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Be a part of Animal Outreach of Shelby County’s future

When it comes to making a long-term impact on homeless cats at Animal Outreach of Shelby County, there are many giving options to choose from besides simply writing a check. Two of the simplest options to set up are bequests and beneficiary designations.

BEQUESTS

If you are interested in helping Animal Outreach of Shelby County with our mission of improving the lives of homeless cats, the simplest, most flexible and most versatile way to ensure we can continue our work for years to come is a gift in your will or living trust, known as a charitable bequest.

By including a bequest to Animal Outreach of Shelby County in your will or living trust, you are ensuring that we can continue our mission for years to come. To include Animal Outreach of Shelby County in your will or living trust, download our PDF of sample bequest language [LINK TO YOUR SAMPLE BEQUEST LANGUAGE AS A PDF HERE] and customize it to your wishes. You can then provide this language to your attorney for inclusion in your will or living trust. 

THERE ARE NUMEROUS OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO BEQUESTS:

  • General Bequests are legacies left to certain people or causes that come from the general value of the estate, and are made by designating a specific dollar amount, a particular asset or a fixed percentage of your estate to the cause of your choice.
  • Residuary Bequests are made when you intend to leave the residue portion of your assets after other terms of the will have been satisfied. (Residuary bequests can be general or specific.)
  • Contingency Bequests allow you to leave a portion of your estate to a particular charity if your named beneficiary does not survive you. (Contingency bequests can be general or specific.)

Document Your Wishes: Download our Animal Outreach of Shelby County Planned Gift Letter of Intent so that Animal Outreach of Shelby County will know about your generous gift and can make sure your wishes are recorded. 

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS

If you are passionate about supporting Animal Outreach of Shelby County with our mission even after your lifetime, making us the beneficiary of some of your assets is an easy method to support Animal Outreach of Shelby County. Just name Animal Outreach of Shelby County as a beneficiary to receive assets such as retirement plans and life insurance policies after you’re gone. You simply fill out a form that is entirely separate from your will—which makes this approach an easy way to give.

UPDATING YOUR BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS: A QUICK AND EASY WAY TO HELP

Not only are beneficiary designations an easy way to give, but they are also flexible—you aren’t locked into the choices you make today. You can review and adjust beneficiary designations anytime you want. You can make Animal Outreach of Shelby County a sole or partial beneficiary of a retirement account or an insurance policy. 

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION CHECKLIST

  • Defined Contribution Plans: For instance, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457s, Simplified Employee Pension, etc.
  • Defined Benefit Plans: Such as pension plans
  • Individual Retirement Accounts: IRAs
  • Life insurance plans: all types
  • Accidental death and dismemberment insurance

You can choose to make Animal Outreach of Shelby County the sole beneficiary, the beneficiary of a specific percentage, or the contingent beneficiary after a spouse or other loved one. The funds realized from this legacy gift can be given as unrestricted or restricted for a specific purpose (like spay/neuter, community cats, senior cats, etc.). 

NEXT STEPS

Contact KerryAnn May via email at kerryann@shelbycats.com or call her directly at 317-627-4539 for additional information on bequests or beneficiary designations and how they can help support Animal Outreach of Shelby County with our mission. 

If you have already named Animal Outreach of Shelby County in your plans, please contact us so that your wishes for your gift may be documented. We want to make sure that your legacy to Animal Outreach of Shelby County is handled just as you desire.

Document Your Wishes: Download our Animal Outreach of Shelby County Planned Gift Letter of Intent so that Animal Outreach of Shelby County will know about your generous gift and can make sure your wishes are recorded. 

This information is not intended as legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax advisor.