Keep this handy reference guide with your important financial documents.

Cash and Outright Gifts

An outright gift of cash and/or property to ShareLife or another of the Archdiocesan registered charities entitles the donor to a charitable tax receipt.

Bequests

A Bequest in a Will to ShareLife or another Archdiocesan charity is a deferred gift and is an acknowledgment of your returning to God a portion of the gifts He has bestowed on you during your lifetime. Bequests will have a significant favorable impact on your final tax return. You can also bequest in your Will that the Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit be left to the Church.

Endowment

An Endowment is a gift that lasts. The original capital of the gift is preserved in perpetuity while the income of the capital is used for selected Archdiocesan charities. The Endowment Fund can consist of cash, securities, paid-up life insurance policies as well as personal and real property. Contributions to an Endowment Fund can have significant income tax advantages. Donors contributing an Endowment of $10,000 or more can have their name attached to the Fund.  Click here for more information.

Life Insurance

Contributions of Life Insurance policies can be made to ShareLife or another Archdiocesan charity as a gift. This option often makes the gift affordable, will not diminish your estate after death, proceeds are paid promptly to the Church and are not reduced by taxes and probate fees. When you make the Archdiocese both the owner and beneficiary of a new or existing policy, the insurance premiums are tax deductible.

The cash surrender value of an existing policy can also be given to your favourite Archdiocesan charity.

Charitable Gift Annuity

A Charitable Gift Annuity is an arrangement under which a donor gives a certain sum to an Archdiocesan charity in return for fixed, guaranteed payments for the life of a donor and/or another person or alternatively for a term of years. Payments may be fully or partially tax-free and may also generate a charitable tax receipt.

Gifts of Listed Securities

Gifts of listed securities to an Archdiocesan charity benefit the donor in two ways. The donors receives an income tax receipt for the value of the donated listed security and capital gains on the difference between the cost of the security and its donation value is exempted.

Listed securities include shares of a publicly traded company, bonds, mutual funds, bills, warrants and futures.

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Gifts of Retirement Plan Accumulations

Gifts of Registered Retirement Plans (" RRSPs, RRIFs") can be made to ShareLife or another Archdiocesan charity upon death and assuming the entire contribution can be used, the tax credit would offset the tax payable on the proceeds. Changes were made in this year's Federal Budget that qualifies donations by direct beneficiary designation for the charitable tax credit. This change is retroactive to individuals who die after 1998.

Gifts of Real Estate

Gifts of Real Estate may be made in various ways: outright, residual interest in the property or to fund a charitable remainder trust. Significant tax advantages may be available to donors of Real Estate.

For additional information on Planned Giving, please visit the Archdiocese of Toronto's Office of Stewardship Development web site at www.stewardshiptoronto.org.

You may also call Paul Nazareth, Manager, Planned Giving and Major Gifts, at (416) 934 3400, extension 561 ... pnazareth@archtoronto.org .

We also maintain a list of Catholic lawyers who are available to assist in your Estate Planning and the making of a Will.