1. Speak to your lawyer about drafting or revising your will by adding a codicil, an essential step to protect your family’s future and to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes.

2. Add the appropriate bequest wording in your will, which our team can help tailor to your specific area of interest. (For sample wording, see “How should I word my bequest?” below).

3. Let us know about your bequest so we can show our appreciation and ensure your intentions are properly understood and honored.

We encourage you to first consider an unrestricted donation, which gives us the flexibility to utilize funds in the areas of greatest need – and greatest promise. However, if you do decide to designate your gift to a specific area, let us know so we can help with the wording and ensure that your gift goes where you want it to.

Specific wording depends on the type of gift and its designation, but here are some examples:
Residual Bequest
“My estate trustees shall pay ______ (all or %) of the residue of my estate to the Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, Winnipeg, Manitoba, for the purpose of supporting its highest priority needs.
Legacy Bequest
“My estate trustees shall pay the sum of $_______ (or transfer assets with an equal value) to
the Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, Winnipeg, Manitoba, for the purpose of supporting its highest priority needs.” If you would like your gift to be designated for a specific purpose (e.g. capital campaign), contact us so we can help with the wording to ensure that your gift goes where you want it to.

There are many ways to include a charity in your will, but these are the two most common:
Residual Bequest:
Commonly designated as all or a percentage of the estate's residue, a residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after all debts, bills, and taxes have been paid and all specific and
general gifts have been distributed.
Legacy Bequest (also known as specific bequest):
A legacy bequest is a gift of a specific dollar amount or asset, such as a house, car, stocks, or securities.

Other than a gift in your will, you can help the Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario by:
– Designating the Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario as the beneficiary and/or owner of a new or existing life insurance policy
– Naming the Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario as the beneficiary of your pension plan, RRSP, RRIF, or TFSA
– Setting up a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust
– Making a gift of property, such as real estate, jewelry, or art.

No. Gifts come in all shapes and sizes, and we are grateful for every dollar. Even 1% of your estate can make a huge difference for our organization.

Yes. You will receive a tax receipt for one-time donations of $20 or more. Tax receipts for monthly donations are mailed in February.

Yes. Not only would we like to thank you, but we want to ensure that your gift is properly recognized, and your intentions are understood and honored. We can also provide the right wording, particularly if you are designating your gift to a specific area.

We understand that creating a gift in your will is one of the most significant gifts you can make, and we will respect your wishes regarding how much recognition or anonymity you would like.