Planned Giving

No matter what stage of life you’re in, it’s never too early to begin planning on how you can leave a legacy to help local animals! Apart from cash gifts, there are many ways that someone of any age can donate to our animals… now or later.

Estate Planning Opportunities

Estate gifts are an effective way to make a contribution to Vanderburgh Humane Society in order to ensure that their many fine programs will continue while maximizing your personal financial goals and tax-wise estate planning needs. There are estate gift vehicles to meet almost every need, and the advantages are just as numerous:

  • To provide income for yourself and other loved ones
  • To avoid or delay capital gains taxes on appreciated long-term assets
  • To increase income
  • To reduce federal estate taxes and probate costs
  • To provide diversification and management of your investments

1) Leaving a Legacy

Bequests can be a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or a percentage of the residual amount of your estate. By naming the Vanderburgh Humane Society in your will, you may avoid estate taxes. And your gift will certainly save lives!

Need a will? As a friend of the VHS, FreeWill is delighted to help you create your legal will. It’s 100% free to you, and most people finish in 20 minutes or less. You can also create a free revocable living trust!
Create a Will
Already have us in your will? Let us know below!
Gift Intent Form

2) Charitable Gift Annuities

A charitable gift annuity is a simple contract between you and VHS that allows you to make a gift to the organization now and receive a guaranteed income for life. In exchange for your irrevocable gift, the VHS agrees to pay one or two annuitants a fixed sum each year for life, some of that income is tax-free! This is a great gift if you want to convert a low paying CD to a Charitable Gift Annuity that can pay you as much as 11.3% depending on your age.

3) Retirement Plans*

IRAs, 401(k) s, and other qualified retirement plans are subject to income taxes; in addition those funds may be subject to estate taxes - that can mean that your estate may end up paying up to 80% of your retirement plans value in taxes! When you name the VHS as the beneficiary of your retirement plan those funds are not taxed as income, help animals and are not included in your estate.

4) Life Insurance Policies*

Paid-up life insurance that you no longer need can make a wonderful gift to the VHS animals and may provide you with a significant tax deduction. Or you can make the VHS the beneficiary of your life insurance policy.

*Non-Probate Assets: Did you know? Having a valid will in place isn’t enough. Assets you pass on outside of your will are called non-probate assets. They include lRAs, 401(k)s, pensions, life insurance policies, and certain bank and brokerage accounts. If beneficiaries are properly set for these non-probate assets, ownership can transfer faster than your assets that must go through probate. Thanks to FreeWill, you can easily plan beneficiaries for your non-probate assets in one place.
Designate VHS as a Beneficiary

5) Real Estate

Real estate that is not providing you with needed income can make an excellent gift to the animals. A gift of a mortgage free residence, farm or vacation home can allow you to take a charitable income tax deduction for the full market value, avoid the capital gains tax and escape the expense and work of selling the property.

6) Savings Bonds

The difference between the amount you originally invested in your Series EE bonds and the amount you receive at maturity is taxable "interest income." If you rolled your series EE bond into HH bonds then the EE bonds' accumulated interest income sits protected "inside" of the HH bonds; when the HH bonds are redeemed you will still have to pay income taxes on that interest income.

You can avoid the income tax by bequeathing your saving bonds to the VHS! Your estate will not have to pay the income taxes and will get a charitable estate tax deduction. In addition the full amount of your savings bond will be available to help save the lives of homeless animals.

7) Stocks, Bonds, & Mutual Funds

Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds that have appreciated in value are one of the most advantageous ways of supporting VHS. You may receive a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock (up to a maximum of 30% of your adjusted gross income) and avoid paying the capital gains tax on any increase in the value of the stock. Excess deductions can be carried over for five additional years.

VHS Stock Transfer Information

8) Charitable Lead Trusts

A charitable lead trust enables you to provide the animals at the VHS with the income from this trust over a period of years. When the trust term expires, the remaining assets revert to you or your beneficiaries. Significant savings of gift or estate taxes may be realized when the lead trust principal passes to your beneficiaries. This is an excellent way of retaining hard-earned assets within your family, while simultaneously making a generous gift to animals.

9) Remainder Trusts

A charitable remainder trust will provide you or others with income while you make a generous gift to the VHS. Establishing this type of trust can allow you to liquidate highly appreciated assets while avoiding the capital gains tax and letting you diversify. The income may continue for the lifetimes of the beneficiaries you name, a fixed term of not more than 20 years, or a combination of the two. When the trust term ends, the trust's principal passes to the VHS to help continue the programs. Many different assets can be used to fund your trust including securities, real estate, closely held stock, life insurance, and qualified retirement plans.

10) Gifts of Cash

Cash gifts help save pets' lives today! For income tax purposes cash gifts are fully deductible up to 50% of your adjusted gross income. You can give online easily right now, or you can give cash in person at the shelter during General Business Hours!

11) Endowment Gifts

The original gift is invested and the total return that your gift generates is used to help the animals every year. Gifts of $25,000 or more allow you to name your endowment. This is a wonderful way to commemorate a loved one or your favorite pet forever as the endowment gives again and again, for the benefit of the animals for generations to come.

If you are interested in giving to the VHS through any of these avenues, here is how you can get in touch with us!

Send this form to the VHS by mail or email:

Statement of Intent of Planned Giving

Or contact our team here:

Kendall D. Paul, CEO
(812) 426-2563 ext. 214
[email protected] 

Amanda D. Coburn, Director of Advancement
(812) 426-2563 ext. 214
[email protected]

Allison Miller, Business Manager
(812) 426-2563, ext. 215
[email protected]