Planned Giving

Giving through Bequests & Wills

Leaving a charitable bequest is one of the most common ways to support your favorite non-profits in your estate plans. Bequests can include a set amount of money, a specific asset or a percentage of your estate. Listing Animal Welfare Society as a direct beneficiary of your estate – no matter how big or how small – will make a tremendous impact in the future.

To help you get started, use FreeWill, an online tool that guides you through the process of creating a legally valid will. It’s easy to use, accessible online and can be completed in 20 minutes. Moreover, thanks to AWS’ partnership with FreeWill, this resource is free of charge. Use it on its own to create a last will and testament. Or use it a planning tool in conjunction with an attorney.

If you already have a will and would like to add a charitable bequest for AWS, contact an attorney or estate planner. These professionals can assist in updating, revising or adding a codicil to your will. Our suggested language for a general bequest:

“I give and bequeath to Animal Welfare Society, a not-for-profit corporation, with its principal offices presently located at Holland Road, Kennebunk, Maine, [the sum of $______________; _____________% of my estate/home/art/vehicle/etc.] to be used for the accomplishment of its mission.”

Legacy Giving through Retirement or Insurance Beneficiary Designations

Do you have an IRA, 401(k), life-insurance policy, or any other assets not included in your will? If so, these non-probate assets require beneficiaries, which can be individuals or nonprofits. Naming AWS as a beneficiary of one of these assets is another common estate planning option. Use this online tool to make your plans and designate AWS as a beneficiary of one or more of these assets to support the organization after your lifetime.

Alternatively, contact the carrier of your insurance plan, or reach out to your human resources office to ask to update your beneficiary to AWS. Be sure to indicate our EIN of 23-7018176 to avoid any confusion with any other animal welfare organizations.

Giving through Investment Vehicles

Trusts & Annuities

With investment vehicles such as charitable lead trusts and charitable gift annuities, individuals can provide a charity with income. These vehicles provide the income either now or in the future, depending on the type of trust. Contact your financial advisor to learn more about including AWS in your trust or annuity.

Donor Advised Funds

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a private fund designated to charity. A third-party organization (such as the Maine Community Foundation or the charitable division of financial services institution) generally adminsters the account,. An individual, couple or family can contribute cash or non-cash assets to their DAF and receive immediate tax benefits. Contact your financial advisor or third-party organization as listed above to learn more.

Stock Donations

We gladly accept most stock and security transfers. Depending on your wishes and/or our current needs and the market, we add the transfer to our current portfolio or sell and use the proceeds. Please contact our development department to begin the initiation of the transfer.

IRA Distributions

Though a qualified retirement plan distribution, also known as a charitable IRA rollover, make a gift directly from an individual retirement account (IRA). The amount of your gift is not included in your gross income for tax purposes. Thus, gifts transferred directly to a charity, such as AWS, from traditional IRA accounts are not taxed. Donors required to take minimum distribution (RMD) for their retirement accounts can direct the distribution directly to charity. For more information, please contact your financial advisor. If we should be expecting a Charitable IRA Rollover gift, please contact our development office.