Planning for Incapacity: Why Charitable Intentions Matter
At the Outer Banks Community Foundation, we’re honored to work alongside the many friends, families, and neighbors who care deeply about this community. So many of you weave generosity into your plans—through your wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, or simply through the causes you support year after year.
But there’s one part of planning that often gets overlooked: documenting charitable intentions in the event of incapacity.
As lifespans get longer and cognitive decline becomes more common, more people are finding that decisions about their well-being and their finances may eventually be made by someone else—an agent, trustee, or caregiver. Families also face more complex dynamics today, which can make it harder to know exactly what a loved one wanted. Across the country, disputes over estates and trusts are rising, especially when changes are made late in life and come as a surprise.
Charitable goals can be especially vulnerable in these situations. Because giving is driven by values—not necessity—families sometimes focus on immediate needs and unintentionally overlook the causes a loved one supported for decades. And if someone makes a charitable gift late in life without clear documentation, it can raise questions or even spark misunderstandings among heirs.
That’s where a little clarity can make a world of difference.
The Outer Banks Community Foundation is happy to help you think through ways to preserve and protect your charitable wishes, including:
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Clear bequest language in wills or trusts, whether you support a donor-advised fund or another type of fund at the Community Foundation.
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Instructions for giving during incapacity, such as continuing annual gifts to favorite nonprofits and outlining when an agent can pause or adjust them.
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Consistency across your documents, including wills, trusts, retirement accounts, insurance policies, and business plans.
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A simple written statement of charitable intent to keep with your planning documents, explaining the “why” behind your giving.
When your charitable values are clearly documented, you reduce the chance of confusion or conflict—and you help ensure that your generosity continues even if you’re no longer able to make decisions yourself.
We’re here to support you, your loved ones, and the causes you care about. If you’d like help clarifying or documenting your charitable intentions, we’d be honored to talk with you.
