Legacy Giving

Where there’s a will, there’s a way to help homeless animals.

Become a part of AWLA's 1944 Society

One of the most powerful ways to support the Animal Welfare League of Arlington for years and generations to come is through a gift in your will. Making a planned gift to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington is a meaningful way to carry forward a legacy of your compassion for animals. Estate gifts are personal and make a significant impact. We take your commitment and the responsibility for animals seriously.

Learn more about the 1944 Society.

Questions? Contact Kat Williams at kwilliams@awla.org or call 703-931-9241 X 220.

The information provided below is general in nature and not intended as legal advice. The League recommends that you consult with an attorney or tax advisor to determine which giving opportunity is best for you.

Where to start:

A Statement of Intent

A Statement of Intent to bequeath a future gift to the League entitles you to membership in our treasured 1944 Society. Your membership allows us to thank you during your lifetime and to ensure your love of animals is acknowledged today and lives on into the future.

Please mail your Statement of Intent to the following address:

Animal Welfare League of Arlington
Attn: Director of Development
2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive
Arlington, VA 22206

Making a Bequest

One of the simplest ways to leave a charitable legacy to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington is through a provision in your will. Regardless of your age or financial status, a will is essential to ensure that your property is distributed according to your wishes instead of the arbitrary laws of the state in which you live.

Bequests made through your will may take various forms such as:

A specific bequest that directs a specific dollar amount pass to the League
A percentage bequest that designates a percentage of the estate's total value as a gift to the League.
A residual bequest which directs that the League receive the remainder of the estate, or a portion of the remainder, after all expenses and other bequests have been completed.
A contingent bequest which directs that the League receive all or part of your estate only under specific circumstances such as no surviving family members. (Example: If [insert name] is not living on the ninetieth day after the day of my death, I give all the rest of the property I own at my death to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.)

A bequest to the League is not subject to Federal or estate taxes, and there is no limit on the amount of the deduction. Most importantly, your bequest to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington will help ensure our ability to provide care and protection for animals in the future.

Attorney-recommended bequest language:

I leave [insert dollar amount or percentage] of my Residuary Estate to The Animal Welfare League of Arlington, VA, Incorporated (Federal Tax ID: 54-0603502), which is presently located at 2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive, Arlington, VA 22206, to be used for its general purposes, unless otherwise specified.

Naming the League as a Beneficiary

If you have an insurance policy that is no longer needed for its originally purchased purpose, you may wish to change the beneficiary to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. This may enable you to make a significant gift to the League without using any of your estate’s capital.

Some assets, such as IRAs and other qualified retirement plans, do not pass directly through your will and require you to name a beneficiary. Consider making the Animal Welfare League of Arlington a full or partial beneficiary. Such plans can be excellent choices for charitable giving because they are taxed more heavily than other assets. However, by making the League the beneficiary, the gift's full value will pass to the League to be used to benefit the animals. You will maximize the impact of each dollar in your plan and your impact on the animals. Request a beneficiary designation form from your plan administrator and designate the Animal Welfare League of Arlington as your beneficiary.

Another simple and relatively straightforward planned giving option is to buy a Certificate of Deposit (CD) at your local bank and name the League as the beneficiary, payable-on-death. The CD can remain on deposit earning interest until the holder’s death, and then the League would receive its value. Simply make sure the CD you buy rolls-over automatically and maintains the beneficiary designation.

Making the League the Successor Interest of a Contract

Perhaps you are receiving payments from the sale of a business or real estate or are receiving royalties? You may be able to designate the League as the successor interest to receive any payments that continue after your death.

There are many other powerful ways to combine continuing support for animals with tax benefits and income for you and your loved ones. Please consult with an attorney or tax advisor to determine which giving opportunity is best for you.

Write Your Will with FreeWill

In order to make this process as easy for you as possible, AWLA has partnered with FreeWill, an intuitive online service that enables you to write a free, legal will online in less than 20 minutes.

Everyone needs a will and, odds are, you either don’t have one or yours is due for an update. Get started now!

Prefer to work with an attorney to write your will? You can still use FreeWill to document your wishes, which will save you time and money at the lawyer’s office.

Secure your legacy for the people and causes you love today.

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