More Ways to Support
Gifford Cat Shelter
Multiply Your Impact with a Matching Gift
Many employers provide matching gift programs to match charitable contributions made by their employees. Gifts from employees’ spouses and retirees may also qualify for a match. Thank you for checking to see if your employer offers these programs!
Our information for match search:
Gifford Cat Shelter, 30 Undine Street, Brighton, MA 02135
Our Tax ID/EIN: 04-2239741
For questions, contact us by email or phone: 617-787-8872.
Matching Gift FAQ
Learn more about matching gifts and how to request a match from your employer.
Give Stock or Mutual Fund
To make a gift of stocks, please inform Gifford Cat Shelter of the company stock/mutual fund you intend to transfer and/or the approximate value of your gift and your stockbroker’s name and telephone number, as well as the gift designation. Please email us or call Gifford Cat Shelter at 617-787-8872 with information about your stock/mutual fund transfer or if you have any questions.
If the securities are held as physical certificates in your name, or if you have any additional questions, please contact us.
Transferring stocks
Gifts of securities can be transferred to the Gifford Cat Shelter account by providing transfer instructions to your broker.
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Gifford Cat Shelter's bank account information, including DTC clearing number, account number, and name. Contact us for the information.
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Gifford Cat Shelter Tax ID/EIN: 04-2239741
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Gift date is the date of receipt in Gifford Cat Shelter’s account. Please notify us as soon as the transfer is initiated.
Transferring mutual funds
To give mutual funds, provide these transfer instructions to your broker:
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Gifford Cat Shelter's bank account information, including DTC clearing number, account number, and name. Contact us for the information.
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Gifford Cat Shelter Tax ID/EIN: 04-2239741
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Gift date is the date of receipt in Gifford Cat Shelter’s account. Please notify us as soon as the transfer is initiated.
We strongly encourage you to request prompt transaction confirmation from your broker.
Transfer Funds by Wire
For wire transfer information, please contact us by email or call Gifford Cat Shelter at 617-787-8872.
Gift from a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
What is a DAF?
A DAF is like a charitable savings account that offers a convenient way for you to give. It is managed by a charitable sponsor of your choice, and you instruct when and where to make distributions to nonprofits like the Gifford Cat Shelter.
Things to know when establishing a DAF
Learn more about establishing a Donor Advised Fund and the steps you need to take to support Gifford Cat Shelter.
Make a Planned Gift
More than 140 years ago Ellen M. Gifford had a vision of ending homelessness for animals in the Boston area. With the help of Captain Nathan Appleton, she started the Gifford Cat Shelter, the oldest free-roam, no-kill, animal shelter in the US.
Together with people like you, we have saved the lives of countless homeless cats and helped them find their forever homes. By making a gift to Gifford Cat Shelter through your will, trust, or other financial planning vehicle, you can help many cats now and well into the future.
When you incorporate charitable giving in your estate planning, you gain personal satisfaction — not only by completing your plan, but also by providing for the people and charities that matter most to you. The Gifford Cat Shelter team would love to talk to you about the many opportunities for charitable giving that can save the lives of cats. Please contact us by email or by phone at 617-787-8872 to learn more. Donors utilizing any of the planned gift vehicles detailed below will be welcomed into the Ellen M. Gifford Legacy Society recognizing donors who are building upon Ellen’s legacy of supporting homeless animals.
Remembering Gifford Cat Shelter in your estate planning will help save lives now and well into the future.
Planned gifts leave behind a living legacy of compassion, as your gift will help to end homelessness for cats in your community. These gifts not only help our feline friends, but can also help you meet your financial, tax and estate planning goals. Consulting an attorney who specializes in estate planning will be of great assistance to you. Review the information below to learn of the different ways your planned gift can save homeless cats.
To ensure that Gifford Cat Shelter receives your designated gift, please include the following details in your planned gift:
Gifford Cat Shelter
Tax ID/EIN#: 04-2239741
30 Undine Street
Brighton, MA 02135
Wills
There are many ways in which you can remember Gifford Cat Shelter in your will. This is a simple and common way to leave a lasting gift to charity. Examples include leaving a specified amount of cash, an investment fund, or a percentage of your estate. Consulting an attorney may be beneficial in assisting you with your wishes. Here are some sample language:
Donate a Percentage of Your Estate:
I give and bequeath ____% of my estate to Ellen M. Gifford Sheltering Home Corp, a Massachusetts corporation currently located in Massachusetts at 30 Undine Street, Brighton, MA 02135.
Make a Specific Dollar Bequest:
I give and bequeath the sum of $____ to Ellen M. Gifford Sheltering Home Corp, a Massachusetts corporation currently located in Massachusetts at 30 Undine Street, Brighton, MA 02135.
Contingent Gift
If (name of beneficiary) does not survive me, I give the remainder of my estate to Ellen M. Gifford Sheltering Home Corp, a Massachusetts corporation currently located in Massachusetts at 30 Undine Street, Brighton, MA 02135.
Trusts
Revocable Living Trust
A Revocable Living Trust is not subject to probate and remains private. Upon your death, a trust ensures a quick resolution of your wishes saving money and time for those you leave behind.
Life Income Vehicles
There are several different types of life income arrangements available for you to support Gifford Cat Shelter. Life income gifts, such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, provide you and up to one other beneficiary an income for your lifetimes. Depending on the gift option you choose, your income can be fixed or variable over your lifetime. And, if you make your gift with appreciated property, you can reduce or eliminate your capital gains taxes.
In addition, you also receive a charitable income tax deduction that you can use in the year that you make your gift. And, when the plan ends, the life income gift will benefit the Gifford Cat Shelter.
