GIFTS OF LIFE & LOVE TO HARPS

Gifts of Life & Love...

Planned gifts, including bequests (wills) and gifts from trusts, life insurance policies, and retirement plans, are Gifts of Life — they assure your love for animals will continue long after you're gone by enabling HARPS to continue rescuing abandoned, abused & unwanted animals for years to come. These gifts are a wonderful way to express your love for animals as part of your legacy to the world.

Thank you for considering a bequest or other planned gift to support our rescue, care & adoption efforts in the Middle Georgia community. Your noble and much appreciated contribution will aid in saving countless lives of companion animals in our area.

Deciding What Type of Gift to Give

When planning your gift to HARPS, you and your attorney should discuss your individual needs and the options available in planning your estate. As you may know from your planning, estate tax laws encourage charitable giving through the estate tax charitable deduction. This permits contributors to pass property to charitable beneficiaries free of estate taxes.
The two most common gifts are Direct Bequests and Percentage or Residual Bequests, which are made to us in a will or living trust. With a Direct Bequest, any manner of property can be used, e.g. cash, securities, personal property, real estate, etc., or all of the above. With the Percentage or Residual Bequest, the donor leaves a percentage of his or her estate or any remaining balance after other bequests have been made to family, friends or other heirs. You and your attorney will be able to determine what best suits your needs. Sample language of each is attached.

Alternatively, some supporters have chosen to name HARPS as a life insurance beneficiary (dedicated policy payments may even be tax deductible--check with your financial advisor for details).

When Drafting Your Will or Trust

It is a good idea to include our address, telephone number & EIN number in the document. This will prove a great help to your executor or trustee.

Homeless Animal Rescue and Placement Services, Inc. (HARPS, Inc.)
P.O. Box 7363
Warner Robins, GA 31095-7363
EIN: 58-25557488

We hope this information is helpful in your estate planning. If we can be of further assistance or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you again for your support of HARPS, Inc.

Suggested Language for Wills and Trusts

Living Trust
You can put property into a living trust while you are still alive. When you die, the property automatically goes to your heirs without going through probate court which can be very time consuming and expensive. You can revoke a living trust at any time if you change your mind.

Will
A will is a legal document that dictates how your property is to be distributed after death. Your will must pass through probate court before your estate can be distributed to your heirs. A will is used to cover all property not included in a living trust.

IN A WILL
I give [the residue of my estate] [_______% of the residue of my estate] [$________] [description of a particular asset (e.g., real estate, described securities, etc.]
to be used where the need is greatest at Homeless Animal Rescue and Placement Services, Inc., P.O. Box 7363, Warner Robins, Georgia 31095-7363.
OR
to be used to support [description of a specific purpose (e.g. a department, service or program)] at Homeless Animal Rescue and Placement Services, Inc., P.O. Box 7363, Warner Robins, Georgia 31095-7363; provided, however, that if at some future time the Board of Directors of HARPS, Inc. determines that it has become impossible or impractical to apply effectively the gift made hereunder to the restricted purpose specified (e.g. because a specified department, service or program no longer exists or its operation has been substantially reduced or changed), the gift made hereunder shall be used where the need is greatest at HARPS, Inc. as determined by the said Board of Directors.
IN A TRUST
The Trustee shall distribute [the remainder of the trust estate] [_______% of the remainder of the trust estate] [$_______] [description of a particular asset held by the trust]
to be used where the need is greatest at Homeless Animal Rescue and Placement Services, Inc., P.O. Box 7363, Warner Robins, Georgia 31095-7363.
OR
to be used to support [description of a specific purpose (e.g. a department, service or program)] at Homeless Animal Rescue and Placement Services, Inc., P.O. Box 7363, Warner Robins, Georgia 31095-7363; provided, however, that if at some future time the Board of Directors of HARPS, Inc. determines that is has become impossible or impractical to apply effectively the gift made hereunder to the restricted purpose specified (e.g. because a specified department, service or program no longer exists or its operation has been substantially reduced or changed), the gift made hereunder shall be used where the need is greatest at HARPS, Inc. as determined by the said Board of Directors.

Additional Suggestions

Bequests to HARPS, Inc.
To all of you who would like to help assure HARPS' future through a provision in your will, this general form of bequest is suggested:
I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Homeless Animal Rescue and Placement Services, Inc., P.O. Box 7363, Warner Robins, Georgia 31095-7363, the sum of $__________ and/or (specifically defined property).
Donations to HARPS, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), are tax-deductible. We welcome any inquiries you may have. In cases where you have specific wishes about the disposition of your bequest, we suggest you discuss such provisions with your attorney. Our Federal Tax ID number is 58-25557488.
You may wish to notify Homeless Animal Rescue and Placement Services, Inc. (HARPS, Inc.) as to the terms, conditions and circumstances of your Will. This ensures that our gift will benefit Homeless Animal Rescue and Placement Services, Inc. (HARPS, Inc.) in the proper manner, for the right purpose, and in a timely fashion.

Homeless Animal Rescue and Placement Services, Inc. (HARPS, Inc.)
P.O. Box 7363
Warner Robins, GA 31095-7363
EIN: 58-25557488

Thank you for your interest in supporting the rescue efforts of Homeless Animal Rescue and Placement Services, Inc. We appreciate your considering our charitable organization as part of your estate planning.
When planning your gift to HARPS, Inc., you and your attorney should fully explore your unique needs and the options available in planning your estate. As you may know from your planning, estate tax laws encourage charitable giving via the estate tax charitable deduction. This permits contributors to pass property to charitable beneficiaries free of estate taxes.

It is always very helpful for us to have a copy of the contributor's will or trust in advance. If you wish to send a copy, you may do so to the above mentioned P.O. Box.