August is National Make-A-Will Month and there’s no better time to explore how to leave a legacy for a cause that is meaningful to you. Including the ASPCA in your estate plan is a great way to support animals nationwide. It costs nothing now but will provide crucial support to animals in need in the future. 

While it can be intimidating to start thinking about estate planning, making a simple will through an attorney or even an online service can give you peace of mind that your loved ones and the causes you care about are taken care of. 

Another way to include the ASPCA in your estate plan, without a lawyer, is to name the ASPCA as a beneficiary on a retirement plan, bank or investment account, or life insurance policy. You retain complete ownership of your accounts to spend during your later years, with any leftover funds going to the ASPCA.

For more information, please contact the ASPCA’s Office of Gift Planning at (212) 876-7700 ext. 4505, or by email at [email protected]. You can also find more information in the Planned Giving section of our website.

While making an estate plan is important so you can have control over where you want your assets to go, it’s also helpful to consider making a plan for your pets in case something were to happen to you. You can see more on pet planning to get started and to request your free pet planning packet.