“To Mackenzie Health Foundation of 10 Trench St, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 4Z3, I give the sum of $______________  (or I leave ____% of my estate or the estate residue) to be used for the purpose of (Mackenzie Health).”

“To Mackenzie Health Foundation of 10 Trench St, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 4Z3, I give the sum of  $_______________ (or I leave _____% of my estate or the estate residue) to be used specifically for the purpose of the ____________________________________ (Mackenzie Health).”

“To Mackenzie Health Foundation of 10 Trench St, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 4Z3, I give the sum of $______________  (or I leave _____% of my estate or the estate residue) to be used to establish the (your name) Endowment Fund. The principal contributed for this fund may be included with other Mackenzie Health Foundation assets for investment purposes. The annual income created by the endowment fund shall be used specifically for (state purpose, program or hospital site) of (Mackenzie Health).”

The following clause empowers Mackenzie Health Foundation’s Board of Directors to vary the purposes for which the gift is used if circumstances make it impossible or impracticable to carry out the original purposes.  It is recommended that this clause be included wherever a designated use is specified.

“If in the opinion of the Directors of Mackenzie Health Foundation (hereafter the Directors) it should become impossible, inadvisable or impracticable to apply the said gift for the said purpose or if the Directors are of the opinion that part of the gift is not required for such purpose, the Directors shall use the gift or such part thereof in such a manner as, in its discretion, may be to Mackenzie Health Foundation’s best advantage for other purposes consistent with the spirit and intention of the gift.”

Some people think that including a gift to charity is only an option for the very wealthy. The truth is, anyone can, no matter your household income. In fact, nearly 2 million Canadians have already put gifts to charities in their wills or say they will likely do so in the next five to ten years. These are regular, hard-working people who have found great fulfillment in including their favourite charities in their estate plans. You have the potential to leave a gift that will impact the future of health care for generations. 

Leaving a gift in your Will to charity does not require you to give any funds during your lifetime and will not take away from your loved ones. It's just one of many ways you can give. This way of giving, often times, will allow you to give much more than you ever thought possible during your lifetime as your estate includes all of your assets – like real estate or investments, which are often overlooked when you consider how much you have.

A legacy gift is a way for you to leave a lasting footprint of kindness in the world. These gifts provide a source of future funding that will support the causes you care most about. It is also important to consider that a charitable gift can reduce the amount of taxes to be levied against your estate after you pass.

A gift in your Will to Mackenzie Health Foundation will be used in a similar way a cash donation would be put to use today. At the time of your passing, your gift will go towards the greatest priorities of the hospitals, like life-saving equipment and advanced technologies, or it can be further directed toward a specified hospital site and program to ensure we can continue to deliver the ultimate in patient care for our community. Whatever option you chose, know that your legacy will give Mackenzie Health the means to heal and save even more lives, and have a lasting impact for generations to come.

You don't need to choose between taking care of loved ones and supporting a cause close to your heart. With thoughtful planning, you can do both while potentially reducing the tax burden on your estate. 

A popular option is called a 'residual gift'. This means you can take care of your loved ones first, along with any debts, before leaving whatever is remaining to Mackenzie Health Foundation. One way to describe a residual gift is to think of your estate like a pie, with slices going to your loved ones, debts and charities of your choice. If you're not certain about the total size of your estate, this is a safe solution to make sure your estate can meet all your needs. 

If you have an existing Will, and would like to leave a gift to Mackenzie Health Foundation, ask your lawyer to add a codicil (an addition that modifies a part of your Will) that establishes a gift to Mackenzie Health Foundation.

We've provided sample clauses above that you can use.