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Begin Your Prayer Experience.
When you complete this form, your name will be added to the scrolling list of people praying for our school, and you’ll receive access to a curated prayer journey. If you provide your email, the prayer journey will be sent to you so you can complete it at a time that works best for you.
Gift in Your Will or Trust
A Simple, Powerful Way to Leave Your Mark
One of the most meaningful decisions you can make for the future of Christian education is also one of the easiest: including CHCA in your will or trust. A gift by bequest requires no cash outlay today. Your assets remain completely in your control during your lifetime. And your generosity continues to work long after you are gone — funding scholarships, teachers, and programs for generations of students you may never meet, but whose lives your faith and foresight will shape.
For over 35 years, families like the Beshears have trusted CHCA to form young men and women of faith, character, and purpose. A bequest is how that trust becomes a legacy.
What Is a Charitable Bequest?
A charitable bequest is a gift you make to CHCA through your will or revocable living trust. Working with your estate planning attorney, you specify a gift — of any size — to be made to CHCA as part of your estate plan. The bequest takes effect when you pass away; until then, you retain full ownership and control of your assets. No minimum gift is required, and your plans can be changed at any time.
Benefits of a Bequest
- Your estate receives a charitable deduction that may reduce estate taxes for your heirs.
- Your assets remain yours — no transfer occurs until your passing.
- Plans are flexible and can be updated at any time if your circumstances change.
- No minimum gift amount is required.
- You may designate your gift for a specific purpose (scholarships, faculty, endowment, etc.) or leave it unrestricted.
- You will be welcomed into the 1989 Legacy Society, CHCA’s community of planned-gift donors.
Types of Bequests
There are several ways to structure a bequest, depending on your goals and estate plan. Your attorney can help you determine which approach is right for you.
Specific Bequest
You leave a fixed dollar amount or a specific asset (such as a piece of real estate or a particular investment account) to CHCA. This is the most straightforward type of bequest.
Percentage Bequest
You designate a percentage of your estate — for example, 10% — to CHCA. This approach adjusts naturally with the size of your estate over time.
Residual (Remainder) Bequest
After all other provisions in your estate are fulfilled, CHCA receives all or a portion of what remains. This is often the most significant type of bequest.
Contingent Bequest
CHCA is named as a backup beneficiary — for example, if a primary beneficiary does not survive you. This is a meaningful way to ensure your values carry forward in unexpected circumstances.
How to Leave a Bequest to CHCA
The process is simple and requires no paperwork with CHCA. Here are the three steps:
- Speak with your estate planning attorney. Share your intention and provide CHCA’s legal name and Tax ID (below).
- Include bequest language in your will or trust. You may use the suggested language below, or your attorney may draft their own.
- Let us know. Notifying our Legacy Giving team means we can thank you, honor your wishes, and welcome you into the 1989 Legacy Society. (Optional — we respect your privacy completely.)
What Happens After You Pass Away
When you pass away, your bequest is transferred to CHCA by the executor of your estate or the trustee of your trust. The full value of the gift transfers tax-free, and your estate receives an estate tax charitable deduction for the full amount. CHCA’s Development team will work closely with your estate’s representative to ensure your wishes are honored exactly as you intended.
Let Us Know — Join the 1989 Legacy Society
You are not required to notify CHCA of your bequest — your gift will reach us through your estate regardless. However, we warmly invite you to let us know. Doing so allows us to:
- Thank you personally and honor your commitment.
- Welcome you into the 1989 Legacy Society.
- Ensure your gift is directed exactly as you intend.
- Connect you with our quarterly legacy newsletter, CHCA Legacy.
We hold all legacy giving information in strict confidence. If you prefer to remain anonymous, we will honor that completely — your name will never be shared or published without your explicit permission.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. The laws governing estate planning, bequests, and charitable giving vary by state and individual circumstance. We strongly encourage you to consult a qualified estate planning attorney and/or tax advisor before making any estate planning decisions. CHCA representatives are not able to serve as executor, trustee, or legal advisor for your estate.
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Participate in the SGO
Decide your contribution amount and make your donation online or by check.
Get a Tax Credit
Receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on your Ohio state taxes for your contribution (up to $750 for individuals or $1,500 for married couples).
Support Scholarships
Your contribution funds scholarships that make Christian education accessible to more students, allowing more families to afford a transformative education at CHCA.
The Johnson family has an Ohio state tax liability of $2,000 for the year. They decide to contribute $1,000 to our SGO that supports students attending CHCA, aiming to make use of the state’s tax credit to reduce their tax burden.
The Process
Contribution Made
The Johnson family donates $1,000 to the SGO on the OCEN website.
Tax Credit Applied
Ohio offers a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for contributions to certified SGOs—up to $750 per person or $1,500 for married couples filing jointly. For example, if the Johnsons contribute $1,000 to a SGO designated to CHCA, their Ohio tax liability drops from $2,000 to $1,000. Instead of sending the full $2,000 to the state, they pay $1,000 in taxes and redirect $1,000 to CHCA’s SGO.
Impact of SGO Funds
Your contribution ensures that more students can access the exceptional Christian education CHCA offers.
The Outcome
The Johnson family benefits from a reduced tax bill, effectively lowering their out-of-pocket expenses by the amount of their donation while also facilitating greater Christian educational opportunities for students through their financial support.
*Up to $750 for individuals or $1,500 for married couples.
“You have some of the best connections you’ll ever have. I can ask anybody for help, students or teachers, and receive it. That’s been the best thing about CHCA.”
“We believe that God is the author of all Truth and those who seek Him, find Him. So from the first day of preschool to high school Commencement, students are encouraged to learn, lead, and serve and make their faith their own.”
Dr. Dean Nicholas, Head of School
A joyful explosion of color, sound, and creativity, ArtBeat is a vibrant, day-long arts festival that celebrates the creativity spread across campuses and grades.
For one day each spring, our Martha S. Lindner Campus transforms into a high-energy visual and performing arts haven featuring musical, theatrical, and dance performances; more than 1,400 works of art on display; hands-on-art tables; professional and student artist demonstrations; delicious lunch and snacks; baked goods; and more.
Planning Toolkit
Legacy giving does not begin with a transaction. It begins with prayerful planning, wise stewardship, and a desire to invest in what matters beyond your lifetime.
Already Included CHCA in Your Plans?
If you have already made a legacy gift commitment, we invite you to let us know. This allows CHCA to honor your intentions and ensure your future gift is used according to your wishes.
Helpful Information for Your Advisor
Please use the following information when discussing a planned gift with your attorney, financial advisor, or account administrator.
- Legal Name: Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
- Address: 8283 East Kemper Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 25249
- Federal Tax ID: 31-1225392
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