Planned Giving
Your Legacy of Love for Animals Lives On..
Your decision to include HSWM in your estate shows your sincere commitment to animals and your desire for your legacy of love to continue for years to come. Estate gifts, commonly called “planned gifts,” include bequests, securities, life insurance, retirement accounts and more.
We recommend talking with your tax or legal advisor about ways to make a planned charitable gift to the Humane Society of Western Montana. Planned gifts are usually deferred meaning they are arranged now and fulfilled later. For example, a person could include HSWM in their will or trust or make HSWM the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
Bequests
Bequests are a relatively simple way to leave a legacy to the Humane Society of Western Montana. This is perhaps the most straightforward planned giving option. Regardless of your age or financial status, you can name HSWM as a recipient of assets from your estate. With a bequest, you can make a gift that you may not have afforded in cash during your lifetime. You can leave HSWM a specific dollar gift, a percentage gift, or a residual bequest. A bequest to HSWM is not subject to Federal or estate taxes and most importantly, will ensure HSWM’s ability to provide care and protection for animals in future years.
Sample bequest language: “I give 25% to the Humane Society of Western Montana, 5930 Highway 93 South, Missoula, MT 59804 for its general use and purposes. The Humane Society of Western Montana is a non-profit corporation. Federal Tax ID number: 81-0290933.
Friends for Life Endowment
The Montana Endowment Tax Credit
HSWM has an established, qualified permanent endowment fund. Contributions to the Friends for Life endowment fund are eligible for the Montana Endowment Tax Credit. The METC can provide a donor with significant tax savings on their Montana state income taxes. Endowment gifts provide an endless source of support. They are pooled to earn annual interest and investment income which can be spent for current needs while the principal remains untouched.
Other Options
A relatively easy planned gift option is purchasing a Certificate of Deposit (CD) at your local bank and naming HSWM as the beneficiary, payable-on-death. The CD can remain on deposit earning interest until the holder’s death, then HSWM would receive its value. Make sure the CD you buy automatically rolls-over and maintains beneficiary designation.
There are other options, such as Charitable Gift Annuities which provide lifetime income for you a tax-deduction, and provide revenue for HSWM.
Thank You!
We are deeply grateful to all those people who are considering, or have designated a charitable bequest or other planned gift to HSWM. We urge you to work with a qualified estate attorney in setting up such a gift. Please tell us if you have included HSWM in your estate plans. We would love to be able to thank you during your lifetime.
If you have specific questions, please contact Kate Geranios, Development Officer at 406.381.7477 or Lora O'Connor, Director at 406.543.2633