Benefits of Planned Giving

You do not have to be wealthy to provide a meaningful gift to your favorite cause. Through planned giving, the transfer of assets to a charity, you can take full advantage of the tax benefits designed to encourage giving. Planned giving can be simple and easy to do, such as designating a charity as a partial or full beneficiary in a retirement plan or insurance policy or transferring appreciated stock to a charity. Or it can be more complex, requiring the service of an attorney, and possibly other financial advisors, in addition to the time and thought required in creating your will or trust.

Going through the process of creating a will or trust is well worth it, regardless of your age. Not only does a will or trust ensure your assets end up where you want them, but a trust can frequently let you maximize what you leave for everyone involved. Creating a will or trust also allows you to think through important decisions about a number of items, such as who would take care of your pets if something happened to you.

Setting up a charitable giving vehicle, such as a charitable remainder trust, allows you to avoid capital gains taxes and maximize what you are capable of giving a charity, while still providing for all your family and loved ones' needs. In addition, a trust saves your loved ones the hassle, expense and delay caused by probate court proceedings that take place for those who receive inheritance through a will alone.

Now that you know it's important to set up a will or trust, where do you go from here? The Placer SPCA can help. Call or e-mail our Fund Development Associate at 916-782-7722, x. 102, funddevelopment@placerspca.org for a brochure on our Planned Giving Program or Surviving Pets Program. We can also provide a referral list of attorneys, estate and financial planners or meet with you to discuss options that might work best for you. With a little planning today, you can help us create a future where all the adoptable companion animals of Placer County have loving homes.