Pet Parent Ensures Loving Future for Friends

catHer family members have four legs!

Meet Pretty Boy, Honey, and Big Momma, three beautiful Mutt-i-grees® who quickly became the four-legged family members of their beloved pet parent, Barbara. The three cats settled into Barbara's Manhattan apartment many years ago and spent their days living as one, big, happy family.

catBecause Barbara had such a strong love for her cats, she always worried about what would happen to them if something were to happen to her. Unfortunately, her fears turned into reality when her health began to fail. She immediately began her search to secure a responsible, loving future for her feline family for when the day came when she could no longer care for them. With the help of her financial advisor and friend, she found us.

"I count this as one of the best days of my life, when I visited North Shore Animal League America."

catBy enrolling her pets in the Safe Haven® Surviving Pet Care Program, Barbara was assured that her cats were guaranteed a safe and loving place at our Port Washington, NY campus for as long as it takes to find the perfect adopter. At the same time she knew her plan to leave a gift as part of her estate would help ensure that North Shore Animal League America can continue their life-saving work for decades to come. Now due to the love of one woman, Pretty Boy, Honey, and Big Momma will not have to face an uncertain future and potentially tragic circumstances and neither will countless other animals.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to North Shore Animal League America a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

I give to North Shore Animal League America, Inc., Federal I.D. No. 11-1666852, 16 Lewyt Street, Port Washington, NY 11050, (the sum of $______) (all or ___ % of the residue of my estate/trust), to be used for its general purposes.

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to North Shore Animal League America or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to North Shore Animal League America as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to North Shore Animal League America as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and North Shore Animal League America where you agree to make a gift to North Shore Animal League America and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.

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