Estate Planning with Heart: How You Can Leave a Legacy for Animals in Need

Did you know that October 21st through the 27th is National Estate Planning Awareness Week? It’s the perfect time to reflect on how planning for the future can make a lasting difference—not only for your loved ones but also for the causes closest to your heart. If you’re like many of us here at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA (CASPCA), that means caring for animals who rely on our community’s compassion and generosity. 

Now, I know estate planning might sound like a heavy topic, but stick with me—it’s actually one of the best ways you can continue supporting the well-being of animals long into the future. Estate planning is not just about dividing up assets; it’s about creating a legacy, something meaningful that reflects your values. For animal lovers, it’s a unique opportunity to ensure that your passion for saving lives, finding homes and inspiring compassion carries on. 

How Estate Planning Benefits CASPCA

At CASPCA, we provide care, medical treatment, and help find loving homes for thousands of animals every year. In 2023 alone, we had over 2,600 adoptions and took in more than 3,000 animals while maintaining a 96% live release rate. While donations help us continue this critical work, gifts left in your will or estate plan–sometimes called planned gifts–allow us to plan long-term for the future of our programs and facilities. With estate planning, you have the power to create a ripple effect, ensuring the generations of animals will continue to receive care, comfort, and love, all thanks to your foresight. In fact, more than 74 cents of every dollar received goes directly to animals in our care. 

Why Is This Important?

The reality is, we never know what life will bring, but through estate planning, we can help secure futures of not only our loved ones but the causes that inspire us. By including CAPSCA in your will, you can provide support that continues after your lifetime. 

How Can You Get Involved?

Estate planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming and it’s not just for the wealthy! Anyone can make a planned gift, and the process is simpler than you think. Whether you choose to leave a percentage of your estate, designate CASPCA as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, 401k, IRA, or create a charitable trust, every bit helps. And of course, you can always start small and adjust as your life changes. 

Not sure where to start? We’re here to help! We've got resources and connections to estate planning experts who can guide you through the process, answer your questions, and make sure that your gift is used exactly as you wish. 

What’s Next? 

This National Estate Planning Awareness Week, take a moment to think about the animals that have touched your heart. If creating a lasting legacy that supports animal welfare speaks to you, we’d love to chat about how you can make that happen. 

Let’s work to build a future where every animal has the chance to find a loving home—and your legacy can help make that a reality. 

Interested in learning more? Reach out to our team at development@caspca.org or check our estate planning resources at https://caspca.org/give/legacy-gifts/. We’re so grateful for your support, now and in the future.