Legacy Giving

Support Laurier Student Success Now and into the Future

The decision to make a legacy gift is a highly personal one, and one that starts with considerations for your spouse, children and grandchildren. But just as it's significant to pass along a family heirloom like a ring or a watch, there are some less tangible treasures that permit us to become part of a greater legacy.

Through your gift, Laurier can continue to support student success, nurture great ideas and create an innovative learning environment that inspires generations to come. Get in touch to learn more.

Benefits of Making a Bequest or Planned Gift

  • Significant Impact: One of the greatest benefits of making a bequest – a gift through your will – or other planned gift, is that you may be able to provide a greater level of support to Laurier than is possible during your lifetime.
  • Tax Advantages: Legacy giving can offer significant tax advantages to you now or to your heirs after you’re gone.
  • Peace of Mind: You can feel at ease knowing that you’ve prepared for your future, your family’s future, and Laurier’s future success.
  • Cash Flow: It allows you to leave a meaningful gift for the future while retaining current income today for your own needs.
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"My father, David Oille, wanted to give back to the Laurier community that gave so much to my family over the years."

Cathy Baer, daughter of David and Joan Ollie

Read their Story

What You Need to Know

Planned gifts require careful thought and discussion with your family, attorney, accountant, or financial advisor.

If you have made, or plan to make, a gift to Laurier in your will, please let us know by filling out the Confidential Statement of Intent form.

It is important for the university to receive information about your legacy gift to ensure your exact wishes are carried out when the gift is received. Our team is ready to work with you and your advisor in confidence and without obligation to help you explore the best possible method of giving for your circumstance.

Professional Advisors

  1. Sample Will Clauses: Review different types of sample bequest clauses.
  2. The Importance of Gift Agreements: Whenever possible, it is our preference to establish written terms of reference or letters of intent to accompany legacy gifts. These signed agreements ensure that all parties have clear directions as to how the gift will be used. Please contact the Manager of Planned Giving for assistance.
  3. Review of Will Clause: It is often beneficial for the charity to review a will clause when it is being drafted to ensure that the gift can be carried out as the donor wishes. This can be done anonymously if the client prefers.

Contact Us

Cec Joyal

Cec Joyal
Development Officer,
Individual and Legacy Giving

Cell: 519.498.4168
Office:548.889.4864
cjoyal@wlu.ca

University Information

Address:
Wilfrid Laurier University
75 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario  N2L 3C5

Charitable number:
10820 8786 RR0002

Gift box

“Unrestricted” gifts support the university’s highest priority needs at the time they are received. These gifts enable us to be flexible and responsive in stewarding your gift.

Consider an unrestricted gift designation to provide a stable foundation for Laurier into the future.

The William Ross Macdonald Legacy Council

The William Ross Macdonald Legacy Council recognizes and honors thoughtful individuals who have indicated their intent to support Laurier with a deferred gift such as a bequest in their will or a gift of life insurance. 

Council members receive these gestures of appreciation: 

  • updates on achievements and activities through annual communications  
  • an opportunity to meet with other leading supporters at an annual event hosted by the President 
  • the satisfaction of helping to ensure the continued excellence of the university. 

We greatly appreciate their vision in making a long-term commitment to Laurier’s continued success. 

No gift is a small gift. Each gift makes a difference.  

If you are planning to make a deferred gift to Wilfrid Laurier University, and would like to become a member of the William Ross Macdonald Legacy Council, or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact Cec Joyal at cjoyal@wlu.ca. She would be pleased to help you.

Legacy Gift Options

Note: The information on this page is of a general nature only and is not intended as legal or tax advice. You are encouraged to consult with your legal and/or financial advisors before making gifts to Wilfrid Laurier University.

A Gift in Your Will (Bequest)

One of the simplest, most effective, and most flexible ways of making a substantial gift to Wilfrid Laurier University is to leave a bequest in your will. 

Through a bequest you may be able to make a much larger donation than you could have afforded in your lifetime. And you are not limited to gifts of cash – you can also leave stocks, bonds, real estate, or other assets.

In return, your estate will receive a tax receipt for the full value of your bequest, saving tax dollars. Careful planning can maximize the benefits for your estate and beneficiaries.

Your will is highly personal. While we understand and respect that you may not be comfortable sharing the details of your bequest, we encourage you or your advisors to contact us to make sure your gift is designated in the way you intend so that we can make sure your wishes are carried out when the gift is received.

Will bequests can be arranged in a variety of ways. Seek advice from your lawyer and financial advisor to ensure that your gift meets your goals and provides the maximum benefit to your beneficiaries and the university.

Preparing Your Will

A good will...

  1. Has kept up with life changes: It adheres to the most recent tax laws and reflects your current circumstances (e.g. children moving out or financial changes). An up-to-date will gives you peace of mind knowing your wishes will be carried out and responsibilities met.
  2. Seeks to do good: It addresses the needs of your spouse and others you are responsible for. Further, it does good by supporting organizations that reflect your values and concerns. We at Wilfrid Laurier University hope that includes us.
  3. Conforms to the legal requirements where you live: It is prepared and signed correctly, and fully expresses your desires regarding your estate and cares like as guardianship, trusts, final declarations, etc. When tucked away for safekeeping, you want confidence it was done well.

