St Vincent de Paul: Charity Donation Services

Wheelchair Equipped Van and $20,000 Anyone??

We get surprises from time to time — pleasant surprises. From a confused and conflicting set of Will and Trust documents came this bequest — a wheelchair equipped Van, in operating condition, and $20,000. We also gained two friends, daughters of the decedent, who needed our participation to reconcile the conflicting documents and determine what their father really wanted them to receive and what he wanted St Vincent de Paul to receive. Although not Vincentians, they thanked us for making it easy and said they will leave us more of their father's estate when they pass away.

Usually it is simple and clear. St Vincent de Paul receives a bequest of Ten to Fifty Thousand Dollars and, often, the furniture and house contents for our thrift shops after the children have selected their favorite items. Sometimes, though, the writer changes his or her mind at the last minute and tries to make handwritten changes. Or someone loses the documents or tries to change them for the decedent at the end without careful advice.

We have a history of working cooperatively with families at the time of their grief to help, not hinder the estate process. We rely on bequests for a substantial portion of or operating budget and are starting to grow the Vincentian Endowment to support the work of the conferences.

Did you know that a bequest of Ten Thousand Dollars to the Vincentian Endowment will pay rent and utility supplements to a family each year forever? Or provide several food boxes a week for the hungry families we serve, forever? You see, we invest gifts and bequests to the Vincentian Endowment in a separate, legally restricted account, and use the proceeds of those investments to provide an average of 5.5% each year for the conferences. Ten Thousand Dollars, then, provides over $500 per year forever and makes you a supporter of the conference works not just for your life, but forever. Think about it.

The information in this Web site is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to income tax apply to federal taxes only. Federal estate tax, state income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.