Become a Forever Friend: Leave a Legacy for Animals
Leave a lasting legacy for homeless pets through strategic planned giving and become a Forever Friend.
Become a Forever Friend with Best Friends
When you care deeply about animal welfare and want to make a lasting impact on the lives of homeless pets, becoming a Forever Friend through planned giving offers a meaningful way to leave your mark. Forever Friends are forward-thinking, animal-loving individuals who understand that their legacy can transform the lives of countless cats, dogs, and other animals for generations to come. By incorporating Best Friends Animal Society into your estate plan, you join a community of compassionate donors committed to saving animals’ lives long after today.
The gifts of generous donors like you give homeless pets love and safety far into the future. Best Friends Animal Society recognizes the incredible value of planned giving and welcomes individuals who want to make a difference through their will, trust, insurance policy, or other financial vehicles. When you become a Forever Friend, you’re not just making a donation—you’re creating a lasting legacy of kindness that will continue to provide lifesaving care to animals in need.
Understanding the Forever Friends Program
Forever Friends are individuals who have chosen to make a strategic gift to Best Friends Animal Society through their estate planning. This program celebrates donors who understand the power of planned giving and want to ensure that homeless pets receive love, care, and safety for years to come. As a Forever Friend, you become part of an exclusive community of animal advocates making a profound difference in animal welfare.
The concept of Forever Friends recognizes that some of the most impactful gifts come from thoughtful planning. Rather than making a one-time donation today, Forever Friends integrate their passion for animals into their long-term financial strategies, ensuring that their generosity continues to benefit animals long into the future. This approach allows donors to make substantial gifts while also managing their financial responsibilities and tax obligations effectively.
Perks for Our Forever Friends
Best Friends Animal Society deeply values the commitment and generosity of its Forever Friends. To show appreciation for your planned gift, we offer a host of special benefits and recognition opportunities:
- Exclusive lodging discounts at the Best Friends Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah
- Invitations to special events and exclusive donor gatherings
- Access to intimate fireside chats with Best Friends leadership and animal care experts
- Opportunities to participate in select Sanctuary activities and programs
- Recognition as a Forever Friend in Best Friends’ publications and communications
- Personalized updates on the impact of your gift and the animals you’re helping
- Inclusion in our Forever Friends community and network of like-minded animal advocates
These benefits ensure that your generosity is acknowledged and celebrated while you enjoy tangible ways to deepen your connection to the animals and the mission of Best Friends.
Turn Your Savings Into Lifesaving: Planned Giving Options
Best Friends Animal Society offers multiple pathways for making a planned gift that fits your financial situation and personal goals. Each option provides distinct advantages, allowing you to support animal welfare in a way that makes sense for your estate and financial planning.
Will or Trust
Making a gift through your will or revocable living trust represents one of the simplest and most flexible ways to save the lives of homeless pets for years to come. A bequest in your will allows you to leave a specific amount of money, a percentage of your estate, or particular assets to Best Friends Animal Society after your passing. This approach provides complete flexibility—you can modify or change your bequest at any time during your lifetime, and it doesn’t affect your ability to use your assets while you’re alive. A revocable living trust offers similar benefits with the added advantage of avoiding probate and maintaining privacy regarding your gift.
Retirement Assets
If you have accumulated retirement savings through accounts such as traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, or employer-sponsored 401(k) plans, you can allocate any unused retirement assets as a gift to Best Friends’ lifesaving efforts. This option is particularly tax-efficient because retirement account distributions are typically subject to income tax. By designating Best Friends as a beneficiary of your retirement account, the distribution avoids income tax complications and maximizes the impact of your gift. This strategy is especially beneficial if you have more retirement savings than you anticipate needing during your lifetime.
Life Insurance
Life insurance offers a powerful yet often underutilized vehicle for planned giving. You can name Best Friends Animal Society as the primary beneficiary of your life insurance policy or as a contingent beneficiary should your other beneficiaries not survive you. This option allows you to leverage the death benefit of your policy to create a substantial gift while maintaining coverage for your family during your lifetime. Some donors even purchase new life insurance policies specifically to benefit animal welfare causes, creating a meaningful legacy at a relatively modest annual cost.
Charitable Gift Annuity
A charitable gift annuity represents an elegant solution for donors who want to create both a brighter future for homeless pets and receive lifetime income at the same time. With this arrangement, you make an irrevable gift of cash or securities to Best Friends in exchange for fixed annual income payments for life. A portion of these payments may be tax-deductible, and you receive the satisfaction of knowing that after the annuity payments conclude, your remaining gift will support lifesaving animal programs. This option is ideal for donors seeking steady income combined with charitable impact.
IRA Rollover
If you have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you can make a gift to Best Friends Animal Society by rolling over your IRA. This option provides a significant tax advantage: the distribution won’t count as taxable income, allowing you to support animal welfare without triggering additional tax liability. For individuals over 70½ years old, IRA charitable rollovers can be particularly valuable for satisfying required minimum distributions while supporting a cause you care about. This strategy effectively reduces your taxable income while maximizing your charitable impact.
Stock Gifts
Donating appreciated stock represents a tax-efficient way to support the lifesaving efforts of Best Friends Animal Society. When you donate stock that has increased in value, you avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation while receiving a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock. This means you get the tax benefits of donating the appreciated value without ever realizing the gains tax. Additionally, Best Friends receives the full value of the stock to convert into cash for animal programs, making this a win-win arrangement for both the donor and the animals.
