No matter what your age or wealth, deciding how to bequeath your assets is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. Your will, the document that specifies your wishes, allows you to make gifts to your family and friends as well as to charitable organizations you wish to support. You may also find that including Robin Hood in your will allows you to make a more significant contribution than is possible during your lifetime — with the added peace of mind that comes from knowing your estate dollars will have maximum impact in helping New Yorkers in need.

Through a bequest, you may leave a specific dollar amount, all or a percentage of your residuary estate, or specific assets such as marketable securities. You may also create a testamentary charitable remainder trust in your will which provides life income to a loved one before the principal reverts to Robin Hood. A bequest to a charitable organization can significantly save on estate taxes. An outright bequest to Robin Hood will pass free of estate taxes and will count as a deduction when calculating your taxable estate.

Any bequest to Robin Hood is deeply appreciated. The most useful bequest, an unrestricted bequest to Robin Hood, permits Robin Hood to strategically direct your gift where it's needed most at that time. While needs change, what remains constant is Robin Hood's commitment to find and fund the best anti-poverty programs in New York City. You can rely on that.

Suggested language for use in making an unrestricted gift through a bequest:

I give and bequeath to the Robin Hood Foundation, a New York not-for-profit corporation located in the City and State of New York (the sum of ___________ dollars), or (all or ____ % of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate) for its general purposes.

You may make a bequest to Robin Hood by preparing a new will or adding a codicil to your existing will. To assure that your specific intentions are carried out, wills and codicils should be prepared by, or with the advice of, your attorney. Should you decide to make a bequest to Robin Hood, please let us know so we may include you in the Archer Legacy and, with your permission, include your name in future Archer Legacy listings.

To learn more about bequests and planned giving, please contact Katie Martin at Martin@robinhood.org or 212-227-6601.