What is a bequest?

According to the National Philanthropic Trust, planned giving through bequests amounted to $45.84 billion in 2024. It’s important for fundraisers to have a basic understanding of what a bequest is, since it’s the simplest way for donors to make a planned gift to your organization. The simplicity of bequests also makes them the most common form of planned gift.

How do bequests work, and what steps do you take when you receive one?

A bequest is a transfer by will of personal property such as cash or goods. Donors can make a bequest through their estate by including a provision in their will or living trust. A nonprofit receives a bequest only after the death of the donor. Some donors will share in advance that they’ve included your organization in their estate plans; other times, you may receive a bequest unexpectedly.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to know everything about how bequests work. Having a general familiarity is sufficient, though it’s helpful to establish a relationship with an estate attorney who can help when and if needed. It’s also good practice to have a gift acceptance policy in place.

When you receive a bequest, consider highlighting it in your newsletter, as those stories of generosity can inspire other donors to include your organization in their estate plans. It’s also important to have a plan for how to document these planned gifts.

Conclusion

Bequests represent the simplest and most common way for donors to make a planned gift, but they’re not the only way. If you’re interested in promoting bequests as a way to support your mission, check out our resource on how to start a planned giving program without a planned giving officer. And if the terms “bequest” and “planned giving” were brand-new to you, our list of 25 terms every new fundraiser should know may be handy to refer to.