Legacy and Memorial Gifts for Africa: Leave a Bequest, Honour a Loved One or Name a Well

A legacy or memorial gift for Africa is one of the most meaningful gifts you can make. It can honour someone you love, mark a family milestone, or carry your values into the next generation. This guide explains the main ways to leave a legacy gift or give in memory of someone, and how to do it safely.

We'll also show how to arrange these gifts with GiveToAfrica, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. You can name the cause your gift supports, from clean water to scholarships, and we will record and report on it just like any other gift.

Please note that this guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Before you change your will or beneficiary designations, speak to your own attorney or financial adviser.

Why leave a legacy gift or memorial gift for Africa

A legacy gift can do something a lifetime of small gifts cannot. For example, a bequest can fund a complete borehole that serves a village for decades, or put several students through secondary school.

Similarly, a memorial gift turns grief into something lasting. Many families ask friends to give to a cause their loved one cared about, instead of sending flowers. As a result, a funeral or anniversary becomes the start of clean water, meals or schooling for others.

Moreover, these gifts can be planned. Therefore, you can choose exactly what your legacy funds, and make sure it is spent the way you intended.

Why plan a legacy gift with GiveToAfrica

Every cause on our site shows its budget, targets and gift amounts, so you can see exactly what a legacy gift could fund. For instance, the wells and boreholes page shows that a new drilled borehole serving about 500 people costs around $12,000 in our current budget.

Additionally, GiveToAfrica is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 27-3982730. Consequently, charitable bequests and gifts are generally deductible for US tax purposes to the extent allowed by law. Your adviser can explain how this applies to your estate.

Most importantly, we report on every gift. Legacy and memorial gifts are recorded against the cause you choose, and the family can receive the field reports. You can read why we send field reports and how we work.

Our Services: ways to leave a legacy or memorial gift

Here are seven ways to leave a legacy gift or honour someone through GiveToAfrica. Each can support any of our 38 causes.

A gift in your will (a bequest)

A bequest is a gift you leave in your will or living trust. It costs nothing during your lifetime, and you can change it at any time. Many people leave a percentage of their estate, so the gift stays in proportion whatever happens to their assets.

To include GiveToAfrica, your attorney will need our full legal name and our EIN, 27-3982730. For example, your will might say: "I give [a sum, or a percentage of my estate] to GiveToAfrica, a nonprofit organization, EIN 27-3982730, for its general charitable purposes."

If you want the gift used for a specific cause, you can say so. However, we recommend also allowing it to go "where most needed" if that cause is fully funded. That way, your gift is never stuck.

Naming GiveToAfrica as a beneficiary

You can also name a charity as a beneficiary of a retirement account, life insurance policy or bank account. This is usually done with a simple form from your provider, without changing your will.

In fact, retirement accounts are often a tax-efficient asset to leave to charity, because heirs may owe income tax on them while a qualified charity generally does not. Your financial adviser can confirm how this works for you.

A memorial gift in someone's name

A memorial gift honours someone who has died. You can give on our donation page and add a note in the message field, such as "In memory of Grace Mitchell".

Many families also ask friends and relatives to give in lieu of flowers. If you would like to set up a memorial collection, contact us. We will help you choose a cause, and we can let the family know how much was given in total.

A tribute gift for a birthday, wedding or anniversary

Not every tribute is a memorial. Many donors give in honour of a living person, for a birthday, wedding, graduation or retirement. For example, some couples ask wedding guests to fund school meals instead of buying gifts.

Simply add a note in the message field when you give, such as "In honour of Mum's 70th birthday". Similarly, you can volunteer with us to run a birthday fundraiser among friends.

Naming a borehole or classroom in memory of a loved one

Some families want a lasting, visible memorial. In that case, funding a complete project, such as a borehole or classroom, can be a powerful choice.

A complete classroom with desks and a blackboard costs about $15,000 in our current budget, and a new borehole about $12,000. If you would like to fund a whole project and dedicate it, contact us first. We will explain the costs, what is possible locally, and how the dedication is recorded in the field report.

A legacy gift for education

Education is a natural legacy, because its effects last a lifetime. For instance, a bequest to scholarships can fund students through secondary school and university. A full year of secondary school costs about $1,100 in our current budget.

Similarly, gifts to school construction build classrooms that will serve pupils for decades.

A legacy gift for children

Many people want their legacy to protect children. Our orphan care cause keeps orphaned children with relatives, fed and in school, until the household can stand on its own. Likewise, child sponsorship supports children with schooling, health checks and nutrition.

Therefore, a legacy gift to children's welfare can change the course of many young lives.

Where a legacy gift goes

A legacy gift follows the same published budget as any other gift to that cause. For example, a bequest to wells and boreholes is split between drilling and casing (48%), survey and testing (10%), pump and apron (17%), local water committees and mechanics (15%), and monitoring (10%).

Therefore, you can see today exactly how your legacy would be used. If costs change by the time the gift arrives, the field report explains how.

Giving in memory of someone who loved Africa

Many memorial gifts honour someone with a personal link to Africa. For instance, the person may have been born there, worked there or volunteered there. In that case, the family often chooses a cause connected to their life.

For example, a teacher might be remembered through teacher training. A nurse might be remembered through maternal and child health. Similarly, someone who loved wildlife might be remembered through elephant and rhino protection.

Consequently, the gift becomes a living continuation of that person's work and values. Many families also find comfort in reading the field reports together each quarter.

Sample wording for your will or trust

Your attorney will draft the exact wording. However, it helps to know the common types of bequest before you meet them.

