Animal Welfare Professionals

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

#FundraisingandDevelopment
#MarketingandSocialMedia

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Susan Leavitt
National Coordinator, East Coast, VP Board
American Maltese Association Rescue
NY
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As a national rescue, templates are unlikley to work for every state.  Louisiana, for example, has very different succession laws than some other states, so most of the forms downloaded from legal self-help sites are famously wrong here, according to some succession attorneys I know -- and I would be very concerned about offering legal advice on a rescue website.  Direct people to their estate lawyer (financial planners cannot write wills or codicils and are acting illegally if they do so).  Designate someone in your org who is a single point of contact for the estate/trust lawyers.

This is also important for your adopters, by the way -- we tell our adopters to let their executor know in their documents that their pets can always come back to us, but to please give instructions to provide us with the updated vet records for the pet, and to please make a final bequest in any amount appropriate to their own circumstances to help us with care, particularly as we may not have a foster home open and might have to pay for commercial boarding, in the event of an unexpected death of an owner.  Watch out too for random people with no connection to your rescue "willing" random animals to you, without any advanced notice, prior arrangement OR donation to follow the animal -- in those situations, I have had to decline to take the dogs and tell the executor, "Sorry, but we won't accept them." 

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Maggie Thomas
President
Red Stick German Shepherd Rescue
LA

Original Message:
Sent: 09-30-2023 07:19 AM
From: Susan Leavitt
Subject: Planned Giving/Legacy Website Templates

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

#FundraisingandDevelopment
#MarketingandSocialMedia

------------------------------
Susan Leavitt
National Coordinator, East Coast, VP Board
American Maltese Association Rescue
NY
------------------------------

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

#FundraisingandDevelopment
#MarketingandSocialMedia

------------------------------
Susan Leavitt
National Coordinator, East Coast, VP Board
American Maltese Association Rescue
NY
------------------------------

Hi Susan, we're in CO and have a planned giving director who manages our program called Nine Lives Legacy Society - but is pretty simple. We just encourage people to write us into their will or trust, arrange it on their own with an attorney, then just notify us. Here's our webpage (scroll down past the first two programs to get to it): https://catcaresociety.org/programs/. 

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

Hi Amanda -

That's the kind of info I'm looking for...simple, clear, concise.  I'm of that age where this is something friends and family are contemplating and why not make it easy for them to have some tools about, at the least, what they need to ask their lawyer and/or estate planner about. Would you mind if we use some of this verbage? I also realize we should designate who in our organization will handle this area. Thanks so much for helping.  When I took on the new website I had no idea how many areas of rescue I would have to delve into that aren't part of my everyday duties.  

Best to you and Cat Care Society <3

Hi Susan, we're in CO and have a planned giving director who manages our program called Nine Lives Legacy Society - but is pretty simple. We just encourage people to write us into their will or trust, arrange it on their own with an attorney, then just notify us. Here's our webpage (scroll down past the first two programs to get to it): https://catcaresociety.org/programs/. 

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

We're happy to share our verbiage! Use and adapt however you'd like:)

Hi Amanda -

That's the kind of info I'm looking for...simple, clear, concise.  I'm of that age where this is something friends and family are contemplating and why not make it easy for them to have some tools about, at the least, what they need to ask their lawyer and/or estate planner about. Would you mind if we use some of this verbage? I also realize we should designate who in our organization will handle this area. Thanks so much for helping.  When I took on the new website I had no idea how many areas of rescue I would have to delve into that aren't part of my everyday duties.  

Best to you and Cat Care Society <3

Hi Susan, we're in CO and have a planned giving director who manages our program called Nine Lives Legacy Society - but is pretty simple. We just encourage people to write us into their will or trust, arrange it on their own with an attorney, then just notify us. Here's our webpage (scroll down past the first two programs to get to it): https://catcaresociety.org/programs/. 

