29 Dream big: Choosing a charity to partner with This is the fun part, dreaming about the kind of impact you’d like to make. Maybe you’re passionate about the envi- ronment, or believe in the power of music to create social change. If you’re unsure which charity to include in your Will, we get it. There are a lot of options and that can be overwhelming, which is why most of us struggle to make donations in the first place. Simplifying options is helpful, which is why we’ve helped you find charities by cause and see how they would use a gift in your Will. You can also review this copy of the Canadian Donor’s Guide which has many charities listed alpha- betically and indexed by category and geographical location. Here are some questions to help you get started: • What are the most important causes to me? • What kind of change would I like to see happen? • Which charities tackle the causes I believe in? Start with the charities you’re already involved in, or have helped you or your family in the past.. Remember that noth- ing is set in stone, you can (and proba- bly will) update your Will several times in your life, so you can re-evaluate your charities then. And if you’re thinking, “I want to see the effect of my donation in my lifetime”, you’ll be happy to know that many charities invite legacy donors into the fold to learn more about the cause and what their donation will do. So speak to your chosen charities, let them know about your intentions, you won’t be held to any commitment but you just might be wowed by your possible impact. How to write a Will in Canada (and make the most of it) When’s the right time to write a Will? Ideally, yesterday. But today works, too. We hear a lot of people say “I don’t want to think about death,” and to that we say: this is about life! Writing a Will is about who you are, the life you want to lead, and how you want to be remembered. We know it can feel intense, but think of writing a Will like getting an oil change or cleaning the gutters …it’s just one of those life maintenance tasks us adults have to do. Hopefully you’ve realized the time is now, so let’s show you how to write a Will and get the most out of it. 1. Think about the most important people in your life. Who do you want to inherit the bulk of your property or assets? It can be family or friends or even an organization. Make sure you have the legal names of all your beneficiaries. Note: if you have minor children or pets you’ll need choose someone who can care for them in your absence. You’ll also need to choose an executor to carry out your Will. 2. Think about your legacy and the impact you want to make. What are you passionate about? What causes and organizations speak to you? We suggest you narrow down to no more than three. You can use our charity finder to grab all the details you’ll need to include them in your Will and/or reference this copy of the Canadian Donor’s Guide. 3. Take stock of what you have. You don’t need to know the numbers down to the detail, but you should have a handle on your assets (real estate, savings, a business or valu- ables) and debts (mortgages, student loans, lines of credit, etc.). Note: Once you have a handle on the size of your estate, you can start figur- ing out what percentage should go to each of your beneficiaries, including your chosen charities. 4. Think about who is going to draft your documents? There are many choices when it comes to Will writ- ing these days. But if you’d like advice on how to divide your estate - especially if you have a complicated family or financial situation - and save on taxes, you’ll definitely want to work with a lawyer or notary if you live in Quebec or BC. Otherwise you might explore a reputable online Will platform. Note: if you are going to write a Will with family and charity in mind, it’s important to work with a profession- al who’s in the know. We have a list of lawyers and notaries at willpower. ca who are experts in estate and charity planning. There you go, that’s not that bad. Only 4 steps and you’re done! Don’t forget to pull out your Will every couple of years to see if there are any updates that need to be made. The power of your legacy is in your Will At the end of the day, it’s not all about money – it’s about making a difference. While we work hard to do meaningful things with our lives, it’s pretty amazing to consider how that work can continue after we’ve taken that final bow. The show goes on when you include a chari- ty in your Will. Think of it as your way of saying, “I believe in a future where everyone has a shot, where our planet is cherished, and where kindness triumphs.” You get to be part of something bigger—something that helps shape a better world for gen- erations to come. Who doesn’t want that? If you want to learn more about the power of your Will, join us for a free webinar hosted by Laurie Fox, Will Power campaign director, and Keith Thomson, financial advisor, educator and consultant specializing in estate and charitable tax planning. You can watch on-demand or join us for a live session at willpower.ca/webinar. Will Power is a national public education campaign designed to inspire Canadians to think differently about charitable giving and empower them to create positive change through their Wills. Will Power is spear- headed by the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) and the CAGP Foundation, collaborating with charities and advisors from across Canada to raise the level of charitable gifts through Wills and generate $58-billion for important causes in this country.
