How We Can Help You
The various types of gifts and benefits explained in this guide are meant to give you a brief overview of how you can help the hospital today with a gift in the future.

Getting started is sometimes the hardest. Don't worry, just pick up the phone, e-mail, write or drop in and we will be pleased to answer your questions with no pressure and no obligation and we respect your privacy and confidentiality.

As with all gifts to help our hospital, your gift can be given to where the need is greatest or to the site or program of your choice.

Planned Giving could:

• Help you to reduce your federal income taxes.
• Allow for immediate or deferred tax credits.
• Provide you with options that are best for your financial plans and circumstances as well as help you plan for retirement.
• Provide a long-term steady stream of income for you or a family member.
• Enable you to tailor your gift to your long-term estate plans.
• Allow you to take advantage of time as well as favourable taxation allowances to maximize your benefits and your gift.
• Help you avoid capital gains taxes and avoid Ontario probate fees.
• Provide a legacy of funding for your community hospital.

What is Planned Giving?
Giving by Will: Where there's a will there's a way!

What's in it for you? Plenty!
A majority of charitable planned gifts are made in the form of a gift in your will. A bequest to Bluewater Health Foundation in your will can be in the form of a donation of cash, property, securities, art or other assets. Whatever your choice, you can have peace of mind knowing that the wishes of your gift will be given to us after your death and will not affect your estate during your lifetime.

When you make a bequest, your estate is entitled to a charitable tax receipt for the full value of the gift (100 per cent) in the year of your death, thereby reducing taxes owing on your estate. It is also more beneficial to your estate to give a gift of securities to avoid capital gain tax in your estate.

Giving Securities
Perhaps it is time for you to benefit from a security/stock that you have been carrying.

In 2006 Revenue Canada gave Canadians a new incentive to give generously to charitable causes with the elimination of capital gains tax on gifts of publicly traded securities such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds. If these securities have increased in value and you cash them, 50% of the capital gain is taxable. However, if you donate the security instead of the cash to Bluewater Health Foundation you will not pay any tax on the capital gain and you will receive a tax receipt for the value of the security on the day it is donated.

Giving Life Insurance
A valuable commitment for the future of the community.

A gift of life insurance makes it easier for you to make a major contribution through a series of regular policy premium payments.

Your premium payments are tax deductible.
A gift of life insurance is separate from your estate and not included in the process of probate.
Your donation of a paid-up policy gives you a charitable tax receipt for the cash value of the policy.
You can tailor a life insurance policy gift to fit your cash flow.
Your gift of life insurance enables you to make a much larger gift than often imagined.

Establishing Charitable Gift Annuities
Providing tax-free income for life and what many call a good "senior-tailored" way of giving.

A charitable gift annuity is an ideal way for you to receive guaranteed payments for life, and to maximize your personal tax advantages.
A gift annuity will also provide a means of worry-free investment
The income is guaranteed through a life insurance company.
This is a popular method of gift planning for donors over the age of 60.
A joint annuity can be set up to cover both you and your spouse.

Giving Real Estate
There's no place like home and it doesn't have to be a castle to qualify.

Gifts of real estate can be made either through your will or while you are living.

Bluewater Health Foundation will provide a charitable gift receipt based on the professionally assessed fair market value of the property.

Examples of Real Estate or Real Property Gifts include:

• A personal residence
• A farm
• A cottage or vacation home
• A commercial building or income property
• An undeveloped parcel of land

Giving Residual Interest

Donating the apple tree and still getting to eat all the apples.

A residual interest gift refers to an arrangement under which an asset is deeded directly to Bluewater Health Foundation, but the donor continues to retain use of the asset for life or a term of years. For example, you might give a residual interest in a home and continue to live there or donate a residual interest in a painting and retain possession of it. Depending on your wishes, upon death, the Foundation may retain the gift or sell it and use the proceeds to benefit the hospital.

As a donor, you will receive benefits similar to the charitable remainder trust such as:

• Relief from Capital Gains Tax
• Relief from Probate Fees
• Relief from ongoing and future legal fees
• Be recognized for the gift before your death

Creating a Charitable Remainder Trust
Making the future a better place today.

A Charitable Remainder Trust is a legal arrangement that allows you to give assets through a trustee (Trust Co.) to Bluewater Health Foundation now and continue to benefit from them throughout your lifetime. These irrevocable gifts are advantageous to those who are interested in making a gift but want to continue to receive an income from their capital, and want a sizable tax receipt that they can use now to offset current tax liabilities.

Benefits can include:

• Guaranteed income for life
• A tax receipt now
• Bypass the costs of executor fees, legal fees and probate costs
• Relief from all or almost all capital gains tax

Charitable Gift Planning
Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is a mystery,
Today is a gift,
That's why we call it The Present.

For additional information, or to begin the planning process, please contact:
Kathy Alexander, Executive Director
Phone: (519) 464-4438
Fax: (519) 346-4705
Email: kalexander@bluewaterhealth.ca

Thank you for considering a gift that will leave a lasting legacy to Bluewater Health and your community.