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I am married (we're child-free and elderly) so we decided that if we die together or after the each other, The Humane Society of the US gets whatever is left when we're both gone.
You might want look carefully at how they spend their money before you do that. Very little goes to saving animals. There is even some talk that they may lose steir 501 (c)3 status.
There are FAR better animal oriented charities that deserve your generous support.
Hmmm. Another smear campaign victim. HSUS does not claim to operate shelters. Liars claim that they make such claims. HSUS actually claims to work for animal welfare by discovering and litigating against such things as puppy and kitten mills, animal fighting, factory farming, fur seal slaughter, cruelty to horses and other work and show animals, captive hunts, and the wildlife trade. Worthy ends, all of them.
Actually, you're incorrect. Most of those missiins that you listed (and I agree are worthy) are supported by a SEPARATE charity called Humane Society International. That organization is a spin off from HSUS that spends its money far more wisely to benefit animals than HSUS http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...ary&orgid=5456
I'll stand by the judgment of Charity Navigator and others about HSUS.
And they shouldn't be using shelter animals in those tear jerking ads either. (Shame on you, Wendie Malick)
I won't donate to plenty of charities who spend their money in a way that doesn't benefit their mission, or has inefficient / expensive methods of fund raising. PETA and Susan G Komen are two examples.
Last edited by Jkgourmet; 06-28-2015 at 11:22 AM..
Good on you! Our will has a third going to the no-kill animal shelter my wife has volunteered at for years.
In 1965 a local woman left millions to endow a no-kill sanctuary for cats. It still operates today.
I have seen how this no-kill sanctuary works and also how a no-kill rescue organization funded by donations works. The difference is stark. When volunteers don't have to spend a ridiculous amount of time raising money they can concentrate on providing care to the animals and placing them in loving homes.
The sanctuary happily accepts donations from the public but doesn't depend on them. Like other no-kill organizations here, they pull animals from public animal shelters to save them from euthanasia.
I have long thought it would be prudent for people who want to donate to no-kill shelters to get together with others who feel the same way and figure out how to create a continuing endowment for the best-run shelter in their area.
I won't donate to plenty of charities who spend their money in a way that doesn't benefit their mission, or has inefficient / expensive methods of fund raising. PETA and Susan G Komen are two examples.
It's a free country. People get to support the cases and causes they like while letting the others go looking for help elsewhere. I don't think there's any penalty involved here for listening to bad advice or for ending up with wrong ideas.
I do happen to have a child who is my heir, but if he predeceases me, my money goes to the Deerhound Club of America to be used for medical research for bone cancer and torsion. The club is run by fanatics about the health of our breed, so they will make sure the money gets the most bang for the buck, probably getting matching funds. There are eagle-eyed wealthy people in the club who will demand accounting and know about investing, so very little danger of funds being misappropriated.
Medical research for dogs costs a small fraction of the cost of the exact same medical research for humans and the results can be applied to humans with some great success. More bang for the buck.
Last edited by oregonwoodsmoke; 06-28-2015 at 11:43 AM..
I'm adding this: I've got nephews and no amount of attempting to open up a relationship with them has made any difference. I've never received any thank you from any gifts, I've never had any phone calls, they never want to visit with me. Although, I did get a wedding invitation complete with a note that they didn't want me to attend, but here is a list of the gifts they wish to receive.
It's surprising to me how many people intend to leave the preponderance of their fortunes to animal-related causes/charities. Have we given up on humans? And most of the animals in question are pets - bred for the pleasure (in my opinion, selfish pleasure) of humans.
I have no living relatives, and few close friends. Yet this paucity of direct human companionship is all the more reason to invest in humanity in the large. My current plan is to leave most of my material wherewithal to the university from which I obtained my graduate degree. The idea is to endow a few professorships, maybe fund scholarships, or (if the stock market holds up) a new building or two.
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