ADDITIONAL GIFT PLANNING INFORMATION | pg. 1 of 2
Gifts of Bequests
Please work with your own legal counsel and/or accountant if you are interested in
making a bequest. Below is some sample language for your reference.
Sample language: There are currently three ways in which you can insert language into
your will that would name Teach For America as a beneficiary of your estate:
UNRESTRICTED GIFT: A GIFT THAT CAN BE USED WHERE NEED IS GREATEST
I give, devise, and bequeath to Teach For America, Inc., New York, New York, the sum
of ______ (Dollars), to be used for [its general purpose / its program in ______ (Specific
Region) in ______ (City, State)].
RESIDUARY BEQUEST: LEAVES ANY REMAINDER AFTER ALL OTHER BEQUESTS HAVE BEEN PAID
I give, devise, and bequeath to Teach For America, Inc., New York, New York, [my
residuary estate] [an amount equal to ______ percent of my residuary estate], to be
used for [its general purposes / its programs in ______ (Specific Region) in ______ (City,
State)].
CONTINGENT BEQUEST: TAKES EFFECT ONLY IF A PRIMARY INTENTION CAN’T BE MET
In the event that ______ predeceases me, I give, devise, and bequeath such [sum/
amount/share] to Teach For America, Inc., New York, New York, to be used for [its
general purposes / its programs in ______ (Specific Region) in ______ (City, State)].
Gifts of
Retirement Assets
In order to make your wishes for your retirement assets known, please consult your plan
or account administrator to ensure that the beneficiary designations are completed in
accordance with applicable requirements.
Sample language: You can designate Teach For America as either the primary or
contingent beneficiary of your retirement assets:
TEACH FOR AMERICA AS PRIMARY BENEFICIARY: LEAVES ALL RETIREMENT ASSETS TO TEACH FOR
AMERICA
The beneficiary of the entire amount in the plan upon my death is Teach For America,
Inc., New York, New York, for its general purposes.
TEACH FOR AMERICA AS CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY: LEAVES ALL RETIREMENT ASSETS TO TEACH
FOR AMERICA AS A BACK-UP AFTER ANOTHER BENEFICIARY, e.g., SPOUSE
The beneficiary is my spouse as long as he/she survives me. The beneficiary if my
spouse does not survive me, or of any portion thereof that my spouse may disclaim, is
Teach For America, Inc., New York, New York, for its general purposes.
Gifts of
Life Insurance
If you wish to make a gift of life insurance, please consult your insurance broker to ensure
that you are naming Teach For America, Inc. as both the owner and the beneficiary of
your policy, in accordance with the insurer’s applicable requirements.
Sample language:
I hereby name Teach For America, Inc. as the owner and beneficiary of my ______
(Insurance Company), Policy #______, with a face value of ______ (Dollars). I designate
that upon my death, the proceeds will be distributed to Teach For America, Inc., New
York, New York, for its general purposes.
ADDITIONAL GIFT PLANNING INFORMATION | pg. 2 of 2
Gifts of Securities
Be sure to consult with your financial advisors and/or attorney if you are considering
funding a gift through securities. If the securities are not traded regularly on an exchange,
an appraisal or other substantiation may be required for you to receive an income tax
deduction. For bequests of securities, please refer to the sample language below:
Sample language:
I give, devise, and bequeath all of my shares of ______ (Stock Name/Abbr.) stock to
Teach For America, Inc., New York, New York, to be used for [its general purposes / its
programs in ______ (Specific Region) in ______ (City, State)].
Gifts of
Closely-Held
Stock
Please work with your own legal counsel and/or accountant if you are interested in
making a gift of closely-held stock to ensure that you are aware of the tax effects of the
transfer. Before accepting gifts of closely-held stock, Teach For America must assess the
marketability of these securities. An appraisal or other substantiation may be required.
Please contact us via email at [email protected] to ensure that we are able
to accept the stock.
Gifts In-Kind
Please work with your own legal counsel and/or accountant if you are interested in
making a gift in-kind, as there are a complex set of tax rules that apply to gifts in-kind,
including deduction limitations and substantiation requirements. Please contact us via
email at [email protected] to ensure that we are able to accept your gift
before making any arrangements.
Note that we are not currently able to accept gifts of personal property items (e.g. art),
gas, oil and mineral rights, school supplies or vendor affinity agreements.