Haven Humane Society

Your Will &
Haven Humane
Society

Careful estate and investment planning really can make a difference… in your financial security today, and the good you can do for Haven Humane Society tomorrow.

FOR YOU….

An estate or investment gift to Haven Humane Society can provide substantial benefits. At the same time, you will have the satisfaction of having given significant support to an organization whose concerns and ideals you share.

For Haven Humane Society….

Your gift will never stop giving. While you enjoy present benefits, your charitable gift will ensure future protection for all animals by continued humane education, effective law enforcement of animal cruelty laws, pet therapy programs, maintenance of a quality shelter for the purposes of providing proper animal care and adoptions, and the philosophy that every animal is unique, with the right to life and the opportunity to find love and caring. Your gift will help ensure the future of these programs and ideals.

Planned Giving

In addition to lending your financial support to Haven Humane Society through contributions to our annual fund solicitation, there are other long-term methods through which you can provide assistance to thousands of animals that come to us for food, shelter medical attention, and love.

The use of the plans highlighted below can provide you with significant tax advantages… an immediate income for life… income to go to your loved ones after your death… and the knowledge that you are making a valuable investment in the programs provided by Haven Humane Society for the benefit of the animals throughout the state of California.

Bequests by Will

In the absence of a Will, the laws of your state will determine how your assets are distributed and your estate will often pay the maximum in estate taxes, leaving the least possible amount for your heirs and for the charitable organizations you may wish to remember. For this reason you need to have a Will professionally prepared by your attorney, and should you wish to do so, you may include a bequest to the Haven Humane Society.

	Life Insurance Gift

The gift of one of your life insurance policies to the Haven Humane Society can result in an income deduction at the time of your gift and, if you continue to pay the premiums on the policy, those may also be deducted as a charitable contribution.

The Annuity Trust

The Annuity Trust allows you to transfer cash, securities or other property into an irrevocable trust with a fixed-dollar amount of your gift paid to you as long as you live. If you prefer, you can also direct that same fixed income to be paid to any of your surviving beneficiaries for as long as they live and the remaining principal will be used by Haven Humane Society.

The Unitrust

Similar to the annuity trust, it provides a fixed percentage of the trust’s fair market value to be paid to you and your heirs (rather than a fixed dollar return, as is the case in the Annuity Trust).

The Short-Term Trust

Under this trust, payments are made to Haven Humane Society each year and, at the end of the predetermined number of years, the property reverts to the owner.

The Pooled Income Fund

This is a variation of the basic trust concept in which your investment is “pooled” with those of many other individuals into a large investment fund. The income earned by the Pooled Fund is distributed to your beneficiaries proportionately to your original investment and, at the death of your last beneficiary, the remainder may be left for the charitable organizations of your choice.

Retained Life Estates

You may wish to eventually will your home to Haven Humane Society, but if you make such a gift while you are still alive, you can receive income tax savings now as a result of your contribution. Under this plan, you continue to live in your home and, if you prefer, make a provision for your beneficiaries to live there also. The Haven Humane Society becomes the owner only after your death (and the death of any beneficiaries you may specify), and your home does not pass through probate.

The Revocable Trust

This type of trust allows you to take back your gift at some future point in time. You own the trust until your death, you can receive an income for life, and the funds remaining in the trust at your death will be considered a charitable contribution fro estate tax purposes. These are only a few of the plans that you may utilize for your heirs exactly as you wish, and to provide financial assistance for Haven Human Society, if you so desire. As you consider these programs, you will want to discuss them with your attorney or personal financial advisor for professional advice as to which is best suited for you, and your are encouraged to do so.

Whatever your gift, we will be grateful!

Let Us Help

If you would like to know more about the advantages of planned giving options presented in this brochure, you may call the office of the Executive Director of Haven Humane Society. Your inquiries will be handled in complete confidence and without further obligation on your part.

Please note that Haven Humane Society does not give legal or tax advice. The legal and tax aspects presented in this article are neither complete nor necessarily up-to-date. Related laws and regulations are complex, apply differently to individual cases, and are changed frequently. Therefore, you are advised to consult your attorney or tax advisor for current, authoritative information and for planning that is best suited to your current needs.

Offering love and assistance to animals since 1952, Haven Humane Society does not sell or give away animals for medical research or experimentation.

Need More Information?

If you have any questions regarding estate planning or charitable giving, please contact Joel Warner, Executive Director of Haven Humane Society at (530) 241-1653 or by email at jwarner@havenhumane.org