C.A.R.E.4Paws grows every year as we work to curb pet overpopulation and support pet families in need on the Central Coast. If you want to make a lasting impact on pet family welfare in our community, an estate gift helps ensure that we can continue our mission long into the future.

Legacy gifts can take many forms, depending on your financial situation. Ultimately, all options allow you to make more substantial contributions to support a larger number of animals in need, while at the same time providing you with tax and financial benefits. Most commonly, a legacy gift is made by naming C.A.R.E.4Paws as a beneficiary of your will or trust, a life insurance policy, bank account, pension or retirement plan. It’s easy to do and your pledge can be structured in many different ways.

Estate gift opportunities

A bequest is one of the most popular types of estate gifts. Simply designate a specific dollar amount, asset or percentage of the total value of your estate to C.A.R.E.4Paws in your will. If you already have a will, a codicil (amendment) can be made to include us as a beneficiary. Your accountant, attorney or estate planner can provide specific instructions on how to prepare and execute or amend a will.

If you already have a trust established, you can add C.A.R.E.4Paws as a beneficiary.

You can make C.A.R.E.4Paws the beneficiary of your IRA or 401(k) and avoid many tax consequences.

If you own a life insurance policy that is paid in full and your family no longer needs the policy’s protection, you can designate C.A.R.E.4Paws as the new owner of the policy and potentially receive an immediate tax deduction.

Real estate values have increased greatly in recent years and substantial tax benefits can be achieved with this type of gift. When you make an outright gift of real estate, there are potential tax benefits, including a possible income tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the donated property. There are many other ways to make a real estate gift as well.

A note from C.A.R.E.4Paws donor and volunteer, Greta Hansen

“My love for animals has been with me since childhood. After college, I started getting involved with the Humane Societies wherever I lived. Over the years, I realized that pet adoptions were noble but it troubled me that so many people do not realize how expensive it is to care for a pet properly through its lifespan. Then I discovered C.A.R.E.4Paws and was thrilled to learn of their concept and help with low-cost veterinary services for low-income families. I have observed how much Isabelle Gullö and her staff care about providing quality care to animals—services that they may otherwise not receive—and the enthusiasm of the devoted volunteers. Therefore, I am adding this amazing organization to my trust.”

Download our Pawsitive Legacy Brochure for more information.

If you’re ready to get started now, it’s easy to do through our estate gift form.

We encourage you to meet with your estate planning attorney and tax advisor to determine which type of estate gift is the best fit for you, or please reach out to me anytime with questions you may have.

Kathryn Courain
C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Board Treasurer and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERT™ with Avalan Wealth Management
805.962.7725
kathryn@care4paws.org

Thank you for considering C.A.R.E.4Paws in your estate plans!

We created our Pawsitive Legacy Club to honor our generous donors who remember C.A.R.E.4Paws with a legacy gift. Their support ensures our long-term financial strength and capacity to continue our lifesaving work for years to come. 

Have you already included C.A.R.E.4Paws in your estate plan? Please let us know so we can thank you personally and officially welcome you to the legacy club!

To sign up now, please click below to access our estate gift form.

“I’m including C.A.R.E.4Paws in my estate planning to ensure continued support for this nonprofit, which does incredible work on the Central Coast. C.A.R.E.4Paws fills a gap and a niche that no other group fulfills. Thanks for all that you do in the community to help animals and their families.”

~ Marilyn Makepeace