Leave a legacy

Leave a donation to the Society in your will.  A will is the easiest and most effective means to ensure that you fully provide for your family and that your assets are distributed as you wish. Gifts by will, or bequests, have become an increasingly important source of revenue for the Society, enabling us to lead the fight against cancer.

Many friends have remembered the Society in their will while providing for their family. Such bequests also provide continuing support of the ongoing work of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Advantages

• It involves no cost to the donor other than the cost of preparing your will.
• It allows you to make a long-term commitment without affecting your current standard of living.
• It provides the comfort of knowing your assets are still available to you today if needed.
• It allows you to make a tax-effective gift to the fight against cancer. Your estate may claim charitable donations to the Canadian Cancer Society in the year of death equal to 100% of your net income (higher than the limit of 75% for living donors). Any unused charitable donations can be carried back to the previous tax year at the same higher rate.
• It ensures your gift will be used to find new ways to treat and cure cancer and support ongoing community programs and services. You may also choose to support a specific part of the fight against cancer, such as research or programs.

How does it work?

• leave a specific dollar amount or a specific piece of personal property
• leave a share or percentage of your estate
• provide for the needs of your loved ones (either through an outright gift or subject to a trust) and give the rest (or residue) of your estate to the Canadian Cancer Society.

For more information
If you would like more information about leaving a bequest to the Society in your will, please contact us at (204)774-7483 or at 1-888-532-6982.

Should you decide to leave a gift to the Canadian Cancer Society in your will, please let us know. We would like to be able to express our appreciation to you personally for your commitment and support. Your gift intention will be held in strictest confidence.

Provide a significant gift to the Society that can also provide you some income in your lifetime.

A charitable gift annuity is a 'gift that gives something back'. It's a way of making a gift to help in the fight against cancer, and in return, get back a guaranteed income for life that can be largely or entirely tax-free. Charitable gift annuities can be especially appealing to people aged 70 or more and who are more concerned about financial security than income growth.

Advantages

• You may be eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
• It enables you to turn your taxable interest income into tax-free income. 
• You can provide a significant contribution to the fight against cancer and at the same time receive a regular income during your lifetime.
• It offers an excellent alternative to GIC's or bonds; offers the same income guarantee but with improved cash flow and reduced or eliminated tax on your income; provides peace of mind, knowing that there will be a guaranteed, reliable source of tax-free income.
• It gives the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of others by helping to eradicate cancer and enhance the lives of people living with cancer.
• It offers freedom from investment worries.

How does it work?
You donate a sum of money to the Canadian Cancer Society. The Society receives a portion of the sum immediately (usually between 25% and 35%) to help fund our research and community services programs. The balance is used to purchase an annuity (single or joint) from one of the highest rated insurance companies. From this annuity, you (and/or another named individual) receive regular, equal payments for life - guaranteed. A gift annuity is a simple contract between you and the Canadian Cancer Society in which you exchange cash or securities for a fixed income for life - for any person you choose.

For more information
If you would like more information please contact us at (204)774-7483 or 1-888-532-6982.

Provide a significant gift to the Society through a trust and receive the income from that trust.  A trust is a legal agreement that specifies how assets placed under the trust will be managed. A charitable remainder trust is an effective way to provide you with an income for life and know that after your lifetime, the property remaining in the trust will be used by the Canadian Cancer Society as you directed. This is a deferred gift, which means that the proceeds from a gift commitment made now will be realized by the Canadian Cancer Society sometime in the future.

Entering into a charitable remainder trust agreement with the Canadian Cancer Society simply means that you leave a capital donation to the Society while you are still alive. You receive the income from that capital and benefit immediately from a tax receipt. The Society can count on receiving the original sum when the trust ends.

Establishing a charitable remainder trust requires the professional services of a lawyer, possibly an accountant and a trust company, since a trustee is required to manage the trust. A minimum of $100,000 is recommended to establish a charitable remainder trust.

Advantages

• It allows you to make a guaranteed, future, large gift, here and now. 
• Know that you are making a major difference in helping conquer cancer.
• You will receive an income for life.
• It offers freedom from investment decisions.
• It ensures that your wishes will be carried out exactly as you have specified. 
• It ensures your gift is not subject to probate, estate taxes or possible challenges to your will.
• It provides immediate tax benefits.

How does it work?
You establish a trust and make an irrevocable transfer of ownership of money or other assets (securities, real estate, etc.) to the trust. Then you (or someone you designate as 'income beneficiary') receive the income the trust generates during your lifetime or for a specified time period. The donated capital stays in the trust and cannot be touched. At the time the trust is created, you receive a tax receipt for the present value of the capital sum the Canadian Cancer Society will receive when the trust is terminated.

For more information
If you would like more information please us at (204) 774-7483 or 1-888-532-6982

Create a lasting legacy in your honour or in honour of a loved one.  An endowment gift is an ideal way to leave a lasting legacy to the Canadian Cancer Society to support the fight against cancer and at the same time commemorate or memorialize yourself, a spouse, parent, family or friend.

An endowment is a contribution where the original capital donation is preserved in perpetuity. Only the income generated from the endowment fund is used for the purposes outlined in an endowment agreement.

There is a minimum gift amount required to establish an endowment fund. Endowment gifts may be funded using cash, securities, paid-up insurance policies, or other types of assets.

Advantages

• Leaves a lasting legacy as the original donation remains intact while the income generated from this capital provides an ongoing source of support for the Society.
• May be designated to fund a specific element of the fight against cancer, such as research into specific areas, provincial programs and services or operational activities.

How does it work?
A donor or group of donors make a large donation to the Society. The majority of the donation (the capital) is then invested in perpetuity. The income generated by the capital is used by the Society, while the capital remains protected and continues to generate additional income over the years.

The Canadian Cancer Society offers several types of endowments:

General endowment fund: A fund consisting of many endowed gifts. The income from the fund is used for the general purposes of the Society, where it is needed most. Minimum gift is $5,000.

Named general endowment fund: This type of fund is established and named by a donor to honour a loved one (e.g., 'The Mary Smith Fund'). The income is used for the general purposes of the Society, where it is needed most. Minimum gift is $50,000.

Designated endowment fund: A fund consisting of many endowed gifts. The income from the fund is used for certain specific purposes, in accordance with the Society's Designated Donations Policy. Minimum gift is $5,000.

Named designated endowment fund: This type of fund is established and named by a donor. The income is used for certain specific purposes, in accordance with the Designated Donations Policy of the Society (e.g., The John & Mary Smith Fund for Cancer Research'). Minimum gift is $50,000.

For more information
If you would like more information please contact us at (204)774-7483 or toll free at 1-888-532-6982.

A gift of life insurance allows you to make a larger donation to the Canadian Cancer Society than you would have thought you could afford, at relatively little cost. A gift of life insurance is a deferred gift, which means that the proceeds from a gift commitment made now will be realized by the Canadian Cancer Society sometime in the future. A gift of life insurance also allows flexibility in structuring your gift to your tax relief goals.

Advantages

• It does not reduce the value of your estate for your heirs.
• Life insurance proceeds are paid directly to Canadian Cancer Society and are not subject to probate fees.
• You have the ability to determine how you want your resulting tax credits structured. Life insurance can provide an annual tax credit or a tax credit in the year of death. How you structure your gift will depend on where you may have the greatest need for tax relief.

How does it work? Some options…

• You can purchase a new policy, naming the Canadian Cancer Society as the irrevocable owner and beneficiary. You then pay the premiums and receive an income tax receipt yearly for the full amount of all premiums paid.
• You can donate an existing policy that you no longer need, by designating the Canadian Cancer Society as the irrevocable owner and beneficiary. The Society will give you a tax receipt for the net cash surrender value (less any outstanding policy loans) and any subsequent premiums paid.
• You can make the Canadian Cancer Society the beneficiary of a new or existing policy. As amended in the 2000 Federal Budget, a charitable donations tax credit will be available when a donor designates that the death benefit proceeds of his/her policy be paid directly to a charity.
• You may have a life insurance policy from your employer or former employer that you want to donate to the Society. Since you will not be able to change the ownership, you would make the Canadian Cancer Society the beneficiary of the policy. As above, a donations tax credit will be available when the death benefit proceeds from the policy are paid directly to the Canadian Cancer Society.

For more information
If you would like more information please contact us at (204)774-7483 or at 1-888-532-6982.

This option can help reduce capital gains taxes.  If you own publicly traded securities or mutual funds that have increased in value, you may want to consider donating the securities directly to the Canadian Cancer Society. Such a gift can minimize the capital gains taxes you have to pay on those securities. Put stock into finding a cure and have the satisfaction of supporting a worthwhile cause.

Advantages

• You become entitled to a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of the gifted securities at the end of the day on the date the securities are received in our brokerage account.
• A gift of securities to the Canadian Cancer Society can be made for much less than the net cost of an equal gift of cash. By donating the securities you reduce the capital gains tax that would ordinarily become due if you had sold the appreciated securities on the open market and donated the proceeds from the sale to charity. See the table below for an example of the tax savings you could gain.
• Your charitable deduction can be claimed against up to 75% of your net income and  any unused deductions can be carried forward over the next five years.
• Based on the Federal Mini Budget announced in October 2000, the standard capital gains tax rate was lowered to 50%. Correspondingly, the inclusion rate for charitable gifts of publicly-traded shares has been reduced to 25% or, one-half of the standard rate.

How does it work?
When making a gift of securities, decide which securities or mutual fund holdings you wish to donate. Then instruct your broker to transfer the shares electronically or endorse the share certificates and forward them to the Canadian Cancer Society. You'll receive a tax receipt for the closing price of the securities on the date they are received in the Canadian Cancer Society brokerage account. Contact us in advance and we will provide all the necessary information to make a smooth transfer.

For more information
If you would like more information please contact us at (204)774-7483 or at 1-888-532-6982.