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

We're happy to share our verbiage! Use and adapt however you'd like:)

Hi Amanda -

That's the kind of info I'm looking for...simple, clear, concise.  I'm of that age where this is something friends and family are contemplating and why not make it easy for them to have some tools about, at the least, what they need to ask their lawyer and/or estate planner about. Would you mind if we use some of this verbage? I also realize we should designate who in our organization will handle this area. Thanks so much for helping.  When I took on the new website I had no idea how many areas of rescue I would have to delve into that aren't part of my everyday duties.  

Best to you and Cat Care Society <3

Hi Susan, we're in CO and have a planned giving director who manages our program called Nine Lives Legacy Society - but is pretty simple. We just encourage people to write us into their will or trust, arrange it on their own with an attorney, then just notify us. Here's our webpage (scroll down past the first two programs to get to it): https://catcaresociety.org/programs/. 

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

Hi Susan, we're in CO and have a planned giving director who manages our program called Nine Lives Legacy Society - but is pretty simple. We just encourage people to write us into their will or trust, arrange it on their own with an attorney, then just notify us. Here's our webpage (scroll down past the first two programs to get to it): https://catcaresociety.org/programs/. 

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

Hi Susan, we're in CO and have a planned giving director who manages our program called Nine Lives Legacy Society - but is pretty simple. We just encourage people to write us into their will or trust, arrange it on their own with an attorney, then just notify us. Here's our webpage (scroll down past the first two programs to get to it): https://catcaresociety.org/programs/. 

------------------------------
Amanda Huggett
Director of Communications
Cat Care Society
CO

Original Message:
Sent: 09-30-2023 07:19 AM
From: Susan Leavitt
Subject: Planned Giving/Legacy Website Templates

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

#FundraisingandDevelopment
#MarketingandSocialMedia

------------------------------
Susan Leavitt
National Coordinator, East Coast, VP Board
American Maltese Association Rescue
NY
------------------------------

Your website is incredibly helpful as we plan to launch our legacy giving program in the new year - thank you for sharing.

How else do you promote/gather information from donors about the Nine Lives Legacy Society? E.g. do you send annual or semi annual surveys or have collateral in house? Also, how do you acknowledge donors who have included you in bequests?

Hi Susan, we're in CO and have a planned giving director who manages our program called Nine Lives Legacy Society - but is pretty simple. We just encourage people to write us into their will or trust, arrange it on their own with an attorney, then just notify us. Here's our webpage (scroll down past the first two programs to get to it): https://catcaresociety.org/programs/. 

------------------------------
Amanda Huggett
Director of Communications
Cat Care Society
CO

Original Message:
Sent: 09-30-2023 07:19 AM
From: Susan Leavitt
Subject: Planned Giving/Legacy Website Templates

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

#FundraisingandDevelopment
#MarketingandSocialMedia

------------------------------
Susan Leavitt
National Coordinator, East Coast, VP Board
American Maltese Association Rescue
NY
------------------------------

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

#FundraisingandDevelopment
#MarketingandSocialMedia

------------------------------
Susan Leavitt
National Coordinator, East Coast, VP Board
American Maltese Association Rescue
NY
------------------------------

Hi Susan - I think it's great to include this information on your website! The Cat Care Society sample that Amanda shared is fantastic. I'll also throw CAT's site on your radar for a similar example. We have two types of planned giving programs - one is for folks who are looking to leave a legacy gift; the other is for people interested in making a legacy gift as part of lifetime planning for their pets. You can see info about both programs, and our Legacy Society here: catadoptionteam.org/planned-giving.

We include a lot of this same language in our print brochure as well (see attached). Feel free to steal, borrow, or ignore any of our stuff too : )

Hi All - We're a small, national rescue and we're finally redesigning our website to give us a fresh, up to date, welcoming look that we desperately need. We're working with a web designer, but much of the work is falling to two of us board members who have no experience doing thiss. We've been approached lately by followers who don't have family and would like to leave us in their wills or trusts. We would like to have a Planned Giving section on our site to give them some guidance in going about this. It will lead them to seek info from their financial planner or estate lawyer but we're wondering if any of you might have a template you can share with info for your supporters on leaving money after they're gone. I also attended a very useful seminar on the importance of a trust both before you die (if you're incapacitated and can't care for your dog) as well as after you're gone. Any info you can give us on wording and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much!