate, support and expand opportunities for students, families and neighbors in an under-resourced community. Most are donors already and have seen how their dollars help to deepen St. James’ impact over time.
While they might wish they could give more now, their money is working to secure their own future and retirement. So it makes more sense to plan for a larger gift later, as part of their estate. Future gifts also make sense for St. James, which can be bolder about long-term plans knowing money will be available to fund them.
Planned gifts of every kind become part of the St. James Legacy Fund, which was established to provide an as-needed financial safety net and long-term sustainability. Controlled by the Board of Directors, the Legacy Fund is intended to grow over time with new donations, planned giving, and interest income from investments.
