One of the most important ways that you may express your personal commitment to the mission and work of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California is by making a gift through your will or trust that will provide financial support for the protection of civil liberties after your lifetime.
You may include the American Civil Liberties Union or the ACLU Foundation as a beneficiary of your will for a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or as a contingent beneficiary. Although both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation accept bequests, only those to the ACLU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, qualify for the estate tax charitable deduction.
When your attorney drafts your will, we suggest using the following language:
"I give to the ACLU Foundation of Southern California [(the sum of $___) or (all or __ percent of my residuary estate)] to be used for its general purposes."
or
"I give to the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California [(the sum of $___) or (all or __ percent of my residuary estate)] to be used for its general purposes."
For further information about making a bequest, please contact:
Jessica Colburn, Deputy Director of Philanthropy
ACLU of Southern California
1313 W. 8th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213-977-5216
jcolburn@aclusocal.org