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MAXIMIZE your philanthropic goals

  • Make a difference in people's lives and always be remembered for your contribution.
  • Benefit yourself, your family and Rice University with your planned gift.
  • Help us fulfill Rice's mission of providing world-class education and research for years and generations to come.

Gift Planning

You are at: Planned Giving > Learn About Wills > Bequest Language

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You are at: Planned Giving > Learn About Wills > Bequest Language

Rice University Bequest Language

An excellent way for you to support Rice University's mission and leave a lasting legacy is to make a gift from your will or living trust. This type of gift allows you to continue to remain in control of your assets during your lifetime or modify your gift if your circumstances change .

Types of Bequests


There are a number of ways you can make a bequest to Rice University.

Specific Bequest. A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, a car, other property or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $10,000 to Rice University.

Percentage Bequest. Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to Rice University.

Residual Bequest. A residual bequest is made by leaving all or a remaining balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests. For example, you can state in your will or trust that you leave Rice the rest, residue and remainder of your estate.

Contingent Bequest. A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the initial beneficiaries cannot or do not choose to receive the bequest. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to Rice University.

Bequest Benefits


A bequest is generally a revocable gift, which means it can be changed or modified at any time. You can choose to designate that a bequest be used for a general or specific purpose so you have the peace of mind knowing that your gift will be used as intended. Bequests are exempt from federal estate taxes. If you have a taxable estate, the estate tax charitable deduction may offset or eliminate estate taxes, resulting in a larger inheritance for your heirs.

Restricted Bequests


If you are considering a bequest but would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, please let us know. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your charitable objectives. We will also work with you and your attorney to craft language to accomplish your goals.

If you are making a restricted bequest, we recommend that your attorney include the following provision to give Rice University flexibility should it no longer be possible for our Rice University to use your gift as you originally intended:

If, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of Rice University, it shall become impossible for Rice University to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, Rice University may use the income and principal of this gift for such purpose or purposes as the Board determines is most closely related to the restricted purpose of my bequest.

Sample Language


In order to leave a gift to Rice through your will or trust, you should speak with your attorney. Your attorney can help you include Rice in your estate plan. We have provided some basic language to assist you and your attorney.

  • Set Up an Unrestricted Gift:
    "I give to Rice University, a non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation, headquartered in Houston, TX the sum of $_______or____ percentage of my estate for its general purposes."
  • Gift for a Specific Purpose:
    "I give to Rice University, a non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas the sum of $_______or____ percentage of my estate to be used for [state purpose]."

    Please contact the Gift Planning Office so that we may suggest language that would ensure the university is able to use your gift for your intended purpose.

  • Endowment Fund:
    An endowment fund is a gift that benefits Rice forever. Setting up an endowment requires an Endowed Fund Agreement with Rice in order to ensure that your gift can be used for your designated purpose. Please contact the Office of Gift Planning for more information.
  • Residuary Bequest:
    "I give all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, to Rice University, a non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation, headquartered in Houston, TX."
  • Contingency Gift:
    "If (name of beneficiary) does not survive me, then I give to Rice University, a non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation, headquartered in Houston, TX all of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, to be used for its general purposes."
  • Safety Language:
    "Should the fulfillment of the purpose of my gift become impracticable, unlawful, impossible to achieve, wasteful, obsolete or inappropriate, as determined by the Board of Trustees of Rice, then the gift should be used for the purpose most in keeping with my interests, in consultation with my Executor."



Contact Us


Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a lasting gift to Rice University or to request any additional information that might be helpful to you and your attorney.

If you have included for Rice in your estate plan, please contact us to let us know. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.

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