Estate Planning

You can support EqualityMaine’s work in a variety of ways, including through your estate. Planned gifts are a tremendous recognition of your commitment to full equality for all Maine citizens. For more information, please contact Development Director Alan Lindquist.

Bequests in your will

Bequests in your will are very easy to arrange. If you already have a will, you can ask your attorney to add a bequest codicil (a brief legal supplement that adds to or modifies your current will). This process is simple and less expensive than drafting a new will.

If you are drafting your first will, ask your attorney to include your bequest to EqualityMaine in the will’s body.

With a bequest, you may donate a specific sum of money, a percentage of your estate or an asset (such as real estate or stock) to EqualityMaine. You may also allocate a percentage of “the rest, residue and remainder” of your estate to EqualityMaine, after first providing for your family members and friends.

Please discuss your wishes with your attorney. She or he may use language like the sample below to construct your bequest:

"I give and bequeath the sum of $____ [or ____% of my estate, or the following described property e.g. stocks, savings bonds, etc., or % of my residuary estate] to EqualityMaine or its successor, a nonprofit organization incorporated in Maine, and with a business address of 1 Pleasant Street, Portland, ME 04104.”

If your attorney has any questions, he or she should contact us at (207) 761-3732.

Other bequests

In addition to your will, any financial arrangement that allows you to name a death beneficiary can become a bequest to EqualityMaine. These include, but may not be limited to:

• Life insurance policy
• Retirement savings plan (such as IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc.)
• Many financial accounts (such as CDs, savings accounts)
• Revocable living trust

Please contact your attorney, financial advisor or account manager for instructions, information, and to learn about potential tax benefits of naming EqualityMaine as a beneficiary.

When you make a bequest

If you decide to include EqualityMaine in your estate planning, please be sure to let us know. We'd like the opportunity to thank you, and to let you know more about how your gift will sustain our work.