Planned Giving

A planned gift is a very special, carefully planned donation. It is a commitment that is made to Reena now, but may not be realized until well into the future. The significant advantage of a planned or future gift is that it often gives the donor the opportunity to make a larger, more lasting gift than might otherwise be possible if the donation was being made out of current available cash. With a future gift, you give the gift now, but the REENA Foundation doesn't receive it until sometime in the future - normally after you die. For example, a pensioner may not be able to afford a large gift today, but may be able to make a substantial gift through his/her will.

A planned gift is a tax-effective donation that balances your financial needs, family commitments and charitable goals. From a personal perspective, a planned gift is a tangible expression of the values you have embraced throughout your life. A well-considered gift stands as a symbol of who you are and what you believe in.

Legacies & Bequests are donations you make through your Will and that are distributed from your estate. They are the most common type of planned gift. A bequest may be a specific piece of property, a specific amount of money, or a percentage of your estate. The tax receipt for the donation can be used by your estate to affect taxes on up to 100% of income on your two final tax returns.

Let us know if you plan to leave a gift to Reena Foundation in your will. Bequests help us to plan our future, but we would like to reassure you that we can carry out your wishes and create a legacy for you. For example, you may want to create an endowment fund from the bequest. The endowment fund can be maintained by members of your family for generations to come as a lasting legacy of your feelings for Reena. Please let us know if you would like a sample will clause to give to your lawyer, or a more detailed brochure outlining the various options you might consider in leaving a gift to Reena.

Life insurance policies let you donate a substantial amount in the future by making a series of modest payments now. If you have made Reena the owner of an insurance policy the premium payments that you make annually towards the policy are receiptable for tax purposes. You can also gift an existing, paid up insurance policy and receive a receipt for the amount of any cash value.  Alternativly you can name the Reena Foundation the beneficiary of the policy while retaining ownership of it, and Reena Foundation will issue a receipt for the amount of the insurance proceeds.  Similarly, you may name Reena Foundation as the beneficiary of your RRSP or RRIF. There are a number of ways to donate and plan your gift using life insurance so please call the Foundation to discuss your various options.

A charitable remainder trust is an alternative to a bequest. It allows you to receive an immediate tax receipt for a gift Reena Foundation will receive in the future and allows you to retain the income the gift earns. A trust can be funded with a variety of assets, including cash, stocks, bonds and other securities, such as mutual funds. The Foundation issues a tax receipt for the present value of the donation.

A gift of residual interest in property allows, you continue to use the property placed in trust. This means you can donate your cottage or condominium or home, receive a tax receipt for the present value, and continue to use it for the rest of your life. Upon death, the property is transferred to the Foundation.

Please talk to us about membership in the Alex Eisen Society. It is offered to donors who have included the Reena Foundation in their will or have made a future or life income gift.

The names of Alex Eisen Society members are published in our annual report and members are invited to an annual luncheon held in their honour.