« Dogtown - No Rabbit Content | Main | Quincy RIP »
September 5, 2008
How Will You Leave Your Legacy?
For a lot of us, this is a difficult topic to think about. Thanks to Susan (mommy of Lady Matilda Marie the Divine) for reminding us of this very important topic.
As a bunny mom, I know how much I love and cherish our sweet Matilda who came to us from Columbus House Rabbit Society. As a nonprofit development professional, I know the importance of leaving a legacy.
Many charitable or nonprofit organizations will struggle to survive in the coming years without an increase in planned or bequest giving. That's why many people who give generously to their favorite charitable organizations today are concerned that their contributions will be missed when they're gone. They're right - only a small percentage of local wills leave any money to charity. People can continue to make a difference with a little planning.
The first step is to have a will. No one likes to think about their demise, but it's going to happen at some point or another. It's not morbid to have a will when you are still young (our daughter had one drawn up at age 18). Many people make the assumption that their assets will transfer automatically to their loved ones; therefore, they do not need a will. In reality, a will speeds up the probate process and can cause less stress for those you leave behind. Without a will, you lose control over your belongings after death. Your property and finances are settled according to state laws, whether or not they coincide with your or your family's wishes.
The second step is to leave a planned gift to your favorite charity, such as CHRS. Planned giving isn't as difficult as it sounds. You don't need to be wealthy to make a gift to a nonprofit - a planned gift as small as $100 can make a difference and is vital to the future of CHRS.
The easiest ways to make a planned gift is to provide a bequest to the nonprofit in your will or to make a gift of life insurance. To be certain that the group receives the gift, you should state your intentions in your will. I personally believe that making a gift of life insurance is the best way to make a planned gift. If you currently have life insurance (and you should, no matter what), you can designate a specific amount for CHRS in your will. You can also purchase a separate, additional policy as well - a $10,000 policy can generally be purchased for under $50 a year, and you can make CHRS the beneficiary
I can tell you that my husband Ryan and I practice what I preach. We are both leaving gifts to Columbus House Rabbit Society in our will. When I die, my estate will provide bun to bun sponsorship for 250 rabbits or spaying/neutering for over 100 bunnies. The same will happen when Ryan passes away. It costs us so little right now, but it will pay off big for CHRS in the future - without taking away from our family's needs!
I invite you to join us - I can't think of a better way for us to thank CHRS and to say how much we love buns!
Posted by Sue at September 5, 2008 6:38 PM