What is Leave A Legacy?

Leave A Legacy is a community-wide, collaborative effort to encourage people from all walks of life to make a planned gift in their estate plans to charitable organizations that have made a difference in their lives. There are more than 1,000 such organizations in Central Ohio. Leave A Legacy began in Columbus in 1996; there are now more than 150 Leave A Legacy programs across the United States and Canada.

Who is sponsoring Leave A Legacy?
Leave A Legacy is a program of the non-profit Central Ohio Planned Giving Council (COPGC). COPGC is an association of professionals involved in developing, marketing and administering charitable gifts. Members include development professionals working at organizations, consultants and professional advisors including attorneys, CPAs, financial planners and others. COPGC is an affiliate of the National Committee on Planned Giving, based in Indianapolis.

Why is Leave A Legacy important to Central Ohio?
Over the next 50 years, the wealth accumulated by today's older generation will pass to their baby boomer children and grandchildren- an amount estimated at more than $100 million in Central Ohio alone. Just imagine what a portion of that amount could mean to the quality of life in Central Ohio. By making provisions in your estate plan, you can touch tomorrow.

How can Leave A Legacy help the community?
It is difficult for many organizations, especially small ones, to reach and educate people about planned giving. Participation in Leave A Legacy helps to level the playing field for all non-profits. It also helps to create an environment where everyone benefits from increased charitable giving.

Don't people already leave gifts in their wills or trusts?
Unfortunately, not many. Fewer than 50% of the people in Franklin County have wills. Local research with the probate court shows that less than 3% of wills settled in Franklin County contain a charitable provision. According to Giving USA, charitable bequests nationally account for approximately 9% of gifts to non-profit organizations, mostly from a few large gifts. Legacy gifts are not only for the wealthy. We can all touch tomorrow.

How do I learn more about Leave A Legacy?
Call the local Leave A Legacy chair...

James H. Biddle 

Capital University Director of Planned Giving

1 College and Main

Columbus, OH 43209-2394

Phone: 614-236-6496

Email: jbiddle@capital.edu