Bequest: Gift to charity made in a personšs will. During 1999: 23% of Pennsylvania estates included a charitable bequest, compared to the U.S. average of 17%. The average dollar amount of Pennsylvania charitable bequests was $630,000, compared to the U.S. average of $909,000. The average Pennsylvania estate was $2 million, compared to the U.S. average of $1.9 million. 4,250 Pennsylvania residents left total estates of over $8.3 billion. 967 Pennsylvania residents made charitable bequests totaling over $608.8 million. Among those who left charitable bequests, Pennsylvania residents bequeathed 24% of their estate to charity, compared to the U.S. average of 29%. 7.3% of the assets of all estates settled in Pennsylvania were distributed in charitable bequests, compared to 8.1% average of the U.S. Source: Copyright 2001, Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. All rights reserved. Data analysis: Connecticut Council for Philanthropy. Source: IRS Statistics of Income Division. Distribution permitted with attribution.