Strategic Giving: Smart Ways to Help Pets Today and Leave a Lasting Legacy

Donating directly to a sick or injured pet’s fundraising campaign is one of the most immediate ways you can help ensure they get the care they need, but that’s not the only way to support a cause that’s dear to your heart.

Besides supporting individual Waggle campaigns, there are several ways you can put your generosity to work, from gifts of stock and donor-advised funds to charitable giving through your estate. Some of these approaches can help animals today, while others allow you to create a lasting legacy for the causes you care about.

Strategic giving is simply about finding ways to give that can best serve the causes you care about while also making the best sense for your own financial wellbeing and that of your beneficiaries.

If you own publicly traded stocks, mutual fund shares, or exchange-traded funds that have increased in value and that you’ve held for more than one year, donating them directly to Waggle may be a particularly tax-efficient way to give.

Rather than selling the investment and donating the proceeds, you may be able to avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation and qualify for a charitable deduction based on the asset’s fair market value, subject to applicable tax rules.

That can make appreciated securities an effective way to turn investment gains into lifesaving veterinary care.

This approach may be right for you if you own appreciated investments and want to make a charitable gift without first converting those assets to cash.

Donate securities now or learn more here →

A donor-advised fund (DAF) allows you to set aside money or other assets specifically for charitable giving, receive applicable tax benefits when you contribute to the fund, and recommend grants to eligible charities over time.

Because those assets have already been earmarked for charity, a DAF can make it easier to support the causes you care about when needs arise. If you already have a DAF, recommending a grant to Waggle can put those charitable dollars to work helping pets receive the veterinary care they need.

If you’re considering opening a DAF, contributions can include cash as well as certain appreciated assets, potentially offering additional tax advantages depending on your circumstances.

This approach may be right for you if you already have assets set aside in a DAF—or want to set them aside now—and value the flexibility to support Waggle and other causes over time.

Recommend a grant now or learn more about DAF giving here →

If you own Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency that has increased in value, donating it directly to Waggle rather than selling it and donating the proceeds may be a tax-efficient way to give.

As with other appreciated assets, you may be able to avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation and qualify for a charitable deduction, subject to applicable tax rules. Additional tax and reporting requirements may apply to cryptocurrency gifts, so it’s important to consult with your tax advisor about your individual circumstances.

For Waggle, a digital asset can become something very tangible: veterinary treatment for a pet in need.

This approach may be right for you if you hold appreciated cryptocurrency and would like to turn some of that value into charitable impact without first converting the asset to cash.

Donate cryptocurrency now or learn more here→

If you’re 70½ or older and have a traditional IRA, you may be able to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA to Waggle.

For eligible donors, a QCD can be a tax-efficient way to give because the amount donated may be excluded from taxable income and can count towards your required minimum distribution, if applicable.

It’s another way to use assets you’ve accumulated over time to help pets in urgent need of veterinary care.

You don’t have to make a large gift today to make an extraordinary difference tomorrow. Including Waggle in your will or revocable living trust is one of the most straightforward ways to create a lasting legacy for animals without affecting the assets you need during your lifetime.

You may choose to leave a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, particular assets, or a portion of what remains after providing for the people you love.

You remain in control of your assets during your lifetime and can generally change your plans if your circumstances or priorities change.

Your future gift can help ensure that pets facing medical crises are able to count on your generosity for years to come.

This approach may be right for you if you want to make a meaningful future gift while retaining control of your assets during your lifetime.

Explore ways to include Waggle in your estate plans or learn more here→

Your donor-advised fund can be part of your legacy planning, too.

Depending on your sponsoring organization’s policies, you may be able to recommend how the remaining charitable assets in your DAF should be distributed after your lifetime, including recommending Waggle as a charitable beneficiary.

It can be a simple way to ensure that money you have already dedicated to charitable purposes continues supporting causes you care about.

This approach may be right for you if you already have a donor-advised fund and want your charitable giving to continue beyond your lifetime.

Learn more about DAF legacy giving →

Retirement accounts can also provide a relatively simple way to create a charitable legacy.

