Legacy giving (also known as planned giving or gift planning) enables people to achieve larger gifts than they thought possible, to make a positive difference. It’s a simple way for you to create an impactful and enduring legacy of compassion and choice.

Benefits of leaving a legacy gift to Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC): 

• Meaningful legacy: Create lasting impact supporting end-of-life choice and care 

• Larger gift potential: Enables a more substantial contribution than possible during lifetime  

• Tax advantages: Your estate receives charitable tax receipts that reduce final tax burden  

• Control during lifetime: You retain access to and control over your assets while living  

• Flexible planning: Gifts can be created at any age or level of wealth and modified if circumstances change  

• Values expression: Demonstrates your enduring commitment to DWDC’s mission  

• Peace of mind: Satisfaction knowing your charitable intentions are secured for the long term 

Have you thought about the impact you will leave behind? Consider an investment in the future of compassionate end-of-life choice and ensure our programs remain available to future generations with a legacy gift to Dying With Dignity Canada in your will. It is an act that is easy, generous, and will have a long-lasting impact. 

For more information on how you can establish your legacy gift to support Dying With Dignity Canada’s future, please contact us. Our team can help you plan a contribution that meets your financial and personal needs.

DWDC accepts three types of legacy gifts:

• Bequests in your will  

• Life insurance  

• Registered investments

Bequest in your will 

Consider the lasting impact you can have on others with the simplest and most common type of legacy gift. With a bequest, you can leave cash, securities, or a percentage of your estate – allowing you to leave a larger gift than possible during your lifetime. Your estate will receive a charitable tax receipt that can lower or potentially eliminate tax and fee implications due upon your death, while you enable DWDC to provide its compassionate services and resources for generations to come.  

How to do it

• You create your will or add a codicil (amending your will by adding/revising a clause) 

• Specify a gift to Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) 

• Specify your bequest options:  

     1. Specific amount (fixed sum)
     2. Percentage of estate
     3. Specific property (i.e. securities, real estate)
     4. Residual bequest (remainder after other bequests) 

• Provide DWDC’s full legal name and charitable registration number: Dying With Dignity Canada 118890086 RR 0001 

• Notify DWDC of your intended bequest 

Benefits to you

• You retain full control and use of your assets during your lifetime  

• Your bequest can be modified or revoked if circumstances change  

• Your estate receives a tax receipt for the full value of the bequest  

• Tax credits may significantly reduce your tax implications upon death 

• You create a lasting legacy that reflects your values  

Benefits to DWDC

• Provides substantial financial support for DWDC’s mission  

• Helps ensure long-term sustainability of DWDC’s advocacy work  

• Allows DWDC to plan for future programs and initiatives  

• Commemorates your commitment to end-of-life choices  

• Influences others to consider similar legacy gifts  

It’s simple, easy to do, and benefits both you and DWDC. Reach out to us today, then talk to your legal and/or financial advisor. 

Download our Sample Will Wording document you can bring to your advisor.

“My circumstances have allowed me to leave a bequest to DWDC because I believe they are doing important work. I hope more people will consider leaving part of their estate to focus on improving quality of dying and protecting end-of-life rights.” 

– Joanne Marie Rolland

Read a story of why Joanna chose to leave DWDC a bequest in her will.

For more information on how you can create your will to support Dying With Dignity Canada’s future, please contact us. Our team can help you plan a contribution that meets your financial and personal needs. 

Life Insurance 

A gift of life insurance creates a significant future impact for a modest current investment, with tax advantages. Charitable giving with life insurance may also create tax benefits to reduce your tax bill during your life or at death. You can purchase a new policy or donate an existing policy that no longer serves your family’s needs, transforming it into a meaningful legacy supporting end-of-life choice. 

