Including MAPS in Your Will or Trust

Many MAPS members have arranged for a future gift to MAPS by remembering MAPS in their will or trust. By utilizing one of the creative alternatives outlined below, you may find that you can provide adequately for your family—and still include MAPS in your estate planning. If you are in the process of completing or updating your estate documents, and would like to consider MAPS in your planning, you may find the information presented below to be of particular interest.

General Bequest

A general bequest provides that a specific amount of money, a percentage of your estate or a certain piece of property, be given to MAPS at the time of your death. For most people, a gift of a percentage of the remaining estate after taxes and debts have been satisfied is the most appropriate use of a general bequest. The following sample language illustrates how a general bequest to charity might be phrased in your will or trust:

"I give, devise, and bequeath X% or $X of my Estate, after taxes and debts have been satisfied, to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a Florida nonprofit corporation, with principal business address of 1115 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. Tax identification number 592751953."

Residual Bequest

A residual bequest would designate that the remainder or balance of your estate goes to MAPS -- after your will or trust has made gifts of money or property to your loved ones. The following sample language illustrates how a residual bequest to charity might be phrased in your will or trust:

"I give, devise, and bequeath all the rest, residue, and remainder of my property, real, personal, or mixed; after all personal bequests have been made, to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a Florida nonprofit corporation, with principal business address of 1115 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. Tax identification number 592751953."

Contingent Bequest

A contingent bequest is useful when you want to make a gift to MAPS but you feel your heirs will need all the resources of your estate. Thus, a contingent bequest takes effect only in the event none of your heirs survives you. Though planning for this type of contingency may seem unnecessary, it is an important part of good stewardship. The following sample language illustrates how a contingent bequest to charity might be phrased in your will or trust:

"In the event my husband and all of my children should die prior to the distribution of my estate without leaving descendants surviving such event, then, and in that event, the undistributed corpus of my estate shall be distributed to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a Florida nonprofit corporation, with principal business address of 1115 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. Tax identification number 592751953."

Bequest Following Income

A bequest following income provides a regular income stream from a trust to one or more loved ones for a specified term of years. After the term has been fulfilled, a percentage or the entire remaining amount can be giving to MAPS. This is often used in conjunction with a children’s trust in a will. The trust can designate that the assets be held in trust until the youngest living child reaches a certain age and then be divided among the children and charity. The following sample language illustrates how a bequest following income to MAPS might be phrased in your will or trust:

"The Trustee shall hold the corpus of my Trust until my youngest living child reaches the age of twenty-two (22), at which time my Trustee shall then distribute fifty percent (50%) of my estate to my children in equal shares and fifty percent (50%) to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a Florida nonprofit corporation, with principal business address of 1115 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. Tax identification number 592751953."

A "Give It Twice" Bequest

A "Give It Twice" bequest is another variation of the Bequest Following Income. With this arrangement, the assets are held in Trust for the children for a period of ten years after the second spouse’s death. During this time, the Trustee distributes 10% of the value of the trust each year to the children as beneficiaries or 100% of the initial value of the Trust over the term. If the Trust earns close to 10% each year the children will receive the full value of the estate spread out over a ten-year period and then a designated charity will receive the full value after the ten-year period expires. MAPS could even serve as Trustee of the Trust if you prefer. This helps insure that the children do not spend the inheritance too quickly and that charity receives a significant gift from the estate. The following sample language illustrates how a Give It Twice Bequest to your MAPS might be phrased in your will or trust:

"The Trustee shall hold the corpus of my estate in Trust for a period of ten years following my death. During that time the Trustee shall pay out 10% of the initial value of the Trust each year to my children in equal shares. At the end of the ten-year term, the Trustee shall distribute the balance of the Trust estate to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a Florida nonprofit corporation, with principal business address of 1115 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. Tax identification number 592751953."

If you choose to plan a bequest to MAPS we would appreciate knowing and we would like to keep a record so that we can keep you updated on important issues and events within the organization. The following sample language has been provided for your convenience if you wish to notify us:

Dear MAPS,



I/we want to inform you that we have included MAPS in our estate planning as a beneficiary under my/our will(s).



We have a great appreciation of MAPS and are pleased to be able to provide for you in this way.



Sincerely yours,



[your name]

Advice and Information

If you have any questions or require further advice, please call us at 831-429-6362 or write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , and we will be happy to help you.