Leaving a legacy

You may make a bequest to the Fondation de Luxembourg, which will ensure that the resources you choose to pass on to the public good are allocated in the best possible way, according to the preferences and aspirations you will have outlined in your will. Several options are available to you in this regard.

Forms of Giving

Include the Fondation de Luxembourg in your will as the beneficiary of all or part of your estate

You may include the Fondation de Luxembourg in your will as the beneficiary of all or part of your estate, specifying the cause you wish to support. The Fondation de Luxembourg will then make every effort to allocate these resources effectively, with a long-term perspective and the goal of maximizing your impact. If the amounts involved are sufficient, a posthumous foundation will be created and managed by the Fondation de Luxembourg in your name.*

If the amount is more modest,** the funds can be added to the endowment of an existing hosted foundation active in the field you wish to support.

* In this case, you may specify the desired name for your foundation, its objective, the intended duration (from a minimum of 10 years to an unlimited term), appoint someone to represent you on the Management Committee of the hosted foundation created in your name, and also indicate preferences regarding the management of your foundation’s assets (asset manager, bank, investment policy). All of these preferences will be considered to the greatest extent possible.

** You may still specify the purpose for which the transferred assets should be used, and this will be taken into account with the utmost care.

Include the Fondation de Luxembourg in your will as the legatee of all or part of your estate, without designating a specific purpose

You may choose to name the Fondation de Luxembourg as the beneficiary of all or part of your estate without specifying a particular purpose. In this case, the assets will be used in the general interest and may, upon decision of the Fondation de Luxembourg’s Board of Directors, be added to the Foundation’s own endowment.

Create a dormant foundation

Upon the founder’s passing, the dormant foundation becomes active as soon as the testamentary provisions have been executed and the assets allocated to the foundation have been received. From that point onward, the Fondation de Luxembourg takes over the management on behalf of the now-active foundation. The allocated resources can then be distributed to projects in accordance with the wishes defined by the founder.

Transferring Your Estate

In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, there are three types of wills:

The holographic will, which must be handwritten, dated, and signed.
The public (or authentic) will, which is recorded by a notary, making it more official and legally uncontestable.
The mystic (sealed) will, written by the testator and filed with a notary, who drafts a deed of deposit.

By default, any capital bequeathed to the Fondation de Luxembourg will be invested, and the returns from these investments will be allocated annually to projects—giving your contribution a lasting, perpetual impact.

Of course, you may also instruct the Fondation de Luxembourg to allocate the full amount directly to public-interest projects over a shorter period.

It is the responsibility of the Fondation de Luxembourg to declare the bequest to the relevant tax authorities and to pay any applicable inheritance tax. The amount of inheritance tax for foundations and public-benefit organizations is regulated by the State and depends on the deceased’s last tax residence.