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Charitable Estate Planning

Saving Lives through your Will or Living Trust

As an animal lover, a bequest through a will or trust document is a powerful declaration of the love and compassion you have for homeless animals, indeed the most vulnerable and neediest among us. A bequest is a wonderful way to ensure that your legacy will make a difference for animals that will need our help in the future to find safe and loving homes.

The following language is provided as a guide to assist in drafting provisions for your estate planning documents. It should not be considered legal advice or relied upon without consulting your attorney. Your attorney can ensure that the appropriate language is tailored to your specify circumstances and included in your will, trust or other estate planning documents. By including this language in your estate document and you can be assured that you played a major role in the rescue of homeless cats and kittens that are on the streets fending for themselves.

"I give to Whiskers, Inc., Federal I.D. No. 22-2487926, PO Box 11190, Albany New York, 12211 (the sum of $______) or (all or ___ % of the residue of my estate/trust), to be used for its general purposes"

Other Ways to Make a Major Difference by Giving and Planning Now

  • Cash Donations – Give a one-time or recurring financial contribution.
  • Donations of Securities or Stock – Transfer appreciated assets like stocks or bonds for potential tax benefits.
  • Real Estate Gifts – Donate property outright or give the proceeds from its sale.
  • Gifts of Personal Property – Contribute valuable items such as artwork, vehicles, or collectibles.
  • Charitable Remainder Trust – Set up a trust that provides income to you or beneficiaries for life, with the remainder going to Whiskers.
  • Charitable Lead Trust – Establish a trust that gives income to Whiskers for a set period, with the remainder going to your heirs.
  • Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) – Open a charitable fund through your investment account provider to recommend grants to Whiskers.
  • Family Foundations – Make annual donations to Whiskers from your private family foundation.
  • Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) – If you're 70½ or older, donate directly from an IRA to avoid taxable income.
  • Gifts from a Living Trust – Include both lifetime donations and post-death bequests to support the Whiskers during and after your life.
  • Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation – Name Whiskers as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy.
  • Retirement Plan Beneficiary Designation – Designate Whiskers as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or similar plan.
  • Payable on Death (POD) or Transfer on Death (TOD) Accounts – Name Whiskers as the beneficiary for bank or investment accounts.
  • Residual Estate Gifts – Leave the remainder of your estate (after other bequests) to Whiskers.
  • Memorial Donations – Encourage friends and family to donate to Whiskers in your memory.
  • Honorary or Commemorative Donations – Make a gift in honor of a loved one or event, during life or through estate planning.

If you have questions, call (518) 458-2287 or e-mail admin@ewhiskers.com

Make a Plan For Your Cat's Future

Read about Whiskers Lifetime Commitment Program