FAQ

What is the difference between Heifer International and Heifer Foundation?

Heifer Foundation and Heifer International are separate non-profit organizations with distinct purposes; yet they both exist to serve the mission of ending hunger and poverty and caring for the earth.

Whereas Heifer International is doing the work on the ground to eliminate hunger and poverty, Heifer Foundation is building an endowment through planned gifts to support Heifer International’s work. Every year, income from Heifer Foundation’s endowments is made available to Heifer International to help provide poverty-stricken families with the means to better their lives, sustain themselves, and strengthen their communities.

As a donor, you decide when and how your money is used. While donations to Heifer International are put to immediate use, gifts made to Heifer Foundation are invested for the future, so that our shared mission of helping people in the margins of the world can continue for generations.

How do I purchase an animal for a project?

Visit Heifer International for information on how to purchase animals.

I want to make a donation. How do I make out the check and where do I send it?

Heifer Foundation gratefully accepts donations via regular mail. Checks should be made payable to “Heifer Foundation.” Please mail your donation to:

Heifer Foundation
P.O. Box 727
Little Rock, AR 72203

Can I make a donation of stock?

Yes. Heifer Foundation accepts donations of publicly traded securities and mutual funds. A donor can make a gift of publicly traded securities directly to Heifer Foundation and may receive several tax benefits such as bypassing capital gains tax and receiving a charitable income tax deduction. Gifts of publicly traded securities and mutual funds may be used to establish charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. You may instruct your broker to make an electronic transfer to Heifer Foundation’s account using the Securities Transfer Form.

Please notify us by phone at 1.888.422.1161 or e-mail to ensure your donation is processed quickly and your tax receipt issued promptly. Please send us your full name, address, phone number, the name of the company and the number of shares you are donating.

Can I make a donation of real property?

Yes. Heifer Foundation accepts donations of unencumbered real property. Gifts of unencumbered real property may be used to fund charitable remainder trusts and provide donors with significant tax advantages. For more information on donations of real property, please contact us at 1.888.422.1161 or by e-mail. 

Are my gifts tax deductible in the United States?

Yes. Each gift to an endowment is tax-deductible, as are portions of charitable trust or annuity gifts.

Heifer Foundation is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, therefore your gift is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Heifer Foundation is a nonprofit charity operating since 1991. Our federal tax identification number is 71-0699939. You should consult your financial planner or tax advisor to determine the exact tax advantages of any gift you are considering. We provide a receipt for all gifts that can be used to claim a tax deduction.

If you need a copy of the receipt, or need a receipt for your gift, please call 1.888.422.1161.

Who manages the endowment funds? Are the funds managed internally or through an investment or banking firm?

The Heifer Foundation President is responsible for investment of all funds under the governance and guidelines of the Board of Trustees. A professional investment consultant advises the president.

Can I designate my gift to a specific country or project?

Due to the ever-changing world in which we live, Heifer Foundation cannot predict where funds will be needed in 20, 30, 40 or 50 years. Since gifts to Heifer Foundation are invested in endowments which are designed for long term support of Heifer International, gifts to Heifer Foundation’s endowment may only be designated for either general use or programmatic (i.e. for use in the field, but not for overhead) use.

Can I create a “named” endowment for my business, family or loved one?

Named endowments can be created with a gift of $100,000 or more. Please contact us through legacyinfo@heiferfoundation.org or call toll-free 1.888.422.1161 for more information on how to set up a named endowment.