Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  FreeWill

    Posted 07-07-2025 11:00 AM

    Anyone out their using FreeWill? We rescue nearly 2,000 cats and dogs and am trying to find a shelter around our same scale that utilizes the service. I have a board meeting tomorrow to pitch the idea so any feedback is appreciated.


    #FundraisingandDevelopment

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    Krista DeGuelle
    Development Director
    Acadiana Animal Aid
    LA
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  • 2.  RE: FreeWill

    Posted 07-08-2025 08:06 AM

    Hi Krista - I've used FreeWill in the past at a shelter that had about twice your intake. After a year of using it, and more importantly promoting it, we had about $1M in future legacy gifts accumulated. FreeWill is an expensive product for an organization of your size to take on, although it of course comes down to your budget. FreeWill charges their clients to provide a very high level of marketing material to promote your legacy program and has great customer support. They work with you to pitch email and social campaigns throughout the year, providing lots of content so that it's plug-and-play. The other thing you pay for is to have some brand customization so that users seamlessly select your organization during the will-making process. Here's what I recommend you do, as an alternative to making the investment right now.  Customize your planned giving/legacy webpage with verbiage that explains how easy it is to use FreeWill, your EIN,  include suggested bequest language and provide a link to FreeWill. Try setting up a will yourself and see if your organization populates in the FreeWill search function. It should if you are a 501(c)(3). Then you can create some campaigns to promote it throughout the year, for example during National Estate Planning Awareness Week in October and throughout August for National Make a Will Month. Whether you go for FreeWill or not, it's a great idea to promote legacy giving!



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    Jenny Miller
    Shelter or rescue director
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: FreeWill

    Posted 07-11-2025 01:27 PM

    Hi Krista,

    We rescue a little over 3,700 cats and kittens annually. We considered using FreeWill and decided to use Giving Docs for planned gifts. 



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    Kade Alexie
    Donor Support Specialist
    Stray Cat Alliance
    CA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: FreeWill

    Posted 07-12-2025 05:53 AM

    Hi, 

    I am not familiar with Freewill, but I have a finance business and work with many experienced financial advisors. The most important factor in planning is the person you are working with and the relationship. 

    I am based on the east coast but have clients in California as well. Most advisors can work within any state. I'd be happy to talk to anyone who is looking for further guidance and connect you with a trusted firm. 

    If you take a look at our website for example you can see our planned giving page that details different options. 
    Feel free to reach out to me directly Id be happy to help! 

    Allabouttheanimalsfoundation@gmail.com

    www.theanimalsfoundation.com



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    Maria Putnam
    Founder/CEO
    All About the Animals Foundation
    CT
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    Original Message


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