Getting a jump on a future “to do” list is always such a good feeling. The team at the FM Area Foundation can help you with your clients’ long-term charitable giving plans by putting in place the structures to receive bequests decades from now.
Consider a case where you’re finalizing an estate plan for a client who wants to leave bequests to multiple charitable organizations. Still, the identity of those specific organizations may be a moving target over the years because of the client’s evolving level of engagement with various charities as a donor, volunteer, or board member. In other words, this client likely will want to make small changes to the estate plan’s provisions for charitable giving but leave everything else as is. For example, a client’s trust could be drafted to provide that 10% of the remaining estate be divided equally among five charities, which could be listed in the trust document. But what if, a few years from now, the client wants to add another charity to that list? Even a small change like this would require an amendment, which can be time-consuming for both the attorney and the client.
Instead, the client’s trust document could name a fund at the FM Area Foundation as the beneficiary of 10% of the remaining estate. Then, the client can work with the FM Area Foundation to draft a fund agreement that lists the charities that will share the 10%. When the client wants to add new charities or switch out charities from the list, the client can reach out to the FM Area Foundation and simply document the client’s updated intent for the fund. This process is fast and straightforward, allowing clients to ensure that their bequests are in line with ever-changing needs in the community.
Sometimes, the client may not intend to use the fund during their lifetime. That’s perfectly fine; the FM Area Foundation can establish a “shell fund” to sit dormant and receive assets only after the client passes away. Your client can still name the fund whatever they’d like, and the shell fund agreement can be modified anytime before the client’s death.