A specific bequest

A specific bequest leaves a fixed amount. For example: "I give the sum of $25,000 to GiveToAfrica, a nonprofit organization, EIN 27-3982730, for its general charitable purposes." This is simple and clear. However, its value does not change if your estate grows or shrinks.

A residuary bequest

A residuary bequest leaves all or part of what remains after other gifts and expenses are paid. For example: "I give 10% of the residue of my estate to GiveToAfrica, EIN 27-3982730." Many people prefer this, because it keeps the gift in proportion to the estate.

A restricted bequest

If you want your gift used for one purpose, you can say so. For instance: "…to be used for clean water projects, or, if that purpose is fully funded, for its general charitable purposes." Adding that last phrase is important. Otherwise, a restricted gift can become difficult to use if circumstances change.

Memorial gifts: wording for an obituary or service

Many families include a line in an obituary or funeral programme. For example: "In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to GiveToAfrica for clean water in Africa, at givetoafrica.net/donate."

Similarly, you can name any cause. For example, "…for school meals in Africa" or "…for orphan care". Friends can then give online and add your loved one's name in the message field.

Afterwards, if you let us know, we can tell the family the total given in their loved one's memory. We never share individual donors' amounts without their permission.

Giving now or giving later

Some donors choose to give part of their legacy during their lifetime. There are good reasons to do so. First, you can see the results yourself, through the quarterly field reports. Second, you can adjust future gifts based on what you learn.

For example, a donor might fund one borehole now, read the reports over the next year, and then leave a bequest for more. In other words, giving now and giving later can work together.

On the other hand, a bequest lets you keep your savings for your own needs during your lifetime. Therefore, many people do both: a modest regular gift now, and a larger legacy gift in their will.

How to arrange a legacy or memorial gift from the USA

Here is how US donors most often arrange these gifts.

Speak to your attorney or adviser

For bequests and beneficiary designations, start with your own attorney or financial adviser. Give them our legal name and EIN, 27-3982730. If they need anything else from us, such as a letter confirming our status, contact us.

Let us know, if you're comfortable

You don't have to tell us about a legacy gift. However, if you do, we can make sure your wishes are understood and recorded. Simply email info@givetoafrica.net.

Give a memorial or tribute gift online

For memorial and tribute gifts, use our donation page. Choose a cause, pick an amount from $50, and add the dedication in the message field. Your receipt arrives by email.

Give through a donor-advised fund or IRA

You can also make a memorial gift from a donor-advised fund, using EIN 27-3982730 and noting the dedication in the grant. If you are 70½ or older, a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA may also be possible; contact us first.

Legacy giving across the United States

Legacy and memorial gifts come from every part of the country. Still, some patterns are common.

Retirees in Florida and Arizona

Many retirees in Naples, Sarasota and Scottsdale plan their estates with advisers who specialise in charitable giving. Consequently, beneficiary designations and bequests are common there, often for scholarships or clean water.

Families in the Northeast and Midwest

In New England, New York and across the Midwest, many families have long traditions of memorial gifts through churches and community groups. Similarly, many choose memorial collections in lieu of flowers.

Diaspora families across the country

African diaspora families in Houston, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and Minneapolis often honour parents and grandparents with gifts to the communities they came from. As a result, many choose orphan care or school construction.

Families in California and the Pacific Northwest

On the West Coast, from Los Angeles to Seattle, many families set up living trusts rather than relying on a will alone. Consequently, charitable gifts are often written into the trust, sometimes as a percentage of what remains. In addition, many West Coast donors hold appreciated stock or cryptocurrency. For those assets, a gift during your lifetime or through a donor-advised fund may be more tax-efficient than a bequest, so it is worth asking your adviser. Whatever you choose, the gift can support any of our causes, from clean water to education.

How to choose a charity for your legacy

Before you name any charity in your will, ask four questions. Is it registered, with a public EIN? Can it tell you what your gift would fund? Will it spend a restricted gift as you asked? Will it report back to your family?

We answer each of those on our cause pages and in how we work. For a wider checklist, read how to choose a charity working in Africa. You can also check our registration in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.

Contact GiveToAfrica about legacy and memorial gifts

We accept gifts from all 50 US states and from supporters worldwide. Have a question about a bequest, a memorial collection or naming a project? Email info@givetoafrica.net, use our contact form, or tap the WhatsApp button on this page. We reply to every message within two working days. See also our privacy policy and terms.

Frequently asked questions

How do I leave a gift to GiveToAfrica in my will?

Ask your attorney to include a bequest to GiveToAfrica, a nonprofit organization, EIN 27-3982730. You can leave a fixed sum or a percentage of your estate, for general purposes or a specific cause.

Can I make a donation in memory of someone?

Yes. Give on our donation page and add the dedication, such as "In memory of…", in the message field. For a memorial collection among family and friends, contact us and we will help.

Can I name a well or classroom after a loved one?

Families who fund a complete project, such as a borehole or classroom, can ask to dedicate it. Please contact us before giving, so we can explain costs and how the dedication is recorded.

Are legacy gifts to GiveToAfrica tax-deductible?

GiveToAfrica is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 27-3982730, so charitable gifts and bequests are generally deductible to the extent allowed by law. Your own adviser can explain how this applies to you.

Can I choose which cause my legacy gift supports?

Yes. You can name any cause, such as clean water or scholarships. We recommend also allowing the gift to go where most needed if that cause is fully funded, so it is never held up.

Ready to plan a legacy or memorial gift?

A legacy or memorial gift for Africa can honour a life and change many others. To give in memory of someone today, visit our donation page. To plan a bequest or name a project, contact our team. We would be glad to help.