Wills and Trust Giving Program

The Wills & Trust Giving Program provides individuals, families, and organizations a way to make a tax-deductible donation to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). The NVFC’s mission is to provide a voice for the volunteer fire, rescue, and emergency services at the national level through advocacy, training, and resource development.

Through contributions to the NVFC, we are able to continue and enhance our work to support the first responder community through training, health and safety initiatives, research, advocacy, and resources.

Called a charitable bequest, this type of gift offers these benefits:

Simplicity. Just a few sentences in your will or trust are all that is needed. An example of the language could include:

“I give (state the amount) to the National Volunteer Fire Council of Washington, DC.”

If you would like to use the percentage approach, suggested language could include “I give x percent of my residuary estate” (which is the amount left after specific bequests have been made).

Flexibility. Because you are not actually making a gift until after your lifetime, you can change your mind at any time.

Tax Relief. If your estate is subject to estate tax, your gift is entitled to an estate tax charitable deduction for the gift’s full value.

How it Works:

To make a charitable bequest, you need a current will or revocable living trust.

Your gift can be made as a percentage of your estate or you can make a specific bequest by giving a certain amount of cash, securities, or property. Donors can also make a gift of retirement assets (such as IRAs, 401(k), 403(b) or Keogh Plan accounts) by designating the NVFC as the beneficiary of these assets.

Putting Your Family First:

When planning a future gift, it’s sometimes difficult to determine what size donation to make. Emergencies happen and you want to make sure your family is financially taken care of first. Including a bequest of a percentage of your estate ensures that your gift will remain proportionate no matter how your estate’s value fluctuates over the years.

Thank You.

Thank you for considering making a contribution to the NVFC. Together we provide a voice for America’s nearly one million volunteer fire, rescue, and emergency services personnel. Your support enables us to further our mission by providing the tools and resources to keep our services strong, safe, and healthy.

For more information, contact the NVFC at nvfcoffice@nvfc.org or call 1-888-ASK-NVFC (275-6832).