If I told you that three-quarters of Americans didn’t pay their taxes, what would you say? My guess is that you’d question my sources—and whether I’d consulted any at all. And you’d be right to. Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Defoe, and Christopher Bullock all once put into words what we all know to be true: nothing is certain but death and taxes.
So if the vast majority of us plan to file our taxes on time, deduct them from our paycheck each month, and eagerly anticipate our returns, why do 75% of us not have a plan for life’s other certainty?
I have to admit here that I’m part of the 75%, a supermajority that I’m not proud to represent. August is National Make a Will month, and I challenge you, just like I’m challenging myself: invest in yourself, in your loved ones, and in the causes you’re passionately championing. Put your estate plan in writing.
Making a will isn’t morbid. It’s the ultimate act of love for the people and communities you care most about. You’re ensuring that while your loved ones are grieving and celebrating a life well-lived, they won’t have to worry about your last wishes. And crucially, if you don’t communicate what happens after you’re gone, someone else will decide for you—and they may not choose the way you would.
When it comes to charitable gifts, bequests are often 200–300 times larger than the largest annual gift someone made to charity. That means that a $100 annual gift could yield $20,000 or more, exponentially amplifying your impact.
But that impact won’t happen if you don’t make a plan.
This month, commit to having what may admittedly be an awkward conversation with your loved ones. I promise you it will be worth it. Tell them what you want to happen to your estate after you pass. Make a plan to memorialize it in writing that complies with your state’s applicable laws (https://www.findlaw.com/state/estate-planning-laws/wills.html). Follow through by meeting with your attorney or wealth advisor – or by using one of many online options (https://www.freewill.com) currently available to create a simple last will and testament.
Personally, a portion of my estate will be going to McKee Wellness Foundation, and this is the part of the article where I’m going to tell you why. Stay with me—it will take less than a minute to read.
I’m naming McKee Wellness Foundation as a beneficiary of my estate because I don’t know what our community’s greatest needs will be in fifty years. Mental and cognitive health resources? Support for veterans, cancer patients, or the aging population? I don’t have a crystal ball, but I know that when the time comes, the Foundation will have a finger on the pulse of northern Colorado. I know that the largest gift I’ll ever give will go to those who need it most when they need it most.
Another of McKee Wellness Foundation’s committed legacy givers, Lynn R., told us:
“Legacy giving means I am contributing to the health and wellbeing of MY community. Through legacy giving I give back to a community that has given to me for the past 45 years.”
Lynn also shared:
“My joy is making a difference in other people’s lives. Legacy giving gives me that opportunity.”
Regardless of who your beneficiaries are, having a will is the most important practical thing you can do to ensure that one of life’s inevitabilities doesn’t become a burden for those you love most.
If you have named McKee Wellness Foundation as a beneficiary in your estate plans or are considering including us, please let us know so we can ensure you are thanked and recognized during your lifetime. Reach out to us at megan@mckeefoundationco.com or 970-617-5547.
-Megan Streetman
Development Director
