A Pie Analogy for Giving
Picture your estate as a pie. When you decide whom you want to share it with, you can cut big slices, little slices or somewhere in between.
We talk to many supporters of Virginia Wesleyan University who worry that leaving a gift in their will to VWU may jeopardize their family’s well-being. The pie analogy comes in handy. You dictate the serving sizes. You can ensure that your loved ones get the biggest portion of your estate. You can also make sure your family gets served first.
Here is how:
Instead of a fixed amount, consider leaving Virginia Wesleyan University a percentage of your estate or of specific assets. That way, your charitable gift will adjust according to future circumstances, and gifts to loved ones will remain proportional—no matter how your estate fluctuates. Here are two ways to do it:
- Gift a percentage of your estate to Virginia Wesleyan University in your will.
- Leave Virginia Wesleyan University a percentage of your residual estate (the portion of your estate that remains after all gifts and bequests have been made and all claims of the estate are satisfied).
The great thing about gifts from your will is that they are flexible: You can change your mind at any time. Just know that whatever you settle on, a gift to Virginia Wesleyan University does not have to be large—every slice makes a difference.
Save a Slice for Virginia Wesleyan University
Even a small piece of your estate makes an impact. Contact Lori Harris '94 at 757.233.8786 or lharris@vwu.edu to learn more about supporting VWU while serving family first.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.