With the end of the year in sight, many people are looking for ways to combine their desire to help the causes they believe in with their desire to save on taxes. Here are four options to consider that can help you make the most of your giving this year.

Donate Stock

Donating stock that has increased in value is one of the most tax-efficient ways to give. When you transfer appreciated securities (that has been held for at least one year) directly to a charity, you may be able to avoid capital gains tax while claiming a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the stock. That means your gift goes further — helping even more pets in need of rescue, medical care, and loving homes. HSLC has partnered with DonateStock.com to make the process fast, safe, and completely free.

Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is like a charitable investment account, for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations like the Humane Society of Loudoun County. DAFs are the fastest-growing charitable giving vehicle in the United States because they are one of the easiest and most tax-advantageous ways to donate. DAFDirect, a widget available on our website, enables you to recommend grants to HSLC directly from your DAF.

Donate an Auto or Real Estate

If you have a vehicle or piece of property you want to unload, consider donating it to the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) for what could be a significant tax deduction. We offer free pick-up for donated vehicles of all types—cars, trucks, boats, and even ATVs.  Our real estate program takes any property type (land, homes, commercial) in any location so long as there is equity.

Give from your IRA

Qualified Charitable Distributions, or QCDs, are designed for supporters who want to make a charitable donation directly from their IRA to charities like HSLC.  While there is no charitable deduction for making a charitable contribution using a QCD, the IRA distribution used to make the contribution is not subject to taxes. In 2025, the minimum age for QCDs is 70 ½ and the annual limit is $108,000. You may also consider designating HSLC as a beneficiary of your IRA.

Note: HSLC does not give tax advice to individuals.  Please consult your professional tax advisor on how the above options might affect you specifically.

By Uchenna C. Okeke

What if your pet’s voice could go further? What if, after showering you with love and gratitude for all you do, they look up with gentle eyes and whisper, “Can you help my friends too?”

For every pet curled up on a warm couch, many others are still waiting – not just to be seen or admired, but to be chosen, taken in, supported and loved.

Why Other Pets Need Our Help

At the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC), every animal taken in carries a story. Some have known fear, hunger, or loneliness. Some were abandoned. Some simply lost their way. Others were born into circumstances that gave them little chance at a good life.

But here’s the truth: these at-risk cats and dogs are not less deserving. They are simply waiting for their chance.

And that chance only comes through people like you. Behind every rescue are everyday people who chose to help. Whether by fostering, adopting, volunteering, or donating, each life saved begins with one act of kindness.

You don’t need to adopt a dozen animals to make a difference. Kindness takes many forms and everyone has something to offer. Ways you can help:

ADOPT

If your heart and home have room, adopting a pet is one of the most meaningful ways to change a life. When you adopt, you’re not just giving an animal a home, you’re opening the door to hope. If you’re considering adoption, HSLC is here to walk with you through the process and help you find the perfect match.

FOSTER

If you’re not ready for a long-term commitment, fostering allows you to be the bridge between homelessness and a forever home for an animal in need. Even a few weeks of your time can give an animal a chance to decompress and prepare for their happily ever after. HSLC offers flexible fostering opportunities, from vacation to emergency placements, so you can make a difference in a way that fits your life.

DONATE

Even if your home is already full, your heart can still give. Donations fuel HSLC’s work, covering everything from medical care to food for families in need. Whether it’s $25 for a microchip or a larger gift to cover veterinary costs, your generosity saves lives. You can also donate items from our wish lists, which directly lower operating costs and stretch resources to reach more animals.

VOLUNTEER

HSLC runs entirely on the passion and dedication of volunteers. That means every adoption, every rescue, every success story has people behind it who gave their time and skills. Animal care is one piece, but HSLC also needs help with events, fundraising, technology, and administration. Whether you’re an animal whisperer or a spreadsheet wizard, your contribution matters.

Every adoption, every act of kindness, every moment spent helping sets change in motion. There are animals waiting – waiting for a warm hand, a safe place to rest, a second chance. And the difference between waiting and belonging could be you.

And if your pet could step in here, this is what they’d probably say:

“I remember when I was waiting too, wondering if someone would ever come for me. There are still my friends out there, scared, hungry, or lonely. Please… help my friends.”

