Bequest Language

The American University Board of Trustees are honored friends choose to include AU in their charitable estate plans. The provision in your will or revocable living trust providing for a gift to AU should reflect your own unique circumstances and philanthropic objectives. We hope these samples will be helpful to you and your attorney.

Unrestricted Gift: “I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ [a specific dollar amount, percentage of the residue of your estate, or a specific asset such as a bank account, stock, or piece of real estate] to American University, a Congressionally-chartered, non-profit institution for higher education located at 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, Federal Tax ID # 53-0196549. I request AU’s Trustees use these funds as appropriate in support of excellence at American University. If at the date of my death American University, or its successor, is not a charitable organization, then this distribution shall lapse.”

Gift for a Specific Purpose: "I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ [a specific dollar amount, percentage of the residue of your estate, or a specific asset such as a bank account, stock, piece of real estate or collection] to American University, a Congressionally-chartered, non-profit institution for higher education located at 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, Federal Tax ID # 53-0196549. The objects/funds shall be used for the following purpose: __________ [a specific purpose, such as providing for financial aid to students or supporting a particular school, college, or program of the University]. If at the date of my death American University, or its successor, is not a charitable organization, then this distribution shall lapse."

Gifts From Investment Accounts, Retirement Accounts, or Life Insurance Policies

You may choose to designate American University as beneficiary of all or part of your investment account, retirement account, or life insurance policy. The beneficiary designation form may ask for AU's tax identification number. That number is 53-0196549.

For additional information on supporting American University through charitable estate planning, please visit www.american.edu/plannedgiving or contact:

Seth D. Speyer • Executive Director of Planned Giving
American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016
202-885-3411 • speyer@american.edu

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