Did you know? Brucemore exists today because of a will created by Margaret Douglas Hall.
Shortly after the death of her husband, Howard Hall, Margaret began exploring options for the next chapter of her family estate. The couple did not have children and their philanthropic instincts led to a search for a charitable use of Brucemore, which had been her home since age ten. She ultimately bequeathed Brucemore to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a private non-profit organization based out of Washington DC, with a small endowment to assist with annual expenses. Cedar Rapids leaders created Brucemore, Inc. as a private, non-profit entity that would provide local control of the estate’s preservation and operation.
Only about one-third of people in the United States have a will. August is designated as Make-a-Will month to help encourage people to take this important step. Making a will has several important benefits! Most importantly, it reduces stress for your children, siblings, and friends. Writing your wishes down provides peace of mind.
As in the case with Margaret Hall, wills can also be used to leave a legacy. This can be as simple as allocating a percentage of your funds to a local nonprofit organization as a bequest in your will or by including nonprofits as a beneficiary in your life insurance policy. Or, it can be as complex as alphabet soup (CRAT, CLT, and CRT, oh my)! By creating a will, you typically don’t take away from funds that you need today for routine expenses, travel, or retirement. Instead, it becomes a donation when those funds are no longer required.
Make-a-Will Month is a great time to create a will and set yourself up for the future. Will are easy to make and affordable with the help of a local lawyer or by utilizing one of the many free or low-cost online services.
Brucemore honors people who include the organization in their will or with an endowed gift through the Pride of Brucemore Legacy Society. This is an easy way to keep Brucemore – a place and organization you already love – alive for generations to follow.