Every year, the Clear the Shelters campaign lights up the nation, creating a powerful wave of compassion and action for our furry friends. Running from August 10 to September 10, this year’s campaign was no different, bringing a surge of support and a renewed focus on pet adoption and donations. Since its inception in 2015, Clear the Shelters has been a beacon of hope, helping more than 1 million pets find their forever homes.

The Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) proudly joined the nationwide effort, participating in multiple adoption events throughout the campaign. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to offer special incentives to encourage adoptions. Adult cats and dogs had their adoption fees waived, while a special “BOGO” deal was available to help bonded kitten pairs find homes together.

Among the many uplifting adoption stories, one stands out as a shining example of the campaign’s success. At the CatVideoFest event hosted at the Alamo Drafthouse in Ashburn, a potential adopter came to meet three remaining kittens from the Kittenpalooza litter. He was so moved by the trio’s bond that he decided not to separate them. In a rare and heartwarming decision, he adopted all three kittens together. It’s moments like these that make the hard work and dedication surrounding adoption efforts so rewarding.

In total, HSLC successfully placed 22 animals into loving homes during the campaign. Each adoption story is a testament to the power of community support and the difference it can make in the lives of the littlest among us.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported the campaign, whether through donations, volunteering, or adopting. Your contributions are making a lasting impact on the lives of so many pets and their new families. Here’s to many more happy endings and the continued success of Clear the Shelters!

By Lauren Puckett

Did you know that performing an act of kindness actually ignites a chemical response in your brain? That’s the positive feeling you get when you do something for someone else, and it’s been coined the “helper’s high.” Beyond the momentary euphoria you enjoy, greater health and increased longevity have also been associated with this psychological state.

Here are four ways you can do a good deed (or two!) for the Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) and get your own helper’s high in the new year!

DONATE

At HSLC, we are not funded by any county, state, or federal organizations. Our work is only made possible because of donors like you. Your tax-deductible donations make things like this possible:

• $20 provides two pet food kits for families in need, or two community cats enough kibble for a month
• $50 vaccinates an animal for rabies or provides five pet food kits for families in need
• $75 covers a sick exam for a foster animal
• $200 provides 20 pet food kits for families in need
• $1,000 covers the average medical cost for a foster animal (in 2022).

In addition to providing financial support, you can donate an item or two from our various wish lists. In-kind donations from these lists help to lower our operating costs, freeing up funds to save more animals.

VOLUNTEER

As a volunteer-based organization with no paid staff, HSLC relies on volunteers to carry out our life-saving mission. We need many folks focused on animal care, of course, but we also need volunteers to cover the business side of the organization: finance, technology, fundraising, marketing, events and administration. Our immediate needs include fosters and volunteers to support our expanding dog foster program.

FOSTER

As a foster-based organization, we do not have a physical shelter. We can only save animals when we have a foster home to place them in. Foster families provide a healthy and safe environment for the animal. Fostering increases the animal’s chances of being adopted and helps them overcome the stress of being abandoned in a shelter. When you open your heart and home to an animal in need, you are giving them a second chance at life. Types of fostering include:

• Regular fostering
• Vacation fostering
• Emergency fostering
• Short-term fostering
• Special needs fostering

To become a foster, please complete an online application.

ADOPT

Each year, shelters and rescue groups take in millions of cats and dogs nationwide. “Moving” and “landlord issues” are the top reasons people give up their pets. This means organizations like HSLC have dozens of animals in their care who are anxiously waiting to meet their forever families. We hope that HSLC will be your first choice when choosing a companion animal. All pets adopted through HSLC come with the following benefits:

• Spaying or neutering at the appropriate age (even if it’s after adoption)
• Current on their vaccinations
• Microchipping
• A lifetime of post-adoption support
• Information about the animal’s behavior in a foster home environment

If you are interested in adopting, be sure to check out our available animals!

The Humane Society of Loudoun County is excited to partner with House 6 Brewing to raise funds by having Bingo nights! Bring your family and friends to this monthly event where the Bingo Card donations go directly to help animals in Loudoun County.

8 games will be called. A packet for all games can be purchased for $15 or individual regular games are $2 and the final game is $3.

Melissa starts calling Bingo at 6:30 pm. Prizes will be given each game and are donated from House 6 Brewing, HSLC and other local businesses.

HSLC THANKS House 6 Brewing Co. for their support.