Wills and Trusts

Remembering us in your estate plan is a simple way to create a legacy.

older black couple dancing close together in the living room

Gifts Through Your Will and Trust

A charitable bequest through your will or revocable trust is an easy and flexible way to join our mission to build a world of longer, healthier lives. Your will or trust gives you peace of mind knowing your loved ones are taken care of, your assets are distributed accurately, and your gift reflects your personal values. By including a bequest to the American Heart Association in your estate plan, you ensure you’re leaving a lasting impact.

Benefits

You retain control of your assets during your lifetime.
You can modify your bequest as your circumstances change.
There is no upper-limit on the estate tax deductions that can be taken for charitable bequests.

How It Works

Provide now for a future gift to the American Heart Association by including a bequest provision in your will or revocable trust.
Your will or trust directs assets to your heirs.
Your will or trust directs a bequest to the American Heart Association for purpose(s) you specify.

Trusts are powerful estate planning tools and there are many to choose from based on your unique needs and circumstances. Certain trusts can provide you with greater control over how your assets are distributed to your heirs and help you reduce the taxes on that transfer.

Learn more about Revocable Living Trusts

Learn more about Charitable Trusts (PDF)

Resources to Help You Create Your Legacy

Donor Spotlight: Leslie Amick

David Ahlvers posing with arms spread wide in front of large fallen tree; his adult daughter, Leslie Amick, imitating his pose in a similar location

My dad was one of my favorite people in the world. He was born with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, a form of muscular dystrophy, which left him disabled physically. Our family had the gift of taking care of him, and that was an aspect of our relationship when I was growing up - it made us closer. He always taught us to, “give the gifts you have to give, don’t focus on what you can’t do, focus on what you can do.” His life story proved exactly that, when he couldn’t run the family farm, he became a successful CPA, and eventually a professor of economics at Kansas State University.

In 2004, we found out that my dad had to undergo quadruple bypass surgery. Before then, I’ll admit I had never really thought about heart disease or the American Heart Association other than enjoying Jump Rope for Heart as a kid in small town Kansas. But because of my dad’s disability, my whole life I had seen the best in humanity when people and strangers would help him out of the kindness of their hearts. I decided then that the gift I was able to give was to help others as well. I started working for the American Heart Association in 2006 and was able to move back home to help take care of my dad. When he had a fatal heart attack during the beginning of the pandemic, I was able to witness the chain of survival in action, from my brother being coached through telecommunicator CPR, the valiant paramedics who performed CPR on him for 38 minutes before they got his pulse back. Although we lost my Dad that day, I saw the chain of survival working hard to save my Dad’s life.

Since his passing, I’ve given a lot of thought to the extra sixteen years I was given with my dad because of the heart surgery that saved his life. When I saw the opportunity to honor my Dad and include the American Heart Association in my estate plans, I realized that I could give others the same gift of time by funding more research and supporting the AHA. I made the gift in his name, David Ahlvers, so when I receive updates and other communications they always come in his name, and it never fails to touch my heart and remind me of his voice saying, “give the gifts you have to give.”

Additional Information

Compare the Benefits of a Will vs. a Trust

chart displaying features of Last Will and Testament vs Revocable Living Trust

The decision between a will or trust depends on individual circumstances and goals. A revocable living trust might be advantageous if you have a large or complicated estate, own a business, or own real estate in different states. An estate planning attorney can help you determine what type of estate plan best serves your needs.

Sample Bequest Language

General Purpose Specific Bequest

I give, devise, bequeath, ______ (insert dollar amount or item of property to be donated) to the American Heart Association, Inc., or its successor organization, a nonprofit corporation as described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, with a tax-identification number of 13-5613797 and with national headquarters located at 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75231, to be used for fighting cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

General Purpose Residuary Bequest

I give, devise, bequeath, ______ (insert % amount) of all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to the American Heart Association Inc., or its successor organization, a nonprofit corporation as described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, with a tax-identification number of 13-5613797 and with national headquarters located at 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75231, to be used for fighting cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Restricted Purpose Bequest

I give, devise, bequeath, ______ (insert dollar amount, item of property or % of residue) to the American Heart Association Inc., or its successor organization, a nonprofit corporation as described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, with a tax-identification number of 13-5613797 and with national headquarters located at 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75231 to be used exclusively [insert restricted use language here such as: for research, for CPR training, in the state of Maine, etc.].

For More Information

If you have questions about how to make a bequest or are not sure which strategy might be right for you, please contact us at 888-227-5242 or [email protected]. We are pleased to assist you and answer your questions.