When you love cats, you want to keep caring for them, not just today, but forever.
Some of you have been part of the Caring for Cats story for a decade or more, quietly showing up, giving, and trusting us with that support year after year. A legacy gift is one more way to make that care last well beyond any of us.
What Is a Legacy Gift?
A legacy gift is a gift you arrange today that will benefit Caring for Cats in the future, often through your estate plan, a bequest in your will, a beneficiary designation on a retirement account or life insurance policy, or a percentage of your estate.
There is no one-size-fits-all way to create a legacy. What matters is finding an approach that fits your wishes, your family, and your financial plans. And you don’t have to be wealthy to make one — even a modest gift can become part of something that helps cats for years to come.
For specific ways to include Caring for Cats in your plans, including sample bequest language and information on IRA giving, visit our Donate page. Have a question about Caring for Cats itself (like how a gift would be used, or what to put in your paperwork)? Reach out to us directly at cfc@caringforcatsmn.org. For the legal and tax side, please contact your attorney or financial advisor.
Thinking About a Legacy Gift?
You don’t have to figure it all out today. The first step can simply be a conversation with your attorney, financial planner, or tax advisor about what options might fit your wishes and circumstances.
Caring for Cats’ Donate page includes information about ways to leave a legacy, including sample bequest language.
Learn more on our donation page.
A Legacy Gift Can Change an Organization’s Future
One of the most meaningful legacy gifts Caring for Cats has received came from Candi Christenson, who left her entire estate to Caring for Cats. Her gift helped make our shelter space possible and provided a foundation for growth and stability.
Candi could not have known which cats would eventually benefit from her generosity, but she knew she wanted to help cats.
Read more about Candi’s story and the legacy she left for cats.
Your Legacy Can Help Cats We Haven’t Met Yet
Every cat who comes through our doors has a different story. Some need routine veterinary care. Others arrive sick or injured. Some need extra time to feel safe, while others simply need a little patience before they are ready for their next chapter.
Your legacy gift can help provide the steady support these cats need with food, shelter, veterinary care, enrichment, rehabilitation, and the time it takes to find the right family. It can help Caring for Cats remain here for cats we haven’t met yet.
You Don’t Have to Know What the Future Holds
None of us knows exactly what the future will bring. You can make plans today while still taking care of the people and priorities that matter to you now.
A legacy gift can be as specific as a dollar amount or as simple as naming Caring for Cats as a beneficiary. You don’t have to know which cat your gift will help, you just have to know that you want to help cats.
What Will Your Love for Cats Leave Behind?
A legacy is more than something we leave behind. It is something we leave for someone.
It might help a frightened cat feel safe.
It might give a kitten the medical care they need.
It might provide comfort and care for a senior cat.
It might help another cat find the family who has been waiting for them.
And decades from now, it may help a cat whose story we haven’t even imagined yet.
Your legacy can help make sure there is a place for cats who need us for generations to come.
Legacy gifts can have legal, financial, and tax implications. Caring for Cats recommends consulting with your attorney, financial planner, or tax advisor to determine what is right for you and your circumstances.