You can generally name Waggle as a full or partial beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), or other eligible retirement account. Beneficiary designations are typically made directly through the financial institution or plan administrator rather than through your will.

Retirement assets can have different tax consequences when inherited by individuals than when received by charitable organizations, which is why some donors choose to leave retirement assets to charity while providing for loved ones with other assets.

This approach may be right for you if you have retirement assets and want a flexible way to include charitable giving in your estate plan.

Life insurance policies, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and other financial accounts may allow you to name a charitable organization as a beneficiary.

Depending on the account, you may be able to designate Waggle to receive all or a percentage of the remaining assets while retaining full use and control of those assets during your lifetime.

In some circumstances, donors may also choose to give an existing life insurance policy during their lifetime. Because the financial and tax implications can vary, this type of gift should be discussed with your financial and tax advisors.

For donors considering a significant gift, charitable trusts and other planning strategies can provide additional flexibility.

These may include:

• Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs), which can provide income to you or other beneficiaries for a period of time before the remaining assets pass to charity.

• Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs), which provide payments to charity for a defined period before remaining assets pass to other beneficiaries.

• Other trust and estate-planning strategies designed with the help of your legal, tax, and financial advisors.

These arrangements are more complex, but for some donors they can help balance charitable goals with income, estate, tax, and family considerations.

The right approach will depend on your charitable goals, the assets you have, and your financial and family considerations. You may also find that more than one of these strategies has a place in your giving plans.

Whatever approach you choose, your support of Waggle can help make essential veterinary care possible when cost stands between a pet and the treatment they need.

The information provided here is for general educational purposes and is not intended as legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult your attorney, tax professional, or financial advisor about your individual circumstances.

Gifting equities is a simple, tax-efficient way to support the causes you care about most. By directing appreciated securities to Waggle, you can make a bigger impact for animals in need while potentially reducing your capital gains tax.

If you’re ready to gift stocks or other assets:

Follow these steps or instruct your broker or financial institution to do so on your behalf.

1.     Go to Waggle’s Stock Donation Endaoment page.

2.     Expand the drop-down menus and follow the prompt relating to:

·      Asset type and amounts

·      Broker information

·      Electronic signature

·      Contact information

3.     Confirm your donation. Assets will then be directed to Endaoment. They, in turn, will make the donation to Waggle on your behalf.

If you’d like to include a gift of stocks or other assets in your estate plan:

Strategic giving can be done through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation.

1.     Let your financial advisor or attorney know you wish to leave Waggle stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds as a planned gift.

2.     Give them this link to Waggle’s Stock Donation Endaoment page.

3.     Advise them of the asset types and amounts you wish to leave to Waggle.

4.     Make sure that your instructions are clearly outlined in your estate plan documents.

Ready to make an impact?

Every day, sick and injured pets lose their lives because their guardians cannot afford vet care, or the rescues caring for the lost, abandoned, and abused lack the funds to take them in. Your gift to Waggle will help ensure more animals receive the treatment they need to survive—and thrive.

Gift stock and other equities to Waggle today!

If you need help coordinating your gift or have questions about the process, please email us at donors@waggle.org. We’d be happy to help.

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a simple, tax-efficient way to support the causes you care about most—both during your lifetime and as part of your charitable legacy. Whether you already have a DAF or are considering opening one, platforms and sponsors like Fidelity Charitable, DAFgiving360, and Endaoment—along with access tools like DAF Direct—allow you to easily make a lasting impact for animals in need.

If you already have a DAF:

You can recommend a gift to Waggle directly from your fund in just a few steps.

1.     Log in to your DAF account.

2.     Search for our organization by name or enter our legal name and tax ID number:
Legal name: Waggle Foundation, Inc.

EIN:  32-0518559

3.     Designate your gift amount and specify whether it’s a one-time or recurring grant.

4.     Submit your recommendation. Your sponsoring organization will send the donation directly to us.

If you don’t yet have a DAF:

Starting a DAF is easier than you might think—and it can make giving simpler for years to come.

1.     Choose a sponsoring organization, e.g., Endaoment, DAFgiving360, or Fidelity Charitable—there are several options.

