Dandelion Season arrives at last! Spring photos from Mark Luinenburg

Above: Maxmillion the Dachshund checks out the dandelions at Home for Life®!

In this album are some of our favorites from Photographer Mark Luinenburg's visit to Home for Life® at the end of May when the dandelions were in full bloom; his photos at the sanctuary during dandelion season have become an annual tradition. With so much that doesn't make sense and the world so turbulent, it's reassuring to know that every year, there will be spring sunshine, cheery yellow flowers, and happy animals at Home for Life®.

Life Insurance Policies

Using a life insurance policy to support home for life can be very cost-effective, especially for younger donors. Donors may apply for a new policy or make a gift of an existing policy that has a cash value.

A new life insurance policy can enable someone with many current family obligations to turn a relatively small contribution into a dramatically larger gift. For older donors, a paid-up life insurance policy that is no longer needed also makes an excellent gift.

Charitable Trusts

Charitable trusts help ensure the future of the animals in Home for Life's care. Receive income for life or transfer property to your children or grandchildren in a tax-advantaged manner.

There are several different types of trusts, each with specific benefits to the donor, to someone the donor designates, or to the charity. At the end of the trust, the remaining assets either go to the charity or revert to the donor's family. The amount of the income stream is either a set amount per year or a percentage of the value of the assets.

Retirement Plans

These can be powerful tools for endowing a charitable legacy to home for life while avoiding heavy estate and income taxes.

Many individuals have accumulated substantial sums in tax-deferred retirement accounts, which include profit-sharing plans, IRAs 401(k)s and 403(b)s. These accounts are popular because the contributions are made with pretax dollars in the assets in the account grow tax-deferred. However, funds withdrawn from these accounts are usually taxed at both high income and estate tax rates.

Planned Giving

Protect the animals you love. Create a lasting partnership with Home for Life®. Your planned gift makes it possible.

By including Home for Life® in your estate plan, you can continue providing a second chance for unwanted dogs and cats due to old age, chronic illness, handicaps, and temperament issues.