The journey to becoming a philanthropist is an extraordinary experience, to say the least. It’s one that involves understanding the causes that you and your family wish to support, and the portion of your wealth that you plan to donate to fulfill your charitable giving goals—making the world a better place in the process. Perhaps most importantly, it’s about working to define your family’s collective values and how they may shape your philanthropy. Our recent blog on determining what type of charitable gift is best touched on this topic, but it’s one that’s worth exploring in far greater ..read more

As our Canada Gives Foundation families get set to celebrate the holidays, they’re mixing present wrapping with charitable gift planning. That often means bringing their loved ones into the philanthropic fold, involving the next generation in their generosity as they work to select the charity(ies) they’ll be supporting through their Canada Gives Foundation account in the coming year. Every year our Client Services team is asked the same question: Which type of charitable gift is best? Because they’re dedicated to making a difference to the causes they support and across their communities, ou ..read more

Sometimes the federal government makes news by introducing sweeping new policies. At others it does so by saying little—or nothing—on a specific topic. This week’s 2023 Fall Economic Statement accomplished the latter by disregarding the charitable sector’s calls to roll back some proposed amendments to Canada’s Alternative Minimum Tax. In an earlier blog  we outlined how Ottawa is planning to bolster the existing Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) regime to limit tax credits, exemptions and deductions that are perceived to be helping higher income individuals minimize their tax burden. But in ..read more

The federal government makes frequent tax changes that are intended to deliver specific policy outcomes. In some cases, these have been designed to increase the flow of donations to registered charities across the country. In 2006, for example, Ottawa eliminated the capital gains tax on publicly traded securities donated to a charity, while providing a donation tax credit for the value of those securities. But as tax and personal finance columnist Tim Cestnick noted in a recent Globe and Mail column , Ottawa is again changing donation-related tax rules—with the potential for a significant neg ..read more

When they set out on a path to becoming engaged philanthropists, most of our Foundation account holders are entirely new to the process. They want to give back, to make a difference and, potentially, also involve their family in that life-changing experience. They’re simply not sure how to give well and make the best use of a Foundation. That’s why they make the decision to work with Canada Gives. Our Foundation accounts make charitable giving simple, effective and efficient. The administrative support we deliver allows them to focus on their philanthropy while we handle the rest. But more th ..read more

Advisors are often asked an important financial planning question by clients when it comes to portfolio longevity: How long will my wealth last into retirement? Do I have enough to live the lifestyle I want well into my golden years? Will my money run out before I pass away, and if not, will I have a nest egg to leave behind for my loved ones? The same kinds of longevity-focused questions are raised when it comes to a family foundation at Canada Gives. We’re often asked to estimate how long our donor clients’ Foundation accounts (also known as a donor advised fund) will last based on a number ..read more

The 2022 federal budget contained a proposed change that immediately caught the attention of Canada’s charitable sector—a long-discussed increase to the minimum annual disbursement quota (DQ) for charities. As we noted in a previous blog, the DQ is “the minimum calculated amount that a registered charity is required to spend each year on its own charitable programs or on gifts to qualified donees.” It is currently set at 3.5 per cent of a registered charity’s property not used directly in charitable activities or administration. Recent draft legislation tabled by the Department of Financ ..read more

The crisis in Ukraine prompted Canada Gives Foundation families to step up and take action to help those affected by the war. Their desire to make a difference gained momentum almost from the minute that headlines began detailing heavy shelling and troop movements across the country. As committed philanthropists with charitable assets already available in their Foundation accounts (Donor Advised Funds), they were able to respond with grant funding to  Canadian registered charities working in Ukraine. In response to requests for more information on which charities were most effective duri ..read more

It takes a community to create lasting change. At Canada Gives, we’re honoured to spend our days working with a group of dedicated and generous philanthropists and their families, who are on a constant search for new ways to make a difference. This past year they did exactly that, and more. They not only supported a full range of causes across the not-for-profit spectrum, but continued to leverage the benefits of the flexible Donor Advised Fund structure and the support of the Canada Gives Client Services team—and all in the midst of a global pandemic, no less. The Canada Gives Annual Impact ..read more

Part of the experience (and joy) of philanthropy is the journey of discovery. It’s about considering your (and often your family’s) core values, then determining how and where to give back. For Sabih Uddin, a retired pharmacist who built his career in the Greater Toronto Area, that process involved several years of reflection and research as he considered the many charitable giving opportunities at his disposal. It eventually culminated in the launch of the Hope Charitable Foundation, his platform to create a meaningful philanthropic legacy. As a long-time Rotary Club member, Uddin—who emigra ..read more