Planned Giving

YMCA of Southwestern Ontario Planned Gifts

The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario maintains an endowment fund to support and enhance YMCA programs and facilities. Income from this fund is used, while the capital remains a lasting assurance that the YMCA‘s services and philosophies will continue to touch future generations.

A planned gift to the YMCA allows you to make arrangements today to provide for a charitable donation in the future. A planned gift is an effective way to fulfill your financial and charitable wishes.

By including the YMCA as part of your estate plan you will help ensure that the programs and services of the Y in your community are here to help for many years to come. Each type of gift not only help fulfill your vision but has tax benefits that you may want to consider when planning your gift. 

Gifts in Your Will

Every gift in your Will makes a difference, no matter how large or small. 

Some of the Benefits of a gift in your Will:

  • No immediate cost to you so you don’t have to worry that the gift will reduce what you have to live on
  • You can make a larger gift than you could during your lifetime
  • Gifts made in the Will can reduce or even eliminate final income tax that would otherwise reduce what you leave to your heirs

Give yourself the peace of mind by having your affairs in order. Discuss your options with your family and involve a financial advisor to help you assess all of your assets. Click here to view some sample bequest wording to help get you started. Our correct legal name is the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario.

Gifts of Life Insurance

Life Insurance policies are another great way to support the YMCA because of the minimal investment up front. You may not be able to make a significant gift now, but it is a great way to leverage tax benefits to make a larger gift than you thought possible. 

One of the following situations may make a gift of life insurance suitable for you:

  • Have an existing policy you no longer need? Naming the YMCA as beneficiary offer a variety of tax advantages to a donor while providing a significant future gift to the Foundation.
  • Or why not transfer the ownership to the YMCA? You will get income tax receipts for the remaining premium payments
  • Have a paid up policy? You can donate it and possibly get a larger income tax receipt to use right now
  • Purchase a new policy and make the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario the owner and beneficiary and receive a tax receipt for your premium payments. The income tax refund you get will make the premiums cost much less!

Working with a life insurance broker can help you assess what policy is right for you taking into consideration your age, gender and general health. Each option has different tax consequences and may make sense at different stages of life. 

RRSP and RRIFS

Registered Retirement Savings Plans & Registered Retirement Income Funds

At the time of your death your RRSP and RRIF are considered as income and taxed quite heavily. By designating The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario as a beneficiary of your retirement funds you will receive a charitable tax receipt to offset any taxes owed. The gift would go directly to charity without being taxed or even needing to go through probate.

Questions? Contact Christina Harley by email or call 519-907-5500 ext 1152

Disclaimer:
The above information is not intended as legal or financial planning advice. When considering any estate gift, you should always consult your legal advisor, financial planner or your family members.

Endowments

The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario has several Endowment Funds established where the capital is invested, and never used. Each year a percentage of the interest gained on these Endowments are used towards supporting specific services of the YMCA.

Planned Giving in Chatham-Kent
For those most interested in supporting YMCA activity specifically in the Chatham-Kent area, an alternative to designating a planned gift directly to the Y in support of our Chatham-Kent Y, is to consider making a planned gift to the Chatham-Kent Family YMCA Foundation. The Chatham-Kent Family YMCA Foundation is a separate registered charity governed by a separate Board of Directors, whose mission is to support the Y in Chatham-Kent. The Foundation accepts planned gifts which it holds in its endowment unless instructed to do otherwise. The Foundation then annually allocates a portion of the investment income to the Y for capital, programming and services in Chatham-Kent.
 
In both cases the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario (Chatham-Kent) and the Chatham Kent Family YMCA Foundation are obligated to follow donor direction and are regulated under the CRA. If you would like to discuss which of these options would be best for your circumstances, please contact us. 

If you would like to learn more about our endowments, or about setting up an Endowment please contact us.