Bernthal Legacy Society

Leave a Legacy of Welcome

When you make a planned gift to Global Refuge, you make the important decision to bequeath your blessings to help refugees, immigrants, and vulnerable children seeking protection. Your legacy gift will help Global Refuge remain a beacon of hope for all of America’s newcomers.

We invite you to consider making a planned gift. Every gift made to Global Refuge is a statement that you value our ministry of hospitality and that you, too, extend a warm welcome to newcomers.

Donors who designate Global Refuge as a beneficiary of a planned gift are gratefully recognized as members of the Bernthal Legacy Society, named in honor of the late Rev. August and Mildred Bernthal. The Bernthals set a lifelong example of sacrificial service and giving to welcome newcomers.

How to Give

We know there is no greater commitment you can make to an organization than including that organization in your estate plans. Your investment in Global Refuge’s work as members of the Bernthal Legacy Society will change lives. Because of your unwavering commitment, more families seeking refuge, sanctuary, and community will be given the welcome that makes all the difference.

To add Global Refuge to your estate plans and join the Bernthal Legacy Society…

• Designate Global Refuge as a beneficiary of your life insurance, retirement or other financial accounts and/or designate a specific dollar amount or percentage of your will or trust to Global Refuge;

• Call or email our Legacy Giving team to let them know that you have added Global Refuge to your estate plans*; and

• Complete the Planned Gift Commitment form.

You will then be automatically added to the Bernthal Legacy Society! We encourage you to also share your philanthropic intentions with your heirs and executor.

Please note: Gifts marked for Global Refuge OR our former name, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), will be recognized and are greatly appreciated.

We look forward to welcoming you and sharing special Bernthal Legacy Society events and content with you. Thank you for your generosity!

*Estate gifts can be given anonymously. 

Sample Bequests

Residual Bequest: “I devise the residue of my estate, after the satisfaction of all specific bequests and the payment of all taxes and other costs attending my death, to Global Refuge, a not-for-profit corporation, Tax ID#13-2574854, with principal offices currently located at 700 Light Street. Baltimore, MD 21230”

General/Fixed Dollar Bequest: “I bequeath the sum of $____ dollars to Global Refuge, a not-for-profit corporation, Tax ID# 13-2574854, with principal offices currently located at 700 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230”

Percentage Bequest: “I bequeath to Global Refuge], a not-for-profit corporation, Tax ID#13-2574854, with principal offices currently located at 700 Light Street. Baltimore, MD 21230″ an amount equal to ______ percent of the net value of my estate as finally determined for federal estate tax purposes.”

Contingent Bequest: “In the event that [Named Beneficiary] does not survive me, I designate Global Refuge, a not-for-profit corporation, Tax ID#,13-2574854, with principal offices currently located at 700 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.

Beneficiary Designation Language

Life Insurance or Retirement Plan: “I designate Global Refuge, a not-for-profit corporation, Tax ID# 13-2574854, with principal offices currently located at 700 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230, as the beneficiary of [specific asset, e.g., my life insurance policy, IRA, etc.].”

To learn more about planned giving options, contact Beatrice Cork at legacy@globalrefuge.org!