Estate Planning and Bequests

Chris' Rescue Angels Inc has begun to explore additional avenues of fundraising that will provide a long-term, consistent, and reliable stream of income.

This in turn will allow us to continue on our current path of taking in more dogs, and taking on  dogs with significant medical needs. These efforts include grants, sponsorships, and estate planning opportunities for those who adopt, volunteer, or are otherwise involved in our loving and caring extended rescue family.

We hope you will consider including CRA in your estate planning, with consideration of a cash bequest, of any amount large or small.

Of course, we strongly advise that you to contact a legal advisor and/or estate planner as you consider this important step. Thank you for your support and consideration.

Make an outright gift of cash
Direct cash gifts are the most common form of giving and can either be unrestricted to CRA or restricted for a specific use. (We suggest you contact us before making a restricted gift so that we can ensure that your gift will be managed in a way that carries out your wishes.) Direct gifts of cash may be tax deductible up to a certain percentage of your adjusted gross income. Any excess deductions may be carried over into subsequent years. (Consult your tax  advisor prior to making such gifts).

Leave a bequest
Providing for Chris' Rescue Angels Inc in your will is an easy way to support  our work. Simply ask your attorney to include a charitable bequest to CRA in your will. A codicil is an addendum that inserts new provisions into an existing will. Because the laws governing wills and bequests can vary from state to state, CRA strongly advises that you consult an attorney to create your will or codicil in order to insure that it is legally binding. Review the sample language below with your attorney.

Add a beneficiary to your retirement plan
By naming the Chris' Rescue Angels Inc. a beneficiary of your IRA, 401k, 403b,  pension, or other retirement plan(s), you can make a significant charitable gift while leaving other, less taxable assets to your heirs. Many plans simply require you to fill out a form listing CRA as a beneficiary. (Please check with your plan administrator or financial advisor for the best way to add or change beneficiaries of each plan.) Retirement benefits paid to CRA as beneficiary are not subject to estate or income tax, making them ideal vehicles for planned giving.

Important info that you will need:
Legal Name
Chris' Rescue Angels Inc
Address
1100 James Drive
Wright City, MO 63390
Telephone
(314) 303-7142
IRS ID#
87-0788465

Bequest information for Chris' Rescue Angels Inc 
Through a bequest, you may leave CRA a specific dollar amount or you may reserve for CRA all or a percentage of your estate after provisions for other beneficiaries have been made. You may make clear in your will whether you wish for CRA to use your gift for general support or for a specific program or purpose. You may also make a bequest to CRA in honor or in memory of someone else. All bequests to CRA are tax deductible for estate tax purposes, and there is no limitation on the size of your gift.

Below you will find the information that you need to include in your will, or, if you are revising your will, in the codicil that establishes the bequest.

The following items provide sample language for various types of bequests.

 For an outright bequest of a specific dollar amount
“I hereby give, devise, and bequeath the sum of $_____ to Chris' Rescue Angels Inc, IRS ID# 87-0788465, located at 1100 James Drive, Wright City, MO 63390. This is an unrestricted gift and may be used to further the objectives and purposes of Chris' Rescue Angels Inc.”

For an outright bequest of a specific percentage
“I hereby give, devise, and bequeath ____ % pf my estate to Chris' Rescue Angels Inc, IRS ID# 87-0788465, located at 1100 James Drive, Wright City, MO 63390. This is an unrestricted gift and may be used to further the objectives and purposes of Chris' Rescue Angels Inc.”

Bequest to CRA for a specific purpose or program
Please contact us at CRA first to discuss the purpose or program you wish to designate so that we are best able to honor your wishes.
Following is sample language for bequeathing a specific amount of money or a percentage of your residuary estate for a particular purpose or program:
 “I hereby give, devise, and bequeath the sum of $______ to Chris' Rescue Angels Inc, IRS ID# 87-0788465, located at 1100 James Drive, Wright City, MO 63390,  for the following use and purpose: [insert description of purpose]. However, I impose no legal or equitable obligation in this regard.”

Bequest of residuary estate

“All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal property and whatever kind and wheresoever situated, which I may own or have the right to dispose of at the time of my death, I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to Chris' Rescue Angels Inc, IRS ID# 87-0788465, located at 1100 James Drive, Wright City, MO 63390, to be used to further the mission of Chris' Rescue Angels Inc.  in such a manner as the Board of Directors of the rescue may direct”  

Percentage bequest of residuary estate

“I hereby give, devise,  and bequeath _____ %  of my residuary estate to Chris' Rescue Angels Inc, IRS ID# 87-0788465, located at 1100 James Drive, Wright City, MO 63390, to be used to further the mission of Chris' Rescue Angels Inc. in such a manner as the Board of Directors of the rescue may direct”  

Conditional Bequests
For a conditional bequest, insert the conditional language in one or more of the above paragraphs.
Conditional Bequests Example:
“If my husband/wife/partner does not survive me, I bequeath the sum of $_____ to Chris' Rescue Angels Inc, IRS ID# 87-0788465, located at 1100 James Drive, Wright City, MO 63390. This is an unrestricted gift and may be used to further the objectives and purposes of Chris' Rescue Angels Inc.”

If you intend for your conditional bequest to be used for a specific purpose or program, please  contact CRA to be sure that we will be able to honor your wishes.
This is sample language for conditional bequests for a specific purpose or program:
“If my husband/wife/partner/child does not survive me, I bequeath the sum of $____ to Chris' Rescue Angels Inc, IRS ID# 87-0788465, located at 1100 James Drive, Wright City, MO 63390, for the following use and purpose: [insert description of purpose]. However, I impose no legal or equitable obligation in this regard.”

Codicil to Last Will and Testament

“I, [Jane Doe], hereby amend my Last Will and Testament, executed on the [twelfth] day of [March], in the year [2007].  I direct that all provisions of that Will remain in effect but in addition direct that Chris' Rescue Angels Inc, IRS ID# 87-0788465, located at 1100 James Drive, Wright City, MO 63390, shall receive the sum of $_____ dollars to be used to further the mission of the rescue in such a manner as the Board of Directors of the rescue may direct.”

Request for Savings Clause

As the passage of time may cause some of the rescue’s needs to change, we recommend that restrictions of bequest gifts be stated broadly.  If your bequest is restricted for a particular purpose, the rescue requests that you and your attorney incorporate a “savings clause.”  Such a clause might read as follows:

“If at the time this bequest is received by Chris' Rescue Angels Inc. or any time thereafter, the Board of Directors of the rescue determine that all or any part of said income from the Fund can no longer be utilized to best advantage for the institutional purpose designated herein, then all or any part of said income may be used for such other institutional purpose which, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, shall most closely carry out my intention.”

Please note that CRA cannot ensure that any of the samples above will satisfy the laws governing wills and bequests in your state. In order to ensure that your will is legally valid, please consult an  attorney when creating or revising your will.