Estate Planning is about Meaning, not just Money

When we asked people across southwest Washington what legacy means earlier this year, their answers weren’t about money. They responded with reflections about service, family and our collective future. You can feel it in the heartfelt wisdom Ach' Sheila Davis, Interim Co-Chair of the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition, shared during her video interview. 

“When I think of legacy, I think of love and what I'm leaving behind,” she said. “…I think of people who inspire me; I think of my elders and my ancestors who have led the way to where I am at today.”

Sheila’s words remind me of how our choices shape the kind of community future generations will inherit. The people, places and causes we care for today will one day tell a story about who we were and what we valued most. Tying charity into your estate plan is a great way to pass these values and beliefs across generations.

A Place and Time to Shape Your Legacy

At the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, we help individuals and families transform their passions into purpose. Legacy giving is one of the most powerful ways we do that, because we help ensure your generosity continues to shape southwest Washington long after you’re gone by strengthening the same causes and communities you care about today.

This year, from October 20-26, organizations nationwide are observing National Estate Planning Awareness Week. to show how thoughtful estate planning can help Americans pass what they’ve built to their loved ones, their communities and the causes they care about most We’re participating by sharing community perspectives about legacy on our social channels—LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram—and highlighting how philanthropy fits into the estate planning puzzle.

In this way, estate planning is more than finances and paperwork; it’s a tool for empowerment because it allows anyone—regardless of income or stage in life—to create a legacy of impact. It’s a way to turn your care for the community into something larger and longer-lasting than you ever imagined. 

How the Community Foundation Can Help Create Your Legacy

There are many ways to plan a charitable gift, and the right approach depends on your financial situation, philanthropic goals and tax considerations. We encourage everyone to work with their professional advisors, and we’re always happy to be part of the conversation.

A fund at the Community Foundation can be an ideal recipient of a future gift through your will, trust or beneficiary designations. Some of the most common and effective options include:

• Bequests through a will or trust: A simple and flexible way to support the causes you care about while retaining full control of your assets during your lifetime.
• Retirement plan gifts: Designating a fund at the Community Foundation as the beneficiary of your IRA or other qualified retirement account can be a highly tax-efficient option. Because the Community Foundation is tax-exempt, the full value of your gift goes to the community for greater impact. 
• Life insurance gifts: You can name a fund at the Community Foundation as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or even transfer ownership of a whole life policy to create a charitable gift. Doing so may also provide an immediate tax deduction and ongoing deductions for future premium payments.
• Flexible fund terms: Even after your estate plans are finalized, you can work with us to update your fund’s purpose or beneficiaries without revising your will or trust. This flexibility allows you to make easy changes if your passions or community needs change.

Our team makes it easy for your attorney or advisor to include charitable language that reflects your intentions clearly and accurately. Because when it comes to legacy, simplicity matters.

Legacy in Action: Community Stories

When people think about “leaving a legacy,” they often imagine something grand or out of reach. In reality, legacies are built through quiet acts of generosity, the relationships we nurture and the ways we show up. Eduardo Torres, Vice President of the Southwest Washington League of United Latin American Citizens, is a great example and explained his legacy in this way.

“Every time I do something, I always try to think about what I needed or wanted growing up. Then, I make sure that as I accomplish something—at the same time—someone else can also accomplish that or they're given the next step.”

These perspectives illustrate how every contribution—whether it’s your time, talent or a planned bequest— adds another line to southwest Washington’s story. And together, those lines create a legacy of care that will guide generations to come.

You can start today. Explore the many ways you can create a charitable legacy through the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. And, when you’re ready, we’d love to talk through the details. Because the best message to the future is the one we write together.