Summary of benefits:
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Lifetime income payable to you and/or another beneficiary.
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An immediate charitable income tax deduction.
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Elimination or reduction of capital gains taxes on gifts of long-term appreciated property.
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Reduction in federal estate taxes.
Life income gift vehicles include:
Charitable Gift Annuity
A charitable gift annuity is a contract between you and Gifford Cat Shelter. The contract states that in exchange for your gift to Gifford Cat Shelter, we agree to pay you and/or another beneficiary a fixed dollar amount annually for life.
Part of the income paid to you and your beneficiary(ies) may be tax-free or taxed at the more favorable capital gains tax rate, depending on the asset you use to fund the annuity. The income is based on the age of the income beneficiary(ies) at the time of the gift. At the death of the last income beneficiary, Gifford Cat Shelter will then use the principal in accordance with the terms of your gift.
Annuities can be established with minimum gifts of $10,000 and can be structured in several ways.
Deferred Gift Annuity
For some people, a gift annuity is a great option; however, they prefer not to receive the income immediately. For these donors, the deferred gift annuity might be an option. A deferred gift annuity allows a donor to make their gift now and predetermine a future date at which they will begin to receive the income (e.g. retirement age, significant birthday, etc.). By deferring your income for a year or more, you will be offered a higher gift annuity rate and a higher tax deduction.
Summary of benefits:
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Fixed lifetime income for up to two beneficiaries.
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An immediate charitable income tax deduction.
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Relief from upfront capital gains taxes on gifts of long-term appreciated property.
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Reduction in federal estate taxes.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
This type of trust allows you to contribute to Gifford Cat Shelter and receive guaranteed payments for life or for a length of time as designated. Payments can either be a fixed amount or a percentage of your assets. A Charitable Remainder Trust offers many estate and income tax benefits as well. You can design this trust yourself with the help of an attorney.
Summary of benefits:
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Lifetime income (variable or fixed) for up to two beneficiaries.
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An immediate charitable income tax deduction.
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Avoidance of capital gains taxes on gifts of long-term appreciated property.
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Reduction in federal estate taxes.
Charitable Lead Trusts
A charitable lead trust is the reverse of the charitable remainder trust and functions as a temporary gift, or loan, to the Gifford Cat Shelter. That is, instead of paying income to you, the trust pays income to the Shelter for a term of years, before the principal reverts back to you, a family member, or another beneficiary. A lead trust can greatly reduce estate taxes, allowing you to make a significant gift to the Gifford Cat Shelter and ultimately pass more to your heirs.
Types of Charitable Lead Trusts:
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A charitable lead annuity trust pays a fixed amount each year to Gifford Cat Shelter and is more attractive when interest rates are low.
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A charitable lead unitrust pays a variable amount each year based on the value of the assets in the trust. With a unitrust, if the trust's assets go up in value, for example, the payments to Gifford Cat Shelter go up as well.
Contact your accountant or Trust and Estate Lawyer to discuss if a charitable lead trust would be a good option for you.
Insurance Policies
Naming Gifford Cat Shelter as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy is another way of supporting the shelter. Gifford Cat Shelter can be named as either the primary beneficiary or as a secondary beneficiary in case the primary beneficiary predeceases you.
Retirement Benefits
A gift to Gifford Cat Shelter may keep your retirement assets from being absorbed by income and possibly estate taxes. The simple act of changing your beneficiary to Gifford Cat Shelter will direct those retirement assets to be used to make a gift from their estate and thus preserve the balance of the estate for family and friends.
Under the IRA Charitable Rollover Provision, an individual 70 1/2 and older can make charitable donations of up to $100,000 directly from IRA and Roth IRA accounts without having to pay income taxes on the money. Furthermore, eligible IRA owners can use these charitable gifts to satisfy their annual minimum distribution requirement.
Please contact Gifford Cat Shelter by email or phone at 617-787-8872 with any questions about making a donation using an IRA rollover.
Individual and Corporate Sponsorships
Your sponsorship helps us underwrite how we thank, recognize and educate donors without incurring additional expense. An individual or corporate sponsorship illustrates you or your organization’s commitment to Gifford Cat Shelter’s mission to provide a safe haven for stray, abused, and unwanted cats until they are matched with their permanent loving homes. When you sponsor Gifford Cat Shelter, you have the opportunity to enhance your or your company’s philanthropic image and visibility in the community, as well as support investments that help solve our cat welfare community’s most pressing needs. There are many ways to support our mission while also recognizing you or your organization. You can help animals get adopted and be champions of our vision through one or more of the opportunities detailed below:
Adoption Fee sponsor | $2,500
Your sponsorship will cover the adoption fee of one cat each month for one year, as well as the cost for one boosted Facebook post per animal. Your recognition includes:
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Mention on all related social media posts and online profile;
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Name displayed on Gifford Cat Shelter’s sponsor webpage.
Gifford Guardian sponsor | $5,000
Your sponsorship will cover the adoption fee of one cat each month for one year (12 total), as well as the costs associated with their care, vetting (e.g., spay/neuter, vaccines, flea/heartworm treatment), food and other vital shelter or foster supplies. Your recognition includes:
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Mention on all related social media posts and online profile;
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Three specialized social media posts and one featured blog over the course of one year;
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Name displayed on Gifford Cat Shelter’s sponsor webpage.
Corporate Giving
When you invest in Gifford Cat Shelter, you create a win-win partnership that benefits your company and our pet welfare community. You help improve communities where your employees and customers live and work. For more information about making a corporate gift on behalf of your company, contact Gifford Cat Shelter by email or phone at 617-787-8872