JOIN OUR LEGACY SOCIETY
Planned giving allows donors to invest in the future of Saint Francis Service Dogs. Please review the information below as you consider establishing your gift, and contact us with any questions about how we can help you strategically accomplish your future financial and charitable objectives.
Who can make a planned gift? Anyone with a desire to give can make a planned gift. Generally, donors give assets like IRAs, securities, real estate, insurance benefits and cash. Many are surprised to learn how easy it is to create a lasting legacy that can preserve the family name, honor loved ones, support a favorite nonprofit, and minimize tax burdens and/or support the community they call home.
What good work can I do with my planned gift? Your gift will allow Saint Francis Service Dogs to grow and continue to create independence for people with disabilities through partnership with a service dog for generations to come. Often donors find it most satisfying to provide a gift with flexibility. By making an unrestricted gift, you ensure that your gift will provide the maximum benefit to our mission. Your planned gift can be directed to any of the Saint Francis Service Dogs existing funds or, with a bequest or gift of at least $100,000, a new named fund can be established.
How will the proceeds of my named fund be used to benefit Saint Francis Service Dogs? Saint Francis Service Dogs will invest the principal of your gift and direct annual earnings toward the general operating expense of our services.
When should I include the gift in my estate plan? Anytime you are drafting or changing your will or estate plan, you may want to consider charitable legacy gifts. Your financial or legal advisor can provide professional guidance related to your specific estate, beneficiaries, income goals, taxes and other considerations.
How do I plan an estate gift? Call your financial advisor, estate planner, and notify Saint Francis Service Dog’s Director of Philanthropy. Giving a planned gift is simple:
- You include a bequest or planned gift to Saint Francis Service Dogs in your will and notify us.
- Upon your death, we establish a fund in the name you have chosen (minimum of $100,000) or direct your gift to the Saint Francis Service Dog fund that you have recommended.
How do I notify Saint Francis Service Dogs of my planned gift? The process is very simple. Once you have made provisions for naming the Saint Francis Service Dogs as a beneficiary, please complete a Statement of Intent that clarifies your commitment and communicates your wishes. Some donors also work with us to prepare a memorandum of understanding. While it is not required, it does allow you to further clarify your intent for your planned gift. As an additional alternative, some donors decide to establish a fund during their lifetime. It allows them to begin seeing the impact of their giving and serves as the repository of their future planned gift.
Contact our Director of Philanthropy, Amy Milberger at 540-342-3647 ext. 409 or amilberger@saintfrancisdogs.org if you have any questions.