BEQUESTS

The lasting impact of bequests—both large and small— helped shape the Bennington Rescue you know today. For friends and family of Bennington Rescue, a charitable bequest is the easiest and best way to make a gift. By means of your will or other estate plan, you can name Bennington Rescue as the beneficiary of a portion of your estate, or of assets in your estate. Many of the most powerful gifts with an enduring impact have been bequests. You may create a separate fund named for yourself or in the name of someone you wish to honor. This visibility also encourages others to give.

There are many reasons to make a bequest. A bequest allows you to honor a loved one, while providing critical support to Bennington Rescue. Giving by bequest costs nothing now, yet it may give you a great deal of satisfaction to know that your future gift will live on.

What can I support?

Bennington Rescue welcomes general or directed giving. Areas to support at Bennington Rescue include:

  • General Operations – It takes a great deal of money to ensure that Ambulances are available when people need them. A bequest to the General Operations allows Bennington Rescue to put your gift where it is needed most.

  • Ambulances – Cost hundreds of thousands of dollars without the medical equipment.

  • Medical Equipment – Lifesaving heart monitors, CPR devices, stretchers, and ventilators each cost tens of thousands of dollars.

  • Education – A new EMT takes about 6-12 months to train and for an EMT to complete a paramedic education program takes between 12-24 months. Education requires a lot of hours, supplies, and equipment.

  • Facilities – We are always looking for ways to improve our facilities to better serve our community, protect our crew, and house our vital equipment & supplies.

WHAT is a bequest and How can I set it up?

A bequest is easy to set up through your Will.

  • Cash Bequest – Give a specific dollar amount or a specific percentage (%) from your estate.

  • Bequest of Property – Give specific assets, such as securities, real estate, or tangible personal property.

  • Contingent Bequest – Give all or a percentage of the remainder of your estate after the payment of any specific bequests and expenses.

To establish a bequest, include the following language in your Will.

Specific Bequest:

I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to the Town of Bennington Rescue Squad, Inc. a Vermont nonprofit corporation that is recognized as exempt from tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code, with its principal offices at 120 McKinley Street, Bennington, VT 05201, [insert the sum or description of property] to be used for its general purposes.

Percentage of Estate:

I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to the Town of Bennington Rescue Squad, Inc. a Vermont nonprofit corporation that is recognized as exempt from tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code, with its principal offices at 120 McKinley Street, Bennington, VT 05201, all [or a portion—for example, fifty percent] of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate for its general purposes.

Contingent Bequest:

In the event that [insert name of primary beneficiary] shall not survive me or shall die within ninety (90) days from the date of my death, then I give, devise, and bequeath all of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to the Town of Bennington Rescue Squad, Inc. a Vermont nonprofit corporation that is recognized as exempt from tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code, with its principal offices at 120 McKinley Street, Bennington, VT 05201, for its general purposes.

other giving plans

Many of these options require the attorney drafting your will should have the best information to make sure that your wishes are granted. Please contact your attorney and tax counsel to ensure that your gift has the impact you desire.

  • Retirement Plan – We can be the designated beneficiary of the remainder of your IRA, qualified pension, or profit-sharing plan.

  • Charitable Lead Trust - A lead trust can be established through a bequest. Bennington Rescue receives income for a term of years from the trust, after which the assets pass to your beneficiaries, often at a much-reduced tax cost.

  • Charitable Gift Annuity - Using a charitable gift annuity, the donor receives a set income on money given to Bennington Rescue and a tax deduction up front as well. 

  • Charitable Remainder Trust - A trust can be established that provides a donation at a set time in the future that yields a deduction up front. 

questions?

You are welcome to contact us with any questions you may have. Bennington Rescue will be happy to tell you the needs we have and to assist you in any way we can. We highly recommend consulting with your attorney and tax counse