Famed Minnesota philanthropist Percy Ross is known for his dictum “He who lives while he gives … also knows where it goes.”
For Alabama Baptists, an organization begun almost 60 years ago offers them an opportunity to support Baptist organizations following their death, thus assuring they still know how their money is spent once they’re deceased.
Founded in 1940 by the Alabama Baptist State Convention, The Baptist Foundation of Alabama allows individuals to designate gifts for Baptist institutions and causes, with the foundation serving as executor of the funds.
“One of the purposes of the foundation is to encourage Alabama Baptists to support its institutions and Baptist college by leaving a part of their estate in perpetuity to be used for the Lord’s work for all time to come,” said Warren Trussell, executive director of the foundation.
During the almost 60 years the foundation has been in existence, he said “literally hundreds of individuals have done just that.”
“They’ve had a will prepared and in numerous cases, the foundation has met with those individuals and helped them develop and put down in writing what they desire to do (in supporting Baptist institutions),” Trussell said.
Stressing the foundation is non-profit, Trussell adds, “We do not go out knocking on doors.”
He said the foundation makes people aware of its existence through Baptist publications and by speaking to different church groups.
Trussell said presentations discuss how preparing a will can benefit both families and Baptist institutions they wish to support.
“We don’t practice law, but we are able to sit down privately with individuals and discuss with them the information that’s needed for a will,” Trussell said, “so that when they go to an attorney, they have answers to the questions that he’s going to ask.”
Birmingham attorney Linwood Bragan said it’s crucial individuals prepare a will to assure groups like The Baptist Foundation of Alabama will be designated as a recipient of their assets.
“The main function a will has is that it will determine where your property goes, according to how you want it to be distributed at the time you pass away,” said Bragan, a member of Huffman Baptist Church (Birmingham Assoc.).
Aside from money not going to family members as desired, Bragan said distribution of assets in the absence of a will also means money will not go to a particular church, church organization or other group as an individual may have intended.
“It’s a completely impersonal process; it is dealing with percentages and quantities,” he said. “It’s totally devoid or divorced of the individual’s personality, and beyond that, it’s set up in a way that tends to be costly.”
“In most cases when people contact us, there is a charitable inclination on their part,” Trussell said. “They pretty much have already decided that they’re going to leave part of their estate to be used for the Lord’s work.”
Trussell said the surviving spouse in a marriage can direct that a certain amount of their assets be left to the Baptist Foundation. The assets are then invested, with income distributed to Baptist causes.
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