2.     Open your fund with an initial contribution of cash, stock, or other assets.

3.     Receive an immediate tax deduction for your contribution.

4.     Grow your fund—your donation can be invested for potential tax-free growth.

5.     Recommend future grants from your DAF to Waggle at any time.

6.     Enjoy flexible, ongoing giving to Waggle and other causes close to your heart from one convenient charitable account.

You can also make Waggle part of your legacy

A DAF can continue supporting the causes you care about after your lifetime. Depending on your sponsoring organization’s policies, you may be able to recommend Waggle to receive some or all of the funds remaining in your DAF as part of your legacy plan.

Contact your DAF sponsor to learn about its succession or beneficiary options and how to recommend Waggle as a charitable recipient.

Ready to make an impact?

Each year, more than a million sick and injured pets lose their lives because their guardians simply can’t afford their vet fees. Your DAF gift to Waggle will help us eliminate economic euthanasia by giving more animals access to life-saving veterinary care and treatment.

Recommend a DAF gift to Waggle today!

If you need help locating Waggle in your provider’s system or have any questions about opening a DAF or making a DAF gift, please email us at donors@waggle.org. We’d be happy to help.

Gifting cryptocurrency is an easy, tax-smart way to champion the causes that matter to you. When you contribute appreciated digital assets to Waggle, you can extend your impact for animals in need and potentially lessen your capital gains tax.

If you’re ready to donate cryptocurrency:

1.     Go to Waggle’s Crypto Donation page.

2.     Follow the prompts to specify token and amount.

3.     Confirm your donation. Crypto will then be directed to Endaoment. They, in turn, will make the donation to Waggle on your behalf.

If you’d like to include a crypto gift in your estate plan:

Strategic giving can be done through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation.

1.     Let your financial advisor or attorney know you wish to leave Waggle cryptocurrency as a planned gift.

2.     Give them this link to Waggle’s Crypto Donation Endaoment page.

3.     Tell them exactly how much cryptocurrency you wish to leave to Waggle.

Ready to make an impact?

Every day, pets suffer or go without care because their guardians or local rescues don’t have the resources they need. Your gift of cryptocurrency to Waggle helps provide critical treatment, giving more animals a chance not just to survive—but to thrive.

Gift cryptocurrency to Waggle today!

If you need help coordinating your crypto gift or have questions about the process, please email us at donors@waggle.org. We’d be happy to help.

Planning a future gift is a powerful way to ensure animals in need continue to receive life-saving care. Including Waggle in your estate plans is simple, flexible, and can be tailored to your wishes—while potentially offering tax benefits for your loved ones.

Whether you already have an estate plan or are just getting started, there are several easy ways to make a lasting impact.

If you already have an estate plan:

You can add Waggle as a beneficiary in just a few steps.

1. Review your existing plan (will, trust, retirement account, or life insurance policy).

2. Decide how you’d like to give—you can designate a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or a particular asset.

3. Include Waggle using our legal name and tax ID number:

   • Legal name: Waggle Foundation, Inc.

   • EIN: 32-0518559

4. Work with your attorney or advisor to update your documents.

If you don’t yet have an estate plan:

Creating one will give you peace of mind for the future, and getting started is easy.

1. Choose how you want to create your plan—you can work with an attorney or use a reputable online estate planning tool.

2. Create a will or trust to outline how your assets will be distributed.

3. Name beneficiaries for accounts like retirement funds or life insurance policies.

4. Include Waggle as a beneficiary alongside loved ones or as part of your charitable giving.

5. Review your plan regularly to ensure it continues to reflect your wishes.

Ways to include Waggle in your plans:

• A gift in your will or living trust

• Naming Waggle as a beneficiary of a retirement account (IRA, 401(k))

• Naming Waggle as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy

• Donating specific assets or a percentage of your estate

Ready to make an impact?

Each year, countless pets are denied life-saving care simply because treatment is out of reach. By including Waggle in your estate plans, you can help ensure that animals in crisis continue to receive the care they need—creating a future where no pet suffers due to financial barriers.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at donors@waggle.org. We’re here to help and would be honored to support you.