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Monthly Giving

Best Friends love animals, we love Best Friends. Support the animals with monthly donations.

A person outside with a dog, giving the dog a treat

Leave a Legacy

Estate Gifts

When you make HSSW part of your estate plan, you join our St. Francis Circle - a group of dedicated donors committed to providing for the animals and HSSW after their lifetime. Estate gifts have a transformational impact on our lifesaving work and provide lasting support for pets in our community. And when you include HSSW in your estate plan, you also receive the benefit of our Home Again Pet Guardian Program providing care for your beloved pets.

Learn More About Estate Gifts

Planned gifts are a meaningful way to make a difference for the animals in our community. HSSW offers an easy option to begin the process with our Get Started Workbook. Request a copy. And thanks to our partnership with FreeWill, a trusted online estate planning tool, creating your legacy is fast and intuitive.

  • Bequest Language

    A bequest is a gift made to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington through your will. Bequests are a simple way to make a significant gift to the animals.

    Bequests can be for a specific dollar amount or for a percentage of your estate. You can also provide a contingent bequest, which would be honored only if other beneficiaries predecease you. Your estate will receive an estate tax charitable deduction for the full amount of your cash bequest to HSSW or for the fair market value of other donated assets.

    Specific Bequest Language
    I give to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, EIN 91-0759124, currently located at 1100 NE 192nd Ave., Vancouver, WA 98684, the sum of $____ (or ____%) of my estate for its general purposes.

    Residual Bequest Language
    I give to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, EIN 91-0759124, currently located at 1100 NE 192nd Ave., Vancouver, WA 98684, all (or ____%) of the rest, residue or remainder of my estate, both real and personal, for its general purposes.

    Contingent Bequest Language
    If any of the above-named beneficiaries disclaims or predecease me, I bequeath his or her share to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, EIN 91-0759124, currently located at 1100 NE 192nd Ave., Vancouver, WA 98684, to be used for its general purposes.

  • Retirement Accounts

    Did you know that your pre-tax retirement assets (IRA, 401k) may be taxed up to 60% if you leave them to your heirs when you pass? However, if you leave this asset to a charitable organization like HSSW, they will transfer tax-free.

    Naming the Humane Society for Southwest Washington as a beneficiary of your IRA or other qualified retirement is easy to do. Simply request a Change of Beneficiary Form from your retirement plan administrator and provide them with the these details:

    Name: Humane Society for Southwest Washington
    Address: 1100 NE 192nd Ave, Vancouver, WA 98684
    Phone and Fax: 360.693.4746 / 360.693.2338
    Tax ID: 91-0759124

    You will maintain complete control over the asset while you are living, and upon your death, the plan passes to the HSSW free of probate and both estate and income taxes.

    Giving from your IRA Online

    You can make your gift online by using our free online tool with our partners at Freewill

    • Donors 70½ years of age or older are eligible to give to HSSW from their IRAs tax-free! These gifts are always tax-free, regardless of whether or not you itemize deductions on your tax return. 
    • If you are 72 years or older, this option will also satisfy a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). 

    Getting Started

    You can learn more and start giving to HSSW by using our free online tool to make your IRA gift.

  • Appreciated Securities

    A popular alternative to a cash gift is a gift of appreciated securities. Such gifts generate a double tax benefit. In addition to receiving an income tax charitable deduction for the full market value of the securities, the donor escapes potential capital gains taxes. In order to qualify for this double tax benefit, the property must have been held for more than one year.

    Benefits to gifts of appreciated stocks

    • You receive a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the securities.
    • At the same time, you may avoid capital gains on appreciated stock. This helps stretch your gift even further.

    Stock gifts online

    Thanks to our partners at Free Will, you can donate appreciated securities using their online tool. The process is simple and takes less than 10 minutes!

    Stock gifts with your broker

    If you prefer to work directly with your broker, uou may also make a gift of stock directly through to HSSW through our Charles Schwab account.

    Our legal name: Vancouver Humane Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
    Our DBA: Humane Society for Southwest Washington
    Charles Schwab DTN: 0164
    Account Number: 8874-0407

    Please notify HSSW of the transfer in advance by contacting: 

    Darby Knox
    Vice President of Development and Community Engagement
    [email protected] or 360.213.2617 

  • Life Insurance

    A gift of your life insurance policy is an excellent way to support the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. If you have a life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose, consider making a gift of your insurance policy to support the dogs and cats in our care.

  • Details for Your Advisor

    If you are considering becoming a St. Francis Circle member, the essential HSSW information you will want to give your attorney is as follows:

    Name: Humane Society for Southwest Washington
    Address: 1100 NE 192nd Ave, Vancouver, WA 98684
    Phone and Fax: 360.693.4746 / 360.693.2338
    Tax ID: 91-0759124
    Contact:  Darby Knox at [email protected] or 360.213.2617 

  • Is HSSW Already in Your Estate Plan?

    If you have already included HSSW in your will or estate plan, thank you! Please complete the contact form below and we'll be in touch to make sure you are included as a member of the St. Francis Circle.



    Please share anything you'd like us to know.

     

Home Again Pet Guardian Program

The Home Again pet guardian program was created exclusively for St. Francis Circle members and allows donors to designate HSSW as temporary caregivers for the pets who outlive them. The program offers you peace of mind knowing that the pets you have cherished are comforted and cared for by our staff and volunteers until they can be placed with a new loving family.

  • Benefits of Home Again

    Up to six pets can be surrendered when donors enter a long-term care facility, hospice program or after a donor passes. If needed, temporary boarding is also possible.

    All pets enrolled in the Home Again pet guardianship program are treated as VIPs while staying at HSSW. This includes:

    • Access to the HSSW foster care program and veterinary team.
    • Personal attention from HSSW staff and volunteers.
    • Other services like grooming, play groups, and socialization with other friendly HSSW pets when appropriate.

    Healthy, adoptable animals will be placed for immediate adoption and matched with a family whose lifestyle suits them well. Home Again pets will enter the HSSW home-based foster program if they are showing signs of stress, are not adopted within thirty days, or at the specific request of a donor.

  • How Do I Enroll?

    Add to any will or estate planning documents that you are entrusting your pet to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington's Home Again program.

    Name HSSW as a beneficiary of your estate with a minimum $10,000 gift, and provide a copy of the document to HSSW Development Department. Complete the detailed Pet Profile to help shelter staff, foster parents, and future adopter to better know your pet.

    Complete the forms below to help our staff, volunteers, and future adopter to better know your pet.

    Home Again Enrollment Form
    Dog Questionnaire
    Cat Questionnaire

    Inform your executor, family members, friends and neighbors that you have enrolled in the Humane Society’s Home Again program and instruct them to contact HSSW when the time comes, allowing us to start caring for your pet as soon as possible.


Questions? Contact: 

Darby Knox, Vice President of Development and Community Engagement
[email protected] | 360.213.2617