By making a bequest to Willamette University in your will or living trust, you can:

Regardless of your charitable intentions, you should have a will or living trust in place to protect your family and ensure that you, rather than the state, determine the legacy you leave. Attorney fees for drafting a simple will or living trust typically are surprisingly modest. If you have an existing will or living trust, your attorney can easily add a provision for a bequest to the University. Bequests should refer to "Willamette University, an Oregon nonprofit corporation located in Salem, Oregon." If you wish, you can designate a specific University program or fund to benefit from your bequest. Even seemingly small bequests to Willamette can make a meaningful difference in the lives of future students.

Bequests can take the following forms:

• A percentage bequest provides that Willamette will receive a specified percentage of your estate. You can choose any percentage you wish. A percentage bequest assures that inflation does not reduce the true value of the gift you intend for the University.
  
  
• A general bequest provides that the University will receive a designated amount of money from your estate.
  
  
• A specific bequest provides that the University will receive a specific asset, such as real estate or stock of a corporation.
  
  
• A residuary bequest provides that the University will receive the balance of your estate (or a designated percentage of the balance) after all estate administrative costs, percentage bequests, general bequests, and specific bequests have been satisfied.
  
  
• A contingent bequest allows you to build a contingency into your bequest, for example, a stipulation that the University will receive a portion of your estate only if your spouse is not living at the time of your death.