Leaving a gift in your will is the most common method of making a future gift. You may choose to give a fixed sum of money, or a percentage or residual amount of your estate after other needs are taken care of.

You may make changes to your will at any time during your life. You retain control and can easily make revisions should your circumstances change.

A gift of life insurance is an easy way to make a big impact. Making this type of gift is as simple as naming The Food Bank of Waterloo Region as a beneficiary of your existing policy. Your estate will receive a charitable tax receipt for the full value of your gift.

Donating publicly traded securities (stocks, bonds or mutual funds) through a will is a beneficial strategy for receiving tax benefits. Simply choose which securities to gift, or give your executor authority to satisfy a bequest with a direct gift of securities. Your estate receives a tax receipt for the appreciated value of the gift—and the 50 per cent tax on capital gains is waived.

“I give, devise and bequeath to The Food Bank of Waterloo Region ____ (percentage of estate or dollar amount) to be used for any purpose approved by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region’s Board of Directors.”

“I give, devise and bequeath to The Food Bank of Waterloo Region ____ (percentage of estate or dollar amount). I direct this money to be used for the acquisition and distribution of food at the time my bequest is realized. If The Food Bank of Waterloo Region is unable to apply all or part of these funds for the specific purpose(s) stated herein, the balance of this bequest not so extended may be used for any purpose approved by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region’s Board of Directors.”

“I give The Food Bank of Waterloo Region ____ (percentage of estate or amount). I direct this money to be invested and the income generated will be used for any purpose approved by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region’s Board of Directors.”