Deciding what happens to the assets accumulated throughout a lifetime is one of the most profound reflections anyone faces. Increasingly, Spaniards are choosing to transform part of that inheritance into an act of lasting hope: a charitable bequest to the CARF Foundation. In this way, their wealth becomes integral to the formation of seminarians and diocesan priests, as well as religious men and women from the poorest parts of the world.

Álvaro and Ana had this experience fifteen years ago. They learned about the Foundation through a single aunt who, without informing the family, decided to include it in her will. The initial surprise gave way to curiosity and then to admiration. “To think that you can help train priests who will bring the faith and the sacraments to so many places… it’s worth it,” they explain in a testimonial video. For them, the legacy doesn’t diminish their children or relatives; on the contrary, it contributes to the future of the Church and prepares “a home in Heaven.”

The couple GPM and MM, who discovered the Foundation 25 years ago through priest friends, fully agree. “What impresses us most is the fundraising work, the difficulties and perseverance involved, and the miracles God performs when money is needed to supplement the study grants,” they say. That’s why they decided to include CARF in their will: “We see the need for priests in the world and want to ensure that no vocation is lost due to financial reasons.” The process, they say, was “very simple,” and the Foundation facilitated the entire procedure.

JM, a retired engineer, also joined this initiative after a trip to the Holy Land in 2014. “I became interested in their work after being struck by the enthusiasm of their collaborators,” he recounts. He emphasizes the global reach of the priests trained in Pamplona and Rome: “It helps aspiring priests study in Europe and then return to their countries to give back what they have learned.” He even mentions that some of the more generous benefactors donate homes to the Foundation.

Making a charitable bequest is an accessible, affordable, and fully reversible process while the person is alive. Any citizen can bequeath a specific amount, a percentage of their inheritance, real estate, or personal property to a non-profit organization. In the case of the CARF Foundation, 100% of the bequest reaches its intended purpose, as it is exempt from inheritance tax. The beneficiaries are seminarians and priests from dioceses in Africa, Asia, and Latin America who lack sufficient resources for their intellectual, human, and spiritual formation.

The CARF Foundation was established on February 14, 1989, inspired by Saint John Paul II and spearheaded by Blessed Álvaro del Portillo. Since then, it has funded the studies of nearly 30,000 students from 130 countries at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome) and the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra (Pamplona). Among them are 129 who have been ordained bishops and four who have been created cardinals.

Each vocation they support has repercussions for decades on tens of thousands of people: humble parishes, isolated missions, rural communities. “It’s not about great fortunes, but about great decisions,” Álvaro and Ana emphasize. “What do I want to remain when I’m gone? What mark do I want to leave?”

The Foundation offers personalized and confidential information to answer legal questions or provide practical guidance. Those wishing to learn more can contact Marta Santín (phone +34 670 71 04 56, email  [email protected] ) or visit the  official website .

Transforming an inheritance into well-trained priests is, for those who have already done so, one of the most serene and conscious decisions of their lives. As witnesses repeatedly say: it is worth it.