How to do it

• You take out a life insurance policy, naming Dying With Dignity Canada as the beneficiary 

• Or donate an existing policy by transferring ownership to DWDC and naming us as the beneficiary 

• Provide DWDC’s full legal name and charitable registration number: Dying With Dignity Canada 118890086 RR 0001 

• Notify DWDC of your planned gift 

• Pay the regular premiums  

• At your end of life, the insurance company pays the death benefit directly to DWDC

Benefits to you

• You create a substantial charitable gift for minimal ongoing cost 

• Your premium payments could receive a charitable tax receipt

• No impact on your current estate or assets during your lifetime 

• Your estate is issued a tax receipt for the full value of the death benefit 

• It provides significant tax advantages to your estate, as the charitable donation tax credit helps offset the deemed disposition of assets that occurs at death 

Benefits to DWDC

• We receive guaranteed, tax-free death benefit 

• We can plan around future funding with confidence 

• This results in a larger gift than would be possible through direct donations 

• The proceeds bypass probate and are not subject to estate administration fees

It’s simple, easy to do and benefits both you and DWDC. Reach out to us today, then talk to your insurance provider. 

 “When I learned about DWDC decades ago and how the team supports people with their end-of-life choices, I sought out a unique way to support the charity: I pay a modest annual premium on a life-insurance policy that will benefit DWDC upon my death. It doesn’t leave me out-of-pocket much now, but will significantly help DWDC’s mission at a later date. I believe in choice and am happy to have a part in it.”

– Dianne Woodruff

Read a story of why Dianne chose to make DWDC the beneficiary of her life insurance policy.   

For more information on how you can direct your life insurance to support Dying With Dignity Canada’s future, please contact us. Our team can help you plan a contribution that meets your financial and personal needs.

Registered Investments 

You can designate Dying With Dignity Canada as the beneficiary of your registered accounts (RRSP, RRIF, TFSA), potentially enabling to you to leave a larger gift at end of life than during your life.

How to do it

• Notify DWDC of your intention to make a planned gift of a registered investment 

• Complete the beneficiary designation form from your financial institution 

• Provide DWDC’s full legal name and charitable registration number: Dying With Dignity Canada 118890086 RR 0001 

• Your registered investments remain fully accessible during your lifetime 

• Upon death, assets transfer directly to DWDC outside of your will 

Benefits to you

• You maintain complete control of your investments during your lifetime 

• You can reduce your probate fees (in some provinces)  

• Your estate receives tax receipt for full value of the registered account 

• Tax credits may offset the income tax typically triggered when registered accounts are deemed collapsed at death 

• It’s simple to arrange and modify if needed 

• Beneficiary designations can be easier for the executor since plan proceeds are paid directly from the financial institution without the involvement of the executor 

• Beneficiary designations may be less likely to be challenged in court 

• Privacy, as beneficiary designations aren’t public records 

Benefits to DWDC

• DWDC receives the full value of your registered investment promptly 

• Funds transfer directly to DWDC without probate delays or costs 

• Provides significant financial support for DWDC’s advocacy work 

• Allows DWDC to plan with greater certainty 

• Results in larger gifts than might otherwise be possible 

• Helps ensure DWDC’s long-term sustainability and impact 

 

It’s simple, easy to do and benefits both you and DWDC. Reach out to us today, then talk to your financial advisor. 

For more information on how you can designate your registered accounts to support Dying With Dignity Canada’s future, please contact us. Our team can help you plan a contribution that meets your financial and personal needs.

What will your legacy be? 

Dying With Dignity Canada supporter Christie Bentham left a gift in her will that had an instrumental impact on our work to protect Canadians’ end-of-life rights. In tribute to her inspiring life and transformational gift, we created the Christie Bentham Legacy Society, a group of thoughtful donors committed to advancing Canadian’s end-of-life choice by making a bequest intention. By making your own bequest intention, you become part of this generous group. 

Consider an investment in the future of compassionate end-of-life choice and ensure our services remain available to future generations with a planned gift to Dying With Dignity Canada. It is an act that is easy, generous, and will have a long-lasting impact. 

For more information on how you can establish your legacy gift to support Dying With Dignity Canada’s future, please contact us. Our team can help you plan a contribution that meets your financial and personal needs.

Further Information 

Our website does not constitute financial or legal advice. We encourage you to seek professional advice.  

• The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada offers information on will preparation by province, finding a lawyer by area, and tips on safety 

• Learn about the tax advantages of charitable giving from Canada Revenue Agency 

There are many ways you can give to support Dying With Dignity Canada. Visit our Ways to Give page here.