Give Today: Immediate Impact Options
While planned giving creates long-term impact, Best Friends also welcomes donors who want to make an immediate difference in the lives of homeless pets today. Your donation made today will be put to immediate use supporting current animal rescue, medical care, shelter operations, and adoption programs. Additionally, immediate gifts entitle you to a charitable income tax deduction for the full value of your donation, providing tax benefits while helping animals in urgent need.
Many donors choose to make both immediate gifts and planned gifts—supporting current operations while also securing a lasting legacy for future generations of animals.
Tax Benefits and Financial Advantages
Planned giving through Best Friends Animal Society offers substantial tax benefits that make your generosity even more impactful. By working with a financial advisor or tax professional familiar with charitable giving strategies, you can structure your gift to maximize tax advantages while achieving your philanthropic goals. Potential benefits include:
- Charitable income tax deductions for donations and bequests
- Avoidance of capital gains tax on appreciated securities and stock donations
- Potential estate tax reduction through charitable gifts
- Tax-efficient distribution of retirement assets
- Increased charitable deductions through strategic timing of gifts
These financial advantages make planned giving not only a generous choice but also a financially intelligent one.
Best Friends Animal Society: Our Mission and Impact
Best Friends Animal Society is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats across the country. The organization works alongside thousands of animal shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations through the Best Friends Network, collaborating to make the entire nation no-kill by 2025. With headquarters at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, the organization provides comprehensive animal care, adoption services, and support to communities nationwide.
The gifts of Forever Friends directly fund Best Friends’ lifesaving programs, including:
- Emergency shelter and medical care for homeless animals
- Spay and neuter programs to reduce pet overpopulation
- Adoption services connecting animals with loving homes
- Rescue operations in underserved communities
- Network support and resources for partner organizations
- Behavioral rehabilitation and training programs
Getting Started: How to Become a Forever Friend
Becoming a Forever Friend is a straightforward process that begins with a conversation about your goals and interests. Best Friends’ experienced planned giving team is dedicated to working with you to structure the right gift for your situation. Here’s how to get started:
- Contact the planned giving team: Reach out to Best Friends at 435-359-9227 or plannedgiving@bestfriends.org to discuss your interest in planned giving.
- Meet with our specialists: Our experienced team will listen to your philanthropic goals and financial situation to recommend appropriate giving vehicles.
- Work with your advisors: We encourage you to consult with your financial advisor, attorney, or tax professional to ensure your gift aligns with your overall financial plan.
- Structure your gift: Together with our team, you’ll determine the best mechanism for your planned gift, whether a bequest, retirement asset designation, life insurance arrangement, or other option.
- Finalize arrangements: Our team will provide necessary information and documentation to complete your planned gift arrangements.
- Celebrate your legacy: Upon making your commitment, you’ll be recognized as a Forever Friend and invited to participate in exclusive benefits and events.
Contact Information and Resources
For information about becoming a Forever Friend or to discuss planned giving options:
- Phone: 435-359-9227
- Email: plannedgiving@bestfriends.org
- Address: Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741
- Tax ID #: 23-7147797
- Organization Status: Best Friends Animal Society is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit organization
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes someone a Forever Friend?
A: A Forever Friend is someone who has chosen to make a planned gift to Best Friends Animal Society through their will, trust, insurance policy, retirement account, or other financial vehicle, demonstrating commitment to saving animals’ lives for generations to come.
Q: Can I change my planned gift after I make it?
A: Yes, most planned gifts through wills and revocable trusts can be modified or changed at any time during your lifetime, giving you complete flexibility as your circumstances evolve.
Q: Will my immediate family be able to challenge my bequest to Best Friends?
A: State laws regarding estate provisions vary. It’s recommended to discuss this concern with your attorney to ensure your estate plan is properly structured according to your wishes.
Q: What are the tax benefits of donating appreciated stock?
A: When you donate appreciated stock, you receive a charitable deduction for the full fair market value and avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation, making this one of the most tax-efficient giving methods.
Q: How will I know my gift is making a difference?
A: Forever Friends receive personalized updates about the impact of their gifts and how Best Friends is using donations to save animals’ lives, along with invitations to special events and access to Sanctuary activities.
Q: Can I make a planned gift if I’m already receiving Social Security or Medicare?
A: Yes, planned gifts typically don’t affect your eligibility for government benefits. However, consult with a financial advisor to understand any potential implications for your specific situation.
Q: What if I want to make both an immediate gift and a planned gift?
A: Many Forever Friends choose to make both immediate donations to support current operations and planned gifts to create lasting legacy impact, maximizing their overall contribution to animal welfare.
References
- Become a Forever Friend with Best Friends — Best Friends Animal Society. 2025. https://bestfriends.org/planned-giving/forever-friends
- Planned Giving: Leave a Lifesaving Legacy for the Animals — Best Friends Animal Society. 2025. https://bestfriends.org/planned-giving
- IRS Publication 526: Charitable Contributions — Internal Revenue Service. 2024. https://www.irs.gov/publications/p526
- Charitable Gift Planning Guide — National Council of Nonprofits. 2024. https://www.councilofnonprofits.org
- Best Friends Animal Society: About Us — Best Friends Animal Society. 2025. https://bestfriends.org/about-us
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