The mission of Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (Friends) as the nonprofit fundraising partner of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (Shelter) is to ensure every pet that comes through its doors is offered the best opportunity to find a loving forever home.
We shine a light on overlooked pets, provide emergency medical care, behavior training, parasite prevention, dental care, and fund other important needs beyond what the Shelter’s budget can provide.
Supporting Friends with planned giving through your will, trust, or bequest is a meaningful way to carry forward a legacy of your compassion for pets.
Support Our Mission With A Gift That Will Endure
- Your gift memorializes your commitment to animal welfare as part of your legacy.
- Your gift can be dedicated to a loved one or pet who inspired your love for animals.
- Your gift may reduce the tax burden for your heirs.
- Your gift ensures that Friends will have guaranteed sustained funding into the future.
- Your gift costs you nothing now and can be modified if circumstances change.
Turn your passion for animal welfare into action – your commitment now can help secure our future.
As a benefit of joining the Forever Friends Legacy Society, you will receive a 4″x2″ commemorative engraved brick as a gesture of thanks. We will send you details on how to customize your memento after you have indicated that you would like to be a member. You can also customize a brick to be placed in our Tribute Garden upon receipt of your donation or bequest.
Ways To Join Forever Friends
If you are inspired by Friends’ work on behalf of abused, sick, and abandoned pets and wish to support our long-term goals and mission – consider joining The Forever Friends Legacy Society, a group of caring donors who will make a timeless and lasting impact in supporting our mission through Planned Giving. Here’s how:
Make a Bequest to Friends in Your Will or Trust
Designate a specific, percentage, residual, or contingent bequest of estate assets (e.g., cash, life insurance policies, retirement funds, mutual funds, real estate) to Friends.
Name Friends a Beneficiary of Life Insurance, Retirement Accounts, or other Intangible Assets such as appreciated stock via beneficiary forms
Ask for a beneficiary designation form to designate Friends as a full, partial, or contingent beneficiary.
Give Friends the Gift of Stock
Donating appreciated stock through estate planning is one of the easiest and most financially savvy ways to maximize your donation to Friends.
Have Questions?
What are the benefits of Planned Giving?
Leaving a planned gift will help Friends maximize the impact the Shelter can make in the lives of pets that come through its doors in the future. There also may be tax benefits that apply depending on how you make your donation.
Can I dedicate my bequest to a loved one or pet?
Yes, you can dedicate your bequest to a loved one or pet. You may even consider dedicating your complimentary brick for the Tribute Garden in their honor.
What is your legal name, address, and tax ID?
Legal Name: Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter
Address: PO Box 2321, Centreville VA, 20122
Tax ID (EIN): 20-5009244
What language should I use to make a bequest to Friends?
“I, [name], of [city, state, zip], give, devise and bequeath in my will or trust to Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter [describe gift] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”
May I specify what I’d like my bequest to fund?
You may absolutely specify how you’d like your donation to be used, however, to ensure that Friends can help any in-need pet for any reason, we prefer that you not restrict the use of your donation for any specific purpose.
Am I too young to consider Planned Giving?
Life’s big moments (e.g., births, deaths, milestone birthdays) are often the driving force behind thinking about estate planning – but Planned Giving can be done at any age and at any time that you think about planning for the unexpected. Remember that bequests can be specific, percentage, residual, or contingent, and in any amount. If supporting Friends in a lasting way is near and dear to your heart, it’s never too early to make a planned gift.
Am I required to let Friends know about my intentions to leave a planned gift?
If you name Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter in your will or trust, it is helpful for you to let us know so we can thank you for your generosity, and so we can plan for the future. Your gift can also be totally anonymous.
If my circumstances change, can I revoke my bequest?
Your planned gift can be revoked at any time; we just kindly ask that you keep us informed of any changes.
Can I make a bequest without consulting an attorney?
The material presented in this FAQ is intended as general educational information on the topics discussed herein and should not be interpreted as legal, financial or tax advice. Please seek the specific advice of your tax advisor, attorney, and/or financial planner to discuss the application of these topics to your individual situation.
Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter is recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service. The material presented in this document is intended as general educational information on the topics discussed herein and should not be interpreted as legal, financial or tax advice. Please seek the specific advice of your tax advisor, attorney, and/or financial planner to discuss the application of these topics to your individual situation.
Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter is recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service. The material presented on this website is intended as general educational information on the topics discussed herein and should not be interpreted as legal, financial or tax advice. Please seek the specific advice of your tax advisor, attorney, and/or financial planner to discuss the application of these topics to your individual situation.
