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Planned Giving

Plan Your Legacy with FreeWill

Planned giving is a powerful way to support Lake Humane Society while also offering potential tax benefits. By including a charitable gift in your estate plans, you ensure that lifesaving programs for animals and the people who love them will continue for years to come. Your legacy can make a lasting impact, providing homeless pets with shelter, medical care, and the chance to find loving families.

To make the process simple, Lake Humane Society has partnered with FreeWill—a convenient, user-friendly tool that helps you create a will at no cost and include a gift to support our mission.

Click here to begin planning your Free Will

Already included us in your estate planning? Fill out the form below to let us know!

Gift Intent Form

Leave a Legacy of Compassion

Christ had a deep love for animals. After retiring from car sales, he became an active supporter of Lake Humane Society, attending events—especially his favorite, Black Cat Ball—and eventually adopting two beloved dogs, Williams and Grady. They brought him immense joy, and he wanted to ensure that other homeless animals would find love and care just like they did.

Before his passing, Christ made the heartfelt decision to include Lake Humane Society in his will. His legacy lives on, providing second chances to countless animals in need—a gift of compassion that continues to make a difference.

By including Lake Humane Society in your estate plans, you can create a lasting impact for animals in need. A legacy gift ensures that homeless pets receive shelter, medical care, and the opportunity to find loving families for generations to come.

Your love for animals can last a lifetime—and beyond. To learn more about planned giving and how you can leave a legacy of compassion, explore your options below.

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Qualified Charitable Distribution

If you’re 70 1/2 years or older and have an IRA, you can donate up to $100,000 annually directly from your IRA to Lake Humane Society. The QCD’s are not counted as taxable income reducing your income tax liability. Simultaneously, you’re supporting our cause, making it a highly efficient way to give compared to withdrawing funds and then making a cash donation.

Email donate@lakehumane.org for steps on how to make a qualified charitable distribution gift today!

You Have Options

Including Lake Humane Society as a beneficiary in your will is an excellent method by which you can provide your support. The bequest can be unrestricted, in which case Lake Humane Society can utilize the funds where they are needed most, or restricted, which allows you to determine how the gift is to be used.

Charitable Remainder Trusts and Charitable Lead Trusts are two vehicles through which you and Lake Humane Society both receive benefits on an ongoing basis. In a Charitable Remainder Trust, annual income is provided to you, and as a beneficiary of the trust Lake Humane Society receives the gift upon the passing of those indicated in the trust.

In a Charitable Lead Trust, Lake Humane Society, as a beneficiary of the trust, receives distributions from the trust for a predetermined number of years, and at the end of the time period the remainder of the trust is then distributed to Lake Humane Society and any other beneficiaries indicated in the trust document.

Stocks may be transferred directly to Lake Humane Society or you may give stock certificates. In either case, you will receive a tax deduction for the full value of the stock on the day in which the stock is given, and, if the stock has appreciated in value from when you purchased it, you will avoid paying capital gains taxes due if you were to sell the stock.

A life insurance policy is an excellent way to provide you with a tax deduction and ultimately gift a significant amount to Lake Humane Society. By naming Lake Humane Society the owner of the policy, the policy will qualify as a charitable gift. If the policy is paid in full, the cost basis or the replacement value of the policy, whichever is less, is usually your tax deduction for the year. If, however, you are continuing to pay premiums, the amount of the premiums you pay qualify as your charitable tax deduction.

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EIN: 34-1246277

Lake Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible in full or in part.

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  • Sunday-Tuesday: 12 PM - 5 PM
    Wednesday: Closed
    Thursday: 12 PM - 7 PM
    Friday & Saturday: 12 PM - 5 PM
    Holidays: Closed
Copyright ©2026 Lake Humane Society

Closing Early 12/11

Our shelter will be closing at 4:30 pm today. Please visit our animals before then!