Anyone can leave a legacy

Gwendolen and John Crowe, from Delta, BC, donated to Operation Eyesight for many years, and together they made the thoughtful decision to continue supporting our work beyond their lifetime, leaving a legacy of sight and hope for generations to come. Our vision centre in Chitipa, Malawi was made possible thanks to a generous gift left in Gwendolen’s will.

You don’t need a large estate to make a meaningful charitable gift in your will. In fact, most bequests in Canada come from people of average net worth. Every dollar counts, and charities appreciate final donations of any size.

We recently sat down with Nathalie Farrah from our fundraising team to help demystify the ins and outs of legacy giving.

Who should consider leaving a gift to charity in their will?

Anyone can leave a gift in their will to a charity that’s close to their heart, and you can designate the donation as a percentage or share of the estate. Your will is your last voice; it’s your opportunity to support the causes you’re passionate about and continue creating an impact beyond your lifetime.

What if someone pledges a donation, but their financial situation changes?

Most people change their will four to five times in their lifetime. It’s normal for things to come up that will impact your financial planning, like buying a house or having grandkids. You can change your will or adapt it whenever these events happen.

Let’s talk taxes. Are there any incentives for making a charity gift in your will?

Absolutely, the Canadian government has made it very compelling to donate in your will. I’m not a financial advisor so I won’t get into the formulas, but I can say that legacy giving significantly reduces the impact of taxes on the estate.

Anything else people should keep in mind?

If you plan to leave a charitable gift in your will, make sure you talk to your loved ones about it. The more informed they are about your wishes, the better everything will be executed.

Thinking about your own legacy? If you’d like to talk to someone about making a bequest, you can reach Nathalie at the contact information below, or visit operationeyesight.com/legacygiving