Ways to Give – The Guelph Community Foundation

Community foundations provide a simple, flexible and highly personal approach to giving. We offer a variety of tools to help you achieve your charitable goals and receive maximum tax benefits. We are pleased to work with you or your advisor (lawyer, accountant, life insurance agent or financial planner) to integrate your financial and estate planning with charitable giving that best suits your needs and philanthropic goals.

The Guelph Community Foundation has a number of donation options you can choose from. All donors will receive a tax receipt for their gift. You can contribute to a specific fund or you can direct your gift to the area of greatest need in our community – the choice is yours.

Donating Online

The Guelph Community Foundation accepts online donations through CanadaHelps.org, you may give to any fund by visiting our donation page.

Donate by Interac E-transfer

The Guelph Community Foundation accepts donations by Interac E-transfer from your personal banking institution online platform. Please send to the email [email protected] and include your name, email address and the fund it is to be directed to in the transfer message.

Donate by Mail

If you prefer to donate by cheque, print off and fill out the required donor information to accompany your cheque in the mail.

Gifts of Securities

With a gift of stocks, bonds, mutual funds or employee stock option shares, you will receive a tax receipt for the market value of the securities on the date of transfer to The Foundation. If you are interested in donating securities, give this Securities Transfer Form to your advisor with your broker, to be completed and forwarded to our portfolio manager.

* Minimum donations and administration fees may apply.

Gifts of RRSPs/RRIFs

Portions of many Canadians’ estates are made up of RRSPs or RRIFs. These registered plans deserve special attention when considering a charitable gift. By designating a charity as the beneficiary of a RRSP/RRIF you reduce estate taxes and probate fees. In Ontario, assets transferred to a designated beneficiary will pass outside of the estate and therefore are not included as assets of the estate.

Bequest

A gift by will is the simplest and most common form of a deferred gift and a powerful choice to planned giving. You leave a legacy to your community while enjoying the assets you need to maintain your current lifestyle. Your estate receives a donation receipt that can be used to reduce income tax payable by the estate. If you have already made a provision for a future gift to The Guelph Community Foundation we would be delighted to hear from you. We treat all information in strict confidence and would be happy to discuss your wishes and fund options with you. If you are interested in receiving sample will wording to share with your lawyer, please contact our office.

Gifts of Life Insurance

A gift of life insurance can allow you to make extraordinary gifts at a manageable cost, either through an existing policy or a new one. By naming The Guelph Community Foundation as owner and beneficiary of the policy, you receive a donation receipt for the policy’s cash value and any future premiums you pay.

Gifts of Other Assets

(property, art, closely held corporate securities, gifts-in-kind)
The Foundation will consider gifts of other assets on an individual basis because there are a number of factors to consider with each type of gift. Please contact The Foundation office if you are considering this type of gift.