Charitable Giving

People support charities for a variety of reasons. Some donate to a hospital or health charity which has provided assistance to a close relative or friend. Or perhaps there are strong ties to a particular religious or cultural organization, or to a favourite school or university. Where an individual has made charitable gifts during his or her life, he or she may have a strong desire to incorporate gifts to charity in his or her estate plan. Individuals who have not been inclined to make charitable gifts during their lifetime for a variety of reasons may wish to make charitable gifts on their death. The goal of this summary is to provide you with general information on charitable giving as part of an estate plan, including relevant tax and non-tax considerations.