When you create a will, you’re not just planning for your family, you’re making an intentional choice to shape how your story endures. At the Defiance Area Foundation (DAF), we invite you to turn that intention into a lasting impact through our Legacy Society.
What It Means to Create a Will
A will is a legal document that outlines how your assets, like property, financial holdings, or personal belongings, should be distributed after you pass away. It can name beneficiaries, appoint guardians for minors, and specify an executor to carry out your wishes. Without a will, your state’s laws determine how your assets are handled, often without reflecting your personal intentions. When you create a will you ensures clarity, help avoid disputes, and you can include powerful steps, like incorporating DAF into your estate plan.
Introducing the Legacy Society
The Legacy Society honors individuals and families who choose to include the Defiance Area Foundation in their estate or planned giving. As our site explains:
“The Legacy Society at the Defiance Area Foundation honors generous individuals and families who have made a lasting commitment to our community by including the Foundation in their estate or planned giving.”
These planned or “legacy” gifts can take many forms, commonly through a bequest in a will or trust, a life insurance policy, a retirement account (IRA, 401(k)), or a charitable trust or annuity. Notably, there is no minimum gift amount required to join the Legacy Society.
By naming DAF in your estate plan, you leave a legacy that enriches your community, whether supporting education, healthcare, the arts, parks, or other local passions of yours.
Incorporating DAF in Your Will
Including the Defiance Area Foundation in your will is a meaningful and straightforward way to support future generations. You can direct your gift to an existing fund, or work with the Foundation to create a new one aligned with your philanthropic goals. Whether your gift is large or small, it will have a lasting impact. No gift is too big or too small.
How to Formalize Your Gift Legally
While DAF provides guidance and works with your advisors, including DAF in your will must be formalized through a licensed attorney. There are many reputable local law firms in Defiance County that can assist you in creating your will and making it official.
Your attorney will ensure your will is legally sound, so your inclusion of DAF is clear, protected, and enforceable.
Why It All Matters
By working with an attorney to create your will and include DAF:
- You join our Legacy Society, securing your place among those committed to the future of Defiance County.
- You ensure your philanthropic values endure, supporting causes you care about without impacting your current financial well-being.
- You give DAF the legal clarity needed to honor your gift and steward it faithfully.
Next Steps You Can Take
- Decide your philanthropic goals: whether it’s supporting scholarships, arts, parks, or other causes close to you.
- Consult your law firm: Your licensed attorney will assist you in creating a will that includes DAF in a clear and official manner.
- Let DAF know of your planned gift so we can welcome you to the Legacy Society and discuss options like fund designation or recognition preferences.
- Share your vision with loved ones, ensuring your intentions are understood and your legacy is celebrated.
By choosing to create a will that includes the Defiance Area Foundation, you’re making a meaningful statement: that your legacy is about more than your lifetime, it’s about enriching the future of our community. Visit our Legacy Society page to learn more and take the first step toward making your legacy last for generations to come.
