Ways to Give
Here are the most common ways to make a gift to support Laurier. Your support provides students with inspiration and fuel to make a positive difference in their community and develop the skills to live lives of leadership and purpose well beyond graduation.
It’s easy to make a donation to Laurier online. Direct your gift to an area of your choosing – there is so much to choose from! To make a donation online, use our secure and easy-to-use giving form.
Laurier accepts payment by Credit Card or PayPal through our online form.
Cheques can be made out to Wilfrid Laurier University and mailed to the address below:
Wilfrid Laurier University
Alumni Hall
Development & Alumni Relations
75 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
N2L 3C5
To speak to someone to make your gift using a credit card, call us at 519.884.0710 x2752.
You also may hear from our student callers on occasion, so when you see Laurier on your call display, please pick up and enjoy your conversation with one of our keen students.
To sign up for pre-approved credit, please contact 519.884.0710 x2752 or email annualgiving@wlu.ca.
You will need to provide Laurier with a void cheque from your financial institution, which includes the account number, transit number and bank information.
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 can benefit from substantial tax savings.
To begin the process of making a gift of securities, please download and complete the Donation of Securities form and follow the contact instructions at the bottom of the form.
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. The actual cost to you for the donation could be only 40% of the value donated depending on the type and manner of securities gift – speak with your financial advisor to ensure your gift is set up in the most beneficial manner.
The receipt amount will be determined by the closing value of the shares on the day the university receives them. 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 or other non-standard share, please contact us to discussion valuation and acceptance at: 519-884-0710 x3866 or give@wlu.ca.
While Laurier does not accept cyrptocurrency directly, you can give digital currency through CanadaHelps: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/cryptocurrency/donate/.
You can enter 'Wilfrid Laurier University' in the 'Charities and Allocations' section.
Donors are welcome to make a “Gift in Kind” donation of property or a tangible item to Laurier. This can include property such as real estate, works of art, book collections, equipment, furnishings, software and licensing.
For more information, please contact us at 519.884.0710 x3866.
Payroll deduction is a convenient way for Laurier employees to contribute on a regular basis to almost any area of the university. Simply complete the payroll deduction form for funds to be automatically deducted from your pay cheque.
For more information, please connect with Sabrina York at 519.884.0710 x3818 or email syorke@wlu.ca.
Matching gifts from companies that match employee donations are an easy way for you to increase the financial impact of your contribution – all at no extra cost to you!
To see if your company is a matching gift company, search for the company name on our giving form and follow the procedure listed.
Employer matching forms can be sent to:
Wilfrid Laurier University
Alumni Hall – Annual Giving
Development & Alumni Relations
75 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
N2L 3C5
If you wish to honour someone who has passed away or for a special occasion or life event, please reach out to Ryan Brejak at 519.884.0710 x2752 or by emailing annualgiving@wlu.ca.
You can support your area of choice at Laurier by making a gift through your estate: in your will or with life insurance. These options mean you don't have to deplete your estate or draw on assets now, but potentially make a sizable gift through your legacy.
Learn more about Legacy Giving.
Gifts from the United States
Laurier alumni are able to give directly to Laurier and use the Canadian tax receipt against their US taxes. US donors that are not alumni (or are giving through a US-based vehicle such as a donor-advised fund, foundation, or company) can give to Laurier through Friends of Wilfrid Laurier University (EIN: 52-1325040). Send your cheque, made out to Friends of Wilfrid Laurier University, to the following address:
Friends of Wilfrid Laurier University
c/o Wilfrid Laurier University
Alumni Hall, Gift Processing
75 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
N2L 3C5
If you wish to give through other methods to Friends, please contact give@wlu.ca
Our team is here to help guide your philanthropy at Laurier. If you wish to meet with a team member to discuss areas to give, please reach out to annualgiving@wlu.ca.
Designation Options
You may designate your gift to an area that is important to you, such as scholarships, capital projects, programs or athletics. Alternatively, you may decide against putting restrictions on your gift, allowing the university to apply the funds to its highest priority needs.
ENDOWED GIFTS
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.
When you make an endowed gift, the capital is invested within a Laurier endowment fund. This protected amount earns interest annually. The interest is used to (1) protect the fund from inflation, (2) create a stabilization account from which to draw in years of poor returns, and (3) to fund the initiative you are supporting through a spending allocation. Laurier’s Board 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.
Currently, Laurier offers donors a choice of two endowment investment options: a general endowment fund and a fossil-fuel free endowment fund. To learn more about these options, contact: 519-884-0710 x3866 or give@wlu.ca.
The best endowment has minimal restrictions to ensure it can be spent by the university in perpetuity. However, your endowed gift can be directed to any of a number of areas. 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.
Establishing an endowment is a great option for donors who wish to make large, transformative gifts to Laurier that will not only have a direct and immediate impact but will also contribute to supporting the university in perpetuity.
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.