Leave a Charitable Gift in Your Will

A gift in a will, also known as a bequest or legacy, is simply a gift you leave to a charity in your will. It is a popular way to leave a meaningful legacy for future generations. It is an opportunity to make a donation to a charity if you have not been able to during your lifetime.

Your donation to PAWS:

Helps people in crisis or difficult circumstances provide care for beloved pets.
Supports the mental health and wellbeing of disadvantaged and low-income pet lovers in Ontario.
Provides preventive and emergency care that reduces euthanasia and surrender of pets.
Reduces animal and people pain and suffering.

Planning a Charitable Gift

Planning a gift in your will is easier than you think.

Think about what you want to achieve. Why do you want to leave a gift in your will? What kind of impact do you want to have?
Keep it simple and don’t spread it around too broadly. If you can choose one charity, you’ll make a real difference. Even 1% of your estate left to PAWS can make an impact while still leaving the majority for family and friends.
What would you like the approximate size of your donation to be? Estimate the value of your estate, how much you would like to leave to PAWS, and how much you would like to leave for loved ones.
Explore the different ways to leave a gift in your estate. Choosing to make a charitable gift in your will can significantly reduce taxes owed, leaving more for the people and causes you love. Work with a financial advisor to discuss which of your estate’s assets might be most efficient to give.
Reach out to us to discuss options to use your legacy in specific ways.

Ways to Give a Gift in your Will

If you already have a Will, ask your legal advisor about the simple process of adding a codicil.

A gift of cash

You may choose to designate a specific dollar amount, or percentage of the residue of your estate to give to charity. This is called a ‘bequest’ and is the most common way to leave a gift in your estate.

A gift of securities

If you own publicly listed securities, donating them to charity can have significant tax advantages. Your estate will receive a donation receipt to help reduce taxes owed, plus the elimination of taxes you would normally have to pay on capital gains.

Donate what’s left from your RRSP, RRIF, or TFSA

Naming charities as the beneficiary of your registered funds is one of the easiest and most flexible ways to give. It’s as simple as filling out your fund provider’s beneficiary form, which you can update any time.

A gift of life insurance

Name a charity as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy.

Interested in Helping People and Pets?

Leaving a charitable gift to PAWS in your will, allows you to make an legacy contribution to a cause you care about, while still taking care of loved ones.

Would you like your donation to be invested in an endowment fund or in a specific project? Maybe you’d like your gift to commemorate someone?

Now is the time to set up a gift that achieves something personally meaningfully for you.