Gift in Your Will

Sample Wording for Your Will

"I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, (FEIN #39-1496741), [amount/percentage of the estate, or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose*." 

*Or, specify any area of use, i.e.: “...for its Critical Home Repair program.”

Types of Gifts You Can Leave in Your Will 

Outright Gift
An outright gift leaves a specific amount of your funds or property to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity.
▪ As a percentage of your estate: I give % of my estate to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity.
▪ In a dollar amount : I give to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity the sum of $(amount) .
▪ As a specific asset or item: I give (insert asset or item) to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity. 

Residuary Gift

A residuary gift is a gift to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity of all, or a portion, of your estate after other specific provisions have been carried out.

Contingency Gift
Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity will receive a percentage of your estate if your named beneficiaries do not survive you.

Consult with your accountant and attorney to find out the best way to support Milwaukee Habitat in your planned giving. 

For more information on joining Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity’s Legacy Society, please contact Kelly Schlicht, Donor Relations Manager, at 414-316-5611 or kschlicht@milwaukeehabitat.org. 

Retirement or Life Insurance Plans

Did you know that income and estate taxes can take up to 75% of your retirement plan assets, if  left to your family? One way to avoid this is to designate the retirement plan as a charitable gift.

You can make Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity the beneficiary, or partial beneficiary, of your retirement plan. It’s easy!  Obtain a beneficiary change form from your retirement plan administrator. On that form, indicate the amount or percentage you wish to donate to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity. You can change your beneficiary again in the future, should your needs or wishes change.

We suggest that you talk with your advisors about whether this type of gift will work for you.

Additionally, you can designate Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy. Contact your insurance plan administrator for a beneficiary change form, and indicate the amount or percentage you wish to donate to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity. 

If you include a charitable gift in your estate plans, you may want to talk with your attorney about the advantages of using your retirement plan assets to fund an estate gift to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity. 

For more information on joining Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity’s Legacy Society please contact Kelly Schlicht, Donor Relations Manager, at 414-316-5611 or kschlicht@milwaukeehabitat.org.

Qualified Charitable Distributions

A qualified charitable distribution is an otherwise taxable distribution from an IRA owned by someone over age 70½ or over that is paid directly from the IRA to a qualified charity. Your qualified charitable distributions can satisfy all or part the amount of your year-end, required minimum distribution from your IRA.

You can make a qualified charitable distribution by contacting your retirement plan administrator. Transfers must be made directly to Milwaukee Habitat and can amount to up to $100,000 per year. The transfer must be made by the IRA trustee or custodian directly to Milwaukee Habitat.

Please consult your financial advisor to determine whether this is a good choice for you. For more information about Qualified Charitable Distributions, contact Kelly Schlicht, Donor Relations Manager, at 414-316-5611 or kschlicht@milwaukeehabitat.org.

Already Designated Milwaukee Habitat?

Thank you for including Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity in your will or financial planning. Please provide the following information to ensure that we have accurate records so that we can provide the best stewardship of your gift. This is not a binding legal document, and your information will be kept confidential.