Krissy Dunn, Major Gifts Manager

August is Make-a-Will Month, a reminder that creating or updating your will is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give the people you love. 

Creating a will isn’t just about distributing your assets. It’s about making thoughtful decisions while you can, caring for the people you love, and ensuring your wishes are clearly known. It’s one of the most powerful ways to reflect the values you’ve lived by. 

For many people, those values include investing in the communities they call home. A will offers the opportunity to provide for the people you love while also supporting the causes that have shaped your life. At Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, a legacy gift helps ensure that local families will continue to have the opportunity to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership for generations to come. 

Fred and Sylvia Black, members of our Framing the Future Legacy Society, describe it this way:

“Including Habitat in our estate plans allows us to continue making an impact on affordable homeownership long after we’re gone. It’s our way of ensuring the values we care about continue building stronger communities.” 

You don’t need a large estate to leave a legacy 

One of the biggest misconceptions about leaving a legacy is that it’s only for people with large estates. In reality, many legacy gifts don’t require writing a large check or giving up assets during your lifetime. 

In fact, some of the simplest ways to make a lasting impact include naming Orange Habitat as a beneficiary of: 

• Your will or living trust 
• Your retirement account (such as a 401(k) or IRA) 
• A life insurance policy 
• The remaining balance of your donor-advised fund 

These gifts typically cost nothing today. You maintain complete control of your assets throughout your lifetime, and you can update your beneficiary designations if your circumstances change. 

Whether your gift is large or small, it reflects your values and becomes part of something much bigger: helping local households achieve the stability and opportunity that comes with owning a safe, affordable home. 

Depending on your circumstances, certain types of legacy gifts may also offer financial or tax advantages. Because every situation is unique, we encourage you to consult your attorney or financial advisor. 

Take the next step 

If August has inspired you to create or update your estate plan, we encourage you to begin that conversation with your loved ones and your professional advisors. Taking the time to put your wishes into writing is one of the greatest gifts you can give to the people and causes you care about. 

If Orange Habitat is one of the organizations you’d like to support, I’d be happy to answer questions about legacy giving or discuss how a future gift could become part of your plans. You can reach me at kdunn@orangehabitat.org or (919) 932-7077 ext. 210.  

If you’ve already included Orange Habitat in your estate plans we’d love to hear from you.  Letting us know allows us to thank you and personally welcome you into our Framing the Future Legacy Society, a community of supporters who are helping ensure that everyone has a decent place to live for generations to come. 

This information is intended for educational purposes and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Please consult your attorney or financial advisor when making estate planning decisions.