Giving with Purpose, Planning with Flexibility

Answer: That’s an excellent question and one that is often overlooked when creating giving and estate plans. Most people focus on the organizations that either matter most to them today, helped shape their future, or a charitable organization they’ve supported for years. Naturally, we want our legacy to continue supporting those institutions long after we’re gone.

Changes

The challenge is that estate gifts often outlive the donor by decades and sometimes even generations. While your values may remain constant, organizations rarely stay exactly the same forever. Leadership changes. Boards evolve. Programs come and go. Community needs shift. Some organizations merge with others, and some eventually cease operations altogether.

Purpose

That's why it's important to think not only about the organizations you want to support, but also about the purpose behind your gift. Many donors are tempted to place extremely specific restrictions on how their money may be used. For example, you may want funds dedicated to a particular ministry, scholarship, building project, or charitable program.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with wanting your gift to reflect your values. Thoughtful guidance helps ensure your intentions are honored. Problems may arise when instructions are so restrictive that they don’t fit future realities.

For instance, consider the donor leaving money to an organization that trains service dogs for veterans and individuals with disabilities. The donor may feel strongly that every dollar should be used for that specific purpose. But what happens if the organization merges with another nonprofit, changes its mission, or no longer exists 30 years from now? What if advances in technology or therapy create new ways to serve the same population?

Similarly, imagine leaving a gift to a local housing assistance charity. Decades later, the organization may have changed its name, merged with another community nonprofit, or expanded its services to address new housing challenges. If your gift is tied too tightly to a specific program that no longer exists, future leaders may have difficulty carrying out your wishes. This is why we encourage clients to focus first on the broader objective they hope to achieve.

Rather than asking, "How do I make sure this exact program exists forever?" consider asking, "What problem am I trying to solve?" The more clearly you define the purpose behind your gift, the more likely it is that future generations can honor your intent, even if the organization changes.

Flexibility

For example, instead of directing funds exclusively to a particular service dog training program, you might state that your intent is to support veterans or individuals with disabilities in achieving greater independence and quality of life. Or rather than limiting a gift to one housing or food insecurity initiative, you could express a desire to support affordable housing, housing stability, or programs that help vulnerable families secure safe housing and nutrition.

The same concept applies to schools, churches, libraries, and other charitable institutions. A donor may wish to support education, faith formation, literacy, community outreach, or local scholarships.

Contingencies

Another important step is considering a few "what if" scenarios when working with your estate planning attorney. What if the organization no longer exists? What if it merges with another institution? What if the program you intended to support has been discontinued? What if the need you hoped to address has largely been solved?

Including contingency language in your estate documents can help avoid confusion and ensure your gift continues serving a meaningful purpose. We also encourage donors to have conversations with the organizations they intend to support. Many charities, schools, churches, and nonprofits don't learn they are the beneficiaries until after the donor passes away.

Meeting with organizational leadership can help you better understand their long-term vision, governance, and future needs. It may also help you determine whether your expectations align with the organization's ability to carry out your wishes for years to come.

Effective charitable planning requires both clarity and flexibility. You want your values to guide how your money is ultimately used, but you also want future leaders to have enough discretion to respond to circumstances none of us can foresee today.

The most successful charitable legacies are often those that preserve your intent while allowing organizations to adapt to a changing world. By focusing on the impact you want to create rather than specific details of how it’s to be accomplished, you may help ensure your generosity continues making a difference for generations to come. Stay focused and plan accordingly.