Sample Language Bequests

You can include a gift to SMU in your will or trust. Below are sample provisions that your advisors can use to memorialize your charitable intentions toward SMU. Please contact our Office of Gift Planning for assistance in wording your bequest.

Specific Bequest
With a specific bequest, you may stipulate that a certain percentage of your estate, a certain dollar amount or particular assets be given to SMU. Examples of such language may include:

• "I give $______ to Southern Methodist University, a nonprofit corporation in Dallas County, Texas, for its general purposes."
• "I give _____% of my estate to Southern Methodist University, a nonprofit corporation in Dallas County, Texas, for its general purposes."
• "I give the following described property to Southern Methodist University, a nonprofit corporation in Dallas County, Texas, for its general purposes: [describe property]."

Residuary Bequest
With a residuary bequest, you may state that all, or a portion, of the estate be given to SMU after specific gifts are distributed to other beneficiaries. Examples of such language may include:

• "I give all of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to Southern Methodist University, a nonprofit corporation in Dallas County, Texas, for its general purposes."
• "I give _____% of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to Southern Methodist University, a nonprofit corporation in Dallas County, Texas, for its general purposes."

Restricted Bequest
If you want to designate how SMU uses your bequest, your will or trust should specify a particular purpose. To ensure that your goals can be accomplished, please contact us before you sign your estate planning documents. An example of such language may include:

• "I give [amount, description of asset, percentage of estate, remainder, etc.] to Southern Methodist University, a nonprofit corporation in Dallas County, Texas, to be used for [purpose]."

Restricted Bequest for Endowment
If you want your bequest to be held in perpetuity while the income stream is used to support SMU, your will or trust must specify that the gift creates an endowed fund. To ensure that your goals can be accomplished, please contact us before you sign your estate planning documents. An example of such language may include:

• "I give [amount, description of asset, percentage of estate, remainder, etc.] to Southern Methodist University, a nonprofit corporation in Dallas County, Texas, for the creation of [name of donor endowment fund], with the income being used for [purpose] in accordance with its endowment spending policy."

Guidelines for minimum levels for new named endowment funds are available at giving.smu.edu/endowments.

Contact Us

Please let us know if you have included SMU in any of your planning so we can properly record your gift intention and welcome you as a new member of the Dallas Hall Society. Notifying us of your plans is also a great way to encourage others to follow your lead in supporting the mission of SMU.