Here’s a list that I’ve created of holidays when people give gifts, and could give a memorial or honor someone instead of purchasing a tchatchke item. This is a great opportunity to encourage younger people (and anyone, really!) to give from the heart!
 
Here are a few holidays and special days where people give gifts. 
 
Bar/ Bat Mitzvah
First Communion
Baptism
High School/ College graduation
Wedding Engagement Party
Bridal Shower
Wedding shower/ Wedding (especially for second marriages when the couple already has everything they need)
New Baby (particularly after a couple has already had 1 or 2 kids and has everything they need)
Anniversary (particularly special ones, like 25th or 50th)
Birthdays (great for kids or adults, and also memorable ones like the 50th, 70th, 75th, etc)
Gotcha Anniversaries (anniv. of when you adopted your own pets)
Funeral/ Wake
Christmas
Easter
Hanukkah
Father’s Day/ Mother’s Day/ Grandparents’ Day
Valentine’s Day
 
Basically, any time that you can give a gift or send flowers to someone, you can donate to your shelter/ rescue.
 
Print up a brochure on this for your guests! Most people wouldn’t even think about this option! You can also create a special brochure for funeral homes to make it easier for family members to ask people to donate to the shelter on the behalf of a loved one. Call the funeral director directly to either discuss it over the phone or set up a meeting for a later date. Tell them that you’d like to talk with him about finding a way to make things easier for family members and friends to contribute to a “legacy gift” for your shelter on behalf of someone. These legacies or memorials can be a wonderful way to carry on the memory of someone, who is now able to help save the lives of so many unwanted animals. This idea works well for humane societies, wildlife rehab centers, horse rescues or any other rescue.
 
Present this idea to your board and get a few memorials and gifts coming in to your groups. Another option is to have an animal-friendly lawyer or someone else involved with annutities, trusts, endowments and such to assist people with putting money away for your group in their wills and through their investments. This would be great to partner with a senior center, senior league or in retirement areas. My parents currently live in a land of retirees and they address these issues almost monthly in their area of FL. My parents are only in their early 60s, but it’s something to do once and then not have to worry about it for years! Our baby boomers are currently thinking of these things as they deal with their own parents’ wills and estates. The issue is fresh on the minds of many baby boomers as they retire. It’s something we should all consider! 

Purrs and woofs,
~Danielle