Continuing a Legacy of Justice and Peace for the People of El Salvador
You may have accompanied the people of El Salvador with the CIS through many years of your life. And you may wish to continue to create an impact far into the future. One way to do this is to include Los Olivos CIS in your will.
A will gives assurance that you have made provisions for your family members and organizations of significance to you beyond your own life.
Your bequest to the CIS will help sustain our work of planting seeds of justice in young leaders, empowered women and communities organized to manage their environmental resources with knowledge of their rights. It will enable us to grow our solidarity with international partners and ensure the longevity and long-term impact of the CIS and the grassroots community groups with which we work.
With a bequest, you can:
Continue to be in control of the funds during your lifetime. A bequest does not become irrevocable until death; you can change the bequest at any time during your lifetime.
Reduce estate taxes. Charitable bequests are normally deductible in full for estate tax purposes.
Direct the CIS to establish a fund bearing your name that can be designated for a specific program or initiative that is important to you now.
Spare family members the burden of paying both estate and income taxes by leaving retirement plan assets to a non-profit organization.
Contribute to the CIS's ongoing mission, even in modest amounts. Bequests are not just for the wealthy. Even a small portion of a typical estate can be a very meaningful gift.
The CIS requests financial support for the following programs:
CIS Youth Scholarship and Leadership Development Program
CIS Clean Water and Environment Program
CIS Staff Health Care and Retirement Fund
Women’s Enterprises and Empowerment Program (SEW)
General Guidance for Making a Bequest to the CIS
If you would like to make a bequest to the CIS, you must state that clearly in your will. Second, although we offer (below) sample language for various types of bequeaths that can be adapted to your document, we always recommend that you consult a lawyer regarding the specific language for your will. Third, your will must be signed by a lawyer. Otherwise, it is not legally valid and your wishes may not be fulfilled.
The following is recommended language that you and your attorney can use and adapt to make a gift to benefit the CIS through your will or revocable/living trust.
Sample Language: General Unrestricted Bequest
"I give, devise and bequeath to Los Olivos CIS, a Minnesota non-profit corporation in St. Paul, Minnesota 55126, [percentage of residue, sum, or description of property], the principal and income of which shall be used for such purposes as the Board of Directors may determine."
Sample Language: Bequest for a Specific Program with Unrestricted Use/Purpose
"I give, devise and bequeath to Los Olivos CIS, a Minnesota non-profit corporation in St. Paul, Minnesota 55126, [percentage of residue, sum, or description of property], the principal and income of which shall be distributed by the Board of Directors to the [name of Program] for use where the need is greatest."
Sample Language: Restricted Use (only for specific purposes)
"I give, devise and bequeath to Los Olivos CIS, a Minnesota non-profit corporation in St. Paul, Minnesota 55126, [percentage of residue, sum, or description of property], the principal and income of which shall be distributed by the Board of Directors to the scholarship program of [name of community/municipality]."
** If you are interested in bequeathing to another specific project of the CIS, please consult with the CIS Director.
Sample Language: Request of Residue (for the remainder of an estate after all other bequests are made)
"All [or a portion] of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, of every kind and description, wherever situated and whether now owned or hereafter acquired, including any power of appointment, I give, devise, and bequeath to Los Olivos CIS, a Minnesota non-profit corporation in St. Paul, Minnesota 55126, the principal and income of which shall be used for such purposes as the Board of Directors may determine."
Sample Language: Contingent Bequest (in the case that other bequests cannot be completed)
"In the case of a failure or lapse of any legacy or device herein such that the property so bequeathed or devised would pass by intestacy, I direct that in lieu thereof such property shall pass to Los Olivos CIS, a Minnesota non-profit corporation in St. Paul, Minnesota 55126, to be known as the CIS Solidarity Fund, the principal and income of which shall be used for such purposes as the Board of Directors may determine."
OR
"If [none of] the above person[s] survive[s] me, or if there is no one in existence who is a member of the class of persons designated in paragraph [ ], I give, devise and bequeath such property to Los Olivos CIS, a Minnesota non-profit corporation in St. Paul, Minnesota to be known as the CIS Solidarity Fund, the principal and income of which shall be used for such organizational purposes as the Board of Directors may determine."
Sample Language: Pursuant to Memorandum of Agreement
"I give, devise and bequeath to Los Olivos CIS, a Minnesota non-profit corporation in St. Paul, Minnesota 55126, the sum of $___________ [or otherwise describe the gift] and direct this bequest to the [program] to be used pursuant to my Memorandum of Agreement on file with Los Olivos CIS."
Once again, this information is not intended as legal or tax advice, but as general information on planned giving. For legal advice, please consult an attorney.
Contact Us with Questions
For more information on planned giving to the CIS, or to discuss a specific bequest to the CIS, please contact Mimi Jordan, Board Secretary, at +1-866-887-2665 or mijordan65@gmail.com.
To consult about which community projects (aside from those listed) are most in need of your support, please contact Leslie Schuld, CIS Director, at director@cis-elsalvador.org.
