A will is a great way to create a legacy for social justice, regardless of your income level.

People often think of a will as a way to pass property on to family members and other loved ones. (Learn more about why you need a will.) But you can also use your will to support organizations you love, by designating assets that will go to the organizations when you die. This type of gift is called a bequest. If you are going to receive assets from someone else (like a parent) through their will, there are also ways to designate all or part of those assets so they benefit nonprofit organizations and reduce your tax liability.

MRG donors have funded programs throughout Oregon's progressive movement by making bequests in their own wills, and by using money they inherited to set up long-term funds at the foundation. For example, our Peace Fund was made possible by a $1,000,000 bequest by Eugene resident Rob McCay.

Smaller bequests have helped MRG Foundation expand outreach efforts, increase grants and build an endowment, ensuring a vibrant future for the foundation and the progressive movement.

Wills are just one example of a type of planned gift. MRG Foundation staff and advisors can help you identify planned giving vehicles that meet your philanthropic goals throughout your lifetime and beyond. Your options could include bequests, charitable remainder trusts and insurance policies, among others.

To name MRG Foundation in your will, you must use our full legal name: McKenzie River Gathering Foundation.

For specific information about the planned giving program, please email MRG Foundation's Development Director Sheryl Sackman or contact her by phone at 503-289-1517.