Legacy Giving

Mental Health America's legacy Giving allows you to leave a legacy of hope to help people live mentally healthier lives.  A simple clause in your will designates a portion of your assets to MHA's future and ensures your generosity and passion live on.     

By listing MHA in your will, you leave a legacy that continues to support efforts that put recovery within reach of the more than 54 million Americans who need mental health care.  You help relieve suffering by improving access to effective, evidence-based treatments, and help free people from the stigma that too often stands in the way of seeking care.  All you need to do is add some words to your will, and you can give a gift of hope.

If you have any questions about how to get started, please call the gift office at (703) 838-7533 or toll free at (800) 969-6642, option 3.  Alternatively, you can e-mail us at giftoffice@mentalhealthamerica.net. 

Bequest Tips

  • Whether you are writing a will for the first time or you are adding a provision to an existing will, you may want to contact an attorney who can help make sure that your will reflects your wishes.
  • When you specify a charitable organization, using specific information like an address or an Employer Identification Number (EIN) can help clear up confusion if there are organizations with similar names or your organization's name changes before you go.  MHA's address is 2000 N. Beauregard St, 6th Floor, Alexandria, VA, 22311. Our EIN is 13-1614906.
  • If you decide to include a charitable organization in your will, you may want to inform that organization.  We would like to thank you properly.
  • Additionally, you may want to contact the charitable organization and inquire about their bequest acceptance policies.  You may also want to know, if you would like your gift restricted for a certain purpose, if that organization has the means to execute that purpose.

Choosing MHA as a Beneficiary

Once you decide what is right for you and your loved ones, you can include a charitable cause such as Mental Health America, one of its affiliates, or both, in your will. This is commonly called a bequest. There are several types of bequests to consider:

 

General Bequest
Typically, this is a charitable bequest that indicates a specific dollar amount payable to a charitable organization.

Sample language: Pay Mental Health America $10,000 from my estate.

Specific Bequest
This is a specific asset that you wish to contribute from your estate.  Please note that selling or losing the asset without changing your will can make it so the gift never reaches the organization.  With all bequests, it's important to talk to an attorney for expert legal advice. 

Sample language: Two hundred shares of Acme Corporation stock shall be given to Mental Health America.

Restricted Bequest
This requires the bequest to be used for a specific project or program of interest to you.

Sample language: Pay Mental Health America $5,000 from my assets to create and distribute public education materials about depression.

Residuary Bequest
This type of bequest instructs that all or a portion of your assets be directed to one or more charities after all debts, taxes, expenses, and any general and specific bequests have been paid.

Sample language: After all debts, taxes and expenses have been paid, I direct that the rest and residue of my assets be distributed as follows: 50 percent to Mental Health America of Texas and 50 percent to Mental Health America in Alexandria, VA.

Percentage Bequest
This type of bequest states that a specific percentage of your assets or residue of your estate should be paid to one or more charities.

Sample language: I give 30 percent of my assets, after debts, taxes and expenses, to the Mental Health America.

Contingent Bequest
This bequest provides a gift to one or more charities if the intended beneficiary dies before you do.

Sample language: I give my remaining assets to my son, Martin, if he should outlive me. If he does not outlive me, I give my remaining assets to Mental Health America.

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