A Gift of Life Insurance

Life insurance is an economical way to give a larger and more lasting gift to Laurier than you might otherwise be able to make. And you don’t have to draw on your assets now or deplete your estate. A gift of life insurance allows those of even modest means to make a sizable gift with only a small annual or monthly payment. Life insurance gifts can be structured to suit any financial situation.

There are three ways to give the gift of life insurance.

1. Donate an Existing Policy You No Longer Need

The policy can be assigned to Laurier and the cash value in the policy is tax deductible. All premiums that you continue to pay would also be eligible for tax receipts.

2. Name Laurier as a Beneficiary of Your Policy

You can maintain ownership of a life insurance policy and name Laurier as beneficiary. Your estate will receive a tax receipt upon death for the insurance proceeds.

3. Purchase a New Policy Naming Laurier Owner and Beneficiary

The annual premium paid by you is tax deductible and tax credits are available for donations up to 75 per cent of your income.

Benefits

  • Make a substantial and meaningful future contribution with tax deductible, modest premium payments.
  • Regular assets in your estate are retained for your family since your donation to Laurier is made out of the insurance payment.
  • Immediately become a major Laurier benefactor, receive appropriate recognition, and extend support beyond your lifetime to areas of personal interest.
  • Gift will not be reduced by taxes, legal fees, probate, or administrative costs, and the gift cannot be contested.
  • No delay in payment, as insurance proceeds pass to the university outside the estate.
  • Receive tax credits for your annual premium payments when the university is made owner and beneficiary of your policy.

A Gift of Publicly Traded Securities

Gifts of securities (gifts of stock, bonds, and mutual funds) are a popular choice for donors. They are an easy way for you to support what matters most to you and be involved in Laurier’s exciting initiatives. And you or your estate can benefit from substantial tax savings.

Tax Benefits

Laurier follows CRA legislation and guidance on gifts of shares. Under current legislation, charitable gifts of publicly traded securities are exempt from capital gains tax. Whether you give a gift of securities now or through a gift in your will, you won’t pay any tax on the gains.

Valuation of the gift of shares will be determined at the time of transfer of ownership. Laurier will send you a tax receipt for this amount. If you wish to donate stock held in a private company, please contact us to discuss valuation and acceptance.

Due to the tax advantages, there can be up to 40% less cost to you as the donor when donating shares vs cash. Please speak with your financial advisor.

Transferring Your Shares

  1. Write a letter to your broker directing the transfer of a specific quantity of shares, mutual fund shares, etc. to Laurier.
  2. Please forward a copy to us as well. If you wish, in this letter you can designate how you wish to support the university.
  3. Your broker will then electronically transfer the shares to:
    1. Account Name: Wilfrid Laurier University
    2. Brokerage Account Number: 561-27099-1-4

Designation Options

You may designate your gift to an area that is important to you, such as scholarships, capital projects, programs or athletics. If this is for a new designation, please contact us to discuss how you wish to designate the funds.

Alternatively, you may decide against putting restrictions on your gift, allowing the university to apply the funds to its highest priority needs.

Contact Us

It is important that the university be aware of this transaction. Contact us at: 519.884.0710 x3866 or give@wlu.ca.

Brokerage Contact:
Diane Looman, Administrative Assistant to Chris Kitchen
Kitchen Wealth Management, RBC Wealth Management, RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
T: 519.747.4252 | Toll free: 1.800.265.8720
F: 519.747.1808
95 King St. South, 3rd Floor, Waterloo, ON N2J 5A2
www.chriskitchen.ca

Endowments: An Investment in the Future

Endowments are powerful ways to invest in Laurier’s future because they provide a permanent source of funding for educational programs, research initiatives, scholarships and more.

Funding

When you make an endowed gift, the capital is invested within a Laurier endowment fund. This protected amount earns interest annually, which is used to:

  1. Protect the fund from inflation.
  2. Create a stabilization account from which to draw in years of poor returns.
  3. Fund the initiative you are supporting through a spending allocation.

Laurier’s Board of Governors reviews and approves how much can be spent annually depending on fund returns. Laurier’s investment and spending strategies ensure your fund will continue to have the same impact in perpetuity – endowments are forever.

Laurier offers donors a choice of two investment options: a general endowment fund and a fossil-fuel free endowment fund.

Directing Your Support

The best endowment has minimal restrictions to ensure it can be spent by the university in perpetuity. Perhaps you would like to support a faculty of special interest to you, establish a research chair, support the library or provide financial aid to students.

Whatever area you choose to support, you can be sure that you are leaving a legacy that will benefit Laurier for years to come.

Benefits

  • An endowment lasts forever. You may choose to name your endowment to provide lasting recognition of a person or event that is special to you.
  • An endowment is powerful. Because the value of your gift is protected in perpetuity, it has a much greater impact over time than if it were spent all at once.
  • An endowment may provide you with tax benefits, because it is considered a charitable donation. We will be pleased to work with you and your advisors to help you find the gift option that best reflects your goals.

Other Types of Legacy Gifts

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Support Student Awards at Laurier

Bursaries, awards and scholarships provide much needed support for our students, recognize their efforts and commitment to their studies, and encourage them to work even harder. Let’s give all Laurier students the best university experience they can have.

Learn more about setting up a student award.

Students in seats in lecture hall

Frequently Asked Questions

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Legacy giving builds a foundation for the future.

To discuss making a legacy gift, please contact us.