Planned Giving
Clover’s Circle
The Hermitage Legacy Society
What is a legacy society?
Legacy gifts allow you continue your involvement with The Hermitage long after you've gone.
A legacy society is simply a program established by a community foundation or other nonprofit organization to recognize planned gift donors within their lifetime. The Hermitage’s official legacy society is called Clover’s Circle.
Who was Clover?
Clover was a cat who exemplified the mission of The Hermitage. She was dumped on our property back in 2000 with her kittens. Clover and one of her kittens, Regal, were FeLV+ and resided in our FeLV room for most of their lives. The mother and son duo were considered a bonded pair and could often be found snuggling or cleaning each other.
As Clover aged, she suffered from renal disease and hyperthyroidism. Despite her ailments and defying the odds, Clover lived to be 19 years old, the oldest cat in the shelter at the time. Although we were saddened that she was never adopted, we are grateful that we were able to provide a home to Clover (and Regal) where they received excellent medical care and tons of love and affection.
How do I join Clover's Circle?
Clover’s Circle is open to all supporters who pledge to leave future gifts (planned or deferred gifts such as a will, a life insurance policy, a gift annuity, or a trust) to The Hermitage. There is no minimum gift amount required to join. While membership is automatic, if you have made or intend to make such plans, we hope you will give us the opportunity to publicly recognize you so that your gift can inspire others.
Please let us know about your planned gift by emailing [email protected] or call Diane, our Development Coordinator, directly at 520-369-4991. The Hermitage would love the opportunity to recognize and appreciate your Hermitage legacy during your lifetime. *If you would NOT like to be publicly recognized, please let us know this too. If it's simpler, please complete our Letter of Intent and return it to us at the shelter.
EIN: 86-0213263
Clover's Circle Benefactors
Donna Emery
Nancy Orr
Matthew Thraen
Leave a Legacy
A legacy is something that lives on beyond our short time on earth. Your legacy could save countless cats now, tomorrow and for years to come.
Cats like Vander. He came to us as a kitten who'd been sorely mistreated by two little boys but many years later and he has stolen our hearts. And a spot in the women's restroom. Thanks to generous donors who made plans for the future of the Hermitage, Vander and the many cats like him, will always find sanctuary at the Hermitage.
Planned Giving allows you to support The Hermitage by naming us as a beneficiary in your will, trust. or family foundation. There are even Planned Gifts that may provide you with a tax benefit; gifts of stock, donations from an IRA, and distributions from other funds. The Hermitage also has a fund at The Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, where gifts can be made.
If you plan to leave a legacy gift to The Hermitage upon your passing, you are eligible to join our legacy society, Clover's Circle. Please fill out this Letter of Intent OR contact our Development & Communication Coordinator if you're interested in being named in Clover's Circle.
Continuing Cat Care is a program to give you peace of mind about your kitties' futures should there come a time when you are no longer able to care for them. Please read more about this program to decide if it is a good fit for you!
Is there a beloved pet or human you'd like to memorialize? Purchase a customized clay brick, bench or limited edition hummingbird to be installed in the Remembrance Garden in front of the Hermitage.
EIN: 86-0213263
Please consult your Estate Planning Attorney or Financial Advisor prior to acting on the information provided.
**None of these suggestions constitute legal advice or any binding agreement or suggestion. Please always check with your attorney or estate planning consultant.
Continuing Cat Care
Continuing Cat Care provides loving, attentive care for your cat(s) when you are no longer able to.
Do you have a plan for your beloved feline companion upon your passing? It's a hard thing to think of but you owe it to them to not leave it to chance. Make arrangements now. Enrolling in the Continuing Cat Care Program at the Hermitage ensures your surviving cat will not become an innocent victim of a relative's or friend's inability or unwillingness to provide your cat with a good home. Through this program, the Hermitage can provide your beloved companion a safe and loving environment for as long as they need it.
Upon your passing, your cat will be taken into our clean, friendly shelter. Your cat will then be evaluated to determine its health and adoptability. If the Hermitage staff finds your cat to be adoptable, it is placed with our other felines looking for permanent homes. If, in the opinion of the staff, the cat is not adoptable it will become a lifetime resident of the shelter.
Please note: we CANNOT honor requests for a cat to automatically be kept as a permanent resident. Nor can we give updates on cats surrendered to our care. Please assure your family and friends you are doing what is in the best interest of your cat and trust the Hermitage to make the right choices for the animal.
How the Program Works
You designate an individual who will contact the Hermitage and deliver your cat(s) to our shelter as soon after your death as possible. At that time, each cat will be examined by professionals at our shelter to verify that:
- Sterilization has been completed, and
- Vaccinations are current. Remedial action will be taken as needed.
- Also, each cat is tested for FeLV and FIV.
Next, we try to find a suitable home for your cat or if this is not possible or in the best interest of your cat, we provide a loving permanent home for your cat at the Hermitage.
We have an 9,000 square foot facility which has 4,500 square feet of home and 4,500 square feet of enclosed patios. Your cat will be free to roam its designated area without fear of escape and yet will be able to enjoy the outside.
Prior to your cat being rehomed, we will complete an extensive adoption interview and subsequent follow up call to make sure your cat is happy and properly cared for.
Enrollment
There is a $500 registration fee per cat to enroll your cat(s) in the Continuing Cat Care program. It is necessary that you provide an endowment in a minimum of $1,500 per cat or $5,000 per cat with special needs such as Diabetes, FIV/FeLV+ to the Hermitage. This endowment is effective upon your death. There are several ways in which you may accomplish this endowment to The Hermitage.
- Designate The Hermitage as a beneficiary in your Last Will and Testament or Trust.
- Designate The Hermitage as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy.
- Designate The Hermitage as a beneficiary of your bank account by completing forms at your bank stating that your account is payable upon your death to The Hermitage.
- Designate The Hermitage as a recipient of your investment account by completing forms with your stockbroker stating that your account is to transfer upon your death to The Hermitage.
- Designate The Hermitage as a beneficiary of your IRA account and there may be some estate tax planning advantages for designating The Hermitage (a 501(c) 3 organization), as a beneficiary of an IRA account. You should consult with an attorney or accountant to determine whether this advantage may apply to you.
In addition to using one of the above methods to gift to the Hermitage, you must complete the Bequest Form and the Continuing Cat Care Registration Form – which can be found below – and return the completed forms, along with the enrollment fee of $500 per cat to the Hermitage (the enrollment fee will be used as a General Donation).
With the Standard Bequest Form, please attach a copy of the applicable pages of your Last Will and Testament or Trust, or a copy of the beneficiary designation form for your life insurance policy, bank account, stock account or IRA account, nominating The Hermitage as a beneficiary. Further, please advise the Hermitage of the individual you have named as your personal representative in your Last Will and Testament or Trustee of your Trust. You may be asked for our EIN which is 86-0213263.
If you need to update the information provided to the Hermitage on the Continuing Cat Care Registration Form, please provide such updates in writing so the Hermitage can be certain current information is in your file.