A legacy gift is a gift for the future. Planning to leave a Legacy Gift in your Will is one of the most thoughtful ways to help others and leave a lasting impact on your community.

There are many kinds of Legacy Gifts such as simple bequests in a Will or Estate Plan, a gift of life insurance, annuities, charitable trusts, endowments and gifts of property.  These deferred gifts are most often arranged when you are preparing your Will or updating financial plans. There are many options when it comes to Legacy Giving, making it possible for anyone to leave a legacy of care.

The following information is general in nature. We encourage you to seek legal and financial advice to ensure your specific wishes are carried out and your estate enjoys the tax benefits of your generosity.

Wills/Bequests
Making a specific gift to St. Joseph’s can be done through your Will, or can be done by writing an amendment called a Codicil to your existing Will. Either a specific amount or a percentage of the Estate can be indicated. "St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation, Brantford” is the legal name to be used when making a gift designation to St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre or Stedman Community Hospice.

Life Insurance
Insurance Polices provide an easy way to make a significant future gift without reducing the value of your estate. Have St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation named as your owner or beneficiary of an existing or new policy. You will receive a tax receipt for the cash surrender value (if any) of the policy and further annual receipts on future payment of premiums. Alternatively, you may simply name the Foundation as the beneficiary of your insurance policy and at the end of your lifetime, the proceeds are received by the Foundation and a donation receipt is issued to your estate.

Charitable Gift Annuities
Charitable Gift Annuities allow you to make a contribution to St. Joseph's Lifecare Foundation and in exchange, you receive guaranteed lifetime annuity income. Gift annuities allow St. Joseph’s to realize an immediate source of new funds and you receive a charitable donation receipt and a guaranteed flow of fixed lifetime payments at a favourable tax rate. Depending on your age, this income will be partially tax-free or even fully tax-free.

Charitable Remainder Trusts
With Charitable Remainder Trusts, assets (cash, securities or real estate) are transferred to an irrevocable trust with a trustee to manage the assets. You receive the income generated by the assets in trust, according to the terms set out at the time the trust is established and the capital remains intact. On termination of the trust (usually at death), St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation receives the remaining assets. The advantage of this type of gift is that you receive an immediate tax credit for your future donation.

Endowments
An Endowment is a fund which is kept in perpetuity to provide interest and dividend earnings for the benefit of St. Joseph's Lifecare Foundation. Gifts of $50,000 or more can be identified as a Named Endowment Gift that will honour you or your loved one while providing a source of income. You can designate the income produced by investing the endowment to support Stedman Community Hospice or St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre.

Gifts of Property
You may wish to consider giving the gift of property such as real estate, publicly-traded stocks, RRSPs, etc. RRSP and RRIF Plans can also indicate St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation as a beneficiary. St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation would be happy to provide any information to help you make a gift that matches your philanthropic interests. Please call 519-751-7096, extension 2475, for more information.