Thank you for visiting the planned giving page for "America's Parish Church". Here you can learn more about naming Saint Patrick's Cathedral as a beneficiary in your will. Such gifts might include a bequest and/or charitable income gifts, such as charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder unitrusts, charitable remainder annuity trusts, or gifts of life insurance.
It is our hope that your foresight will also inspire the generosity of others. Thank you for your consideration.
Leaving a Bequest to St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Leaving a bequest in your will for St. Patrick’s Cathedral can be directed toward either a restricted or unrestricted fund. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a qualified, tax-exempt charity pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and as such, your estate may receive an unlimited estate-tax charitable deduction for the amount of your gift. Your bequest through your will may be for a specific dollar amount, or you may consider leaving St. Patrick’s Cathedral all or a percentage of the residuary of your estate.
Unrestricted Bequest of Specific Assets
The standard legal wording for this type of bequest is as follows:
“I give, devise and bequeath to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 460 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022, the sum of $________ (or property described) for its general purposes.”
In the event your legal adviser should ask for it, St. Patrick’s Cathedral tax identification number is 13-1624175.
Unrestricted Bequest of a Percentage of Your Estate
This is a good technique for ensuring that the Cathedral will receive the desired portion of your eventual estate, no matter how the nature and disposition of your assets might change and grow over the years. If you wish, the residual amount of your estate can be directed to St. Patrick’s Cathedral after bequests are directed to family members and friends.
The appropriate wording would be as follows: “I give, devise and bequeath _____ (percent) of the rest, residual and remainder of my estate to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 460 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022, for its general purposes.”
Contingent Unrestricted Bequest
In the event you may be predeceased by an heir, you can designate St. Patrick’s Cathedral as a contingent beneficiary of all or a portion of your estate. Such a bequest would read.
“In the event that _______________ (name of primary beneficiary) should not survive me, I give, devise and bequeath ________ (the desired sum, property or percentage of your estate) to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 460 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022, for its general purposes.”
A Restricted Bequest
While an unrestricted bequest allows St. Patrick’s Cathedral greatest flexibility, bequests for a purpose of special interest to the donor are also most welcome.
To make a restricted bequest to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, you would use the standard language shown above and simply substitute the designated purpose in place of the words for its general purposes. To ensure that your gift can be used most effectively, please discuss a restricted use that you may have in mind with the Rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral prior to including specific terms and conditions in your will.