Remember Our Work in Your Will

You can help tomorrow’s homeless men and women follow a path to a better life when you remember the work of Good Shepherd Ministries in your will. Bequests can be in the form of cash, securities, real estate, property or a percentage of your estate.

Naming Good Shepherd Ministries in your will is one of the easiest ways to make a lasting impact. Your bequest is not taxed and can reduce estate taxes and probate fees your estate will have to pay.

Residual bequest – designates all or a portion of whatever remains after all debts, taxes, expenses and other bequests have been paid

Specific bequest – designates a certain dollar amount or certain property

For your document information, our legal name is GOOD SHEPHERD REFUGE SOCIAL MINISTRIES.

Gifts of Securities

You can donate appreciated securities and completely avoid the capital gains tax.

You can donate publicly traded shares, bonds, mutual funds, bills warrants and futures listed on the Canadian stock exchange (or a number of foreign stock exchanges).

Giving a gift of securities is as simple as your signature on our transfer form. Please note that in order to receive a tax receipt, the transfer form must be completed with your personal information.

For your document information, our legal name is GOOD SHEPHERD REFUGE SOCIAL MINISTRIES.

RRSP/RRIF Funds

You can name Good