A planned gift is one of the most meaningful ways to invest in the future of the Maritimes and can be directed toward the issues closest to your heart or trusted to go where the need is greatest.
It's never too early to start philanthropic planning. Major life changes, such as marriage, children, or the loss of loved ones, are natural moments to revisit your plans. The flexibility of a planned gift means you can adjust it as your life evolves.
We're happy to work alongside your legal, financial, or tax advisors to help you find the right approach. Think of us as a partner in your philanthropic journey.
There are many ways to make a planned gift to United Way Maritimes
We’ve provided suggestions below, but they are only intended as general information to help guide your decision-making. Please be sure to seek independent guidance from your own legal or other professional advisors when making charitable gifts of annuities, securities, life insurance, and wills.
Key Information You’ll Need
Legal name: United Way Maritimes
Charitable registration number: 11927-8232-RR0001
Leave a Gift in Your Will
The simplest way to create an everlasting legacy. A bequest in your will costs nothing today and can make an extraordinary difference tomorrow.
- It costs nothing now
- Reduces the tax burden on your estate
- It need not diminish what you leave your loved ones
- Nature of your gift can be changed at any time
- May allow you to make a greater impact than if you gave immediately
Sample wording for your bequest
Residual bequest: "I give to United Way Maritimes, ___% of the residue of my estate. I request that the funds be used for the highest priority need."
Specific bequest: "I give to United Way Maritimes the sum of $___. I request that the funds be used for the highest priority need."
Life Insurance policy
There are three ways to make a gift of life insurance:
Change an existing policy
You can change your beneficiary to United Way Maritimes on an existing policy. While an immediate tax receipt isn't available, your estate will receive a charitable-donation receipt upon your passing. As a result, the income tax payable on your estate’s final tax return can be offset. Your gift will not be subject to probate taxes.
Transfer ownership of an existing policy
If you’d like to receive immediate tax savings, you can transfer ownership to United Way Maritimes. At the same time, make United Way Maritimes the beneficiary. As a result, a portion of your policy's value will be treated as taxable income, but you will receive a charitable-donation receipt to offset taxes. If premiums are still owing, you will receive a receipt for every premium you continue to pay on that policy.
Purchase a new policy
You can purchase a new life insurance policy to support United Way Maritimes. By designating United Way Maritimes as its owner and beneficiary, you will receive an income-tax receipt for your annual premium payments. If you name United Way Maritimes as beneficiary only, you will not receive an income tax receipt for your premium payments, but your estate will receive a tax receipt for the face value of your policy.
RRSPs & RRIFs
You can name United Way Maritimes as the beneficiary of your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF).
To do so, contact the institution holding your investments, request a change of beneficiary form and insert United Way Maritimes as your new beneficiary. When making a legacy gift through your RRSP or RRIF, you will need to include our charitable registration number: 11927-8232-RR0001
Charitable Remainder Trusts
A charitable remainder trust (CRT) is a life income gift that enables you to give today and receive immediate tax savings, while retaining use of an asset.
Essentially, you can transfer an asset such as real estate, investments, or artwork into a trust to be managed by a trustee (which could be a financial institution, a lawyer, yourself, or another individual). Then you name United Way Maritimes as the remainder beneficiary in trust. Meanwhile, you retain an interest in the asset for the rest of your life.
After a prescribed period of time, or upon your death, the asset will be transferred to United Way Maritimes. This allows you to use the property or receive income from it during your lifetime, while receiving a tax receipt you can benefit from today.
Ready to start a conversation? We’re here to help.
Planned giving is deeply personal, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach. We'd love to help you find the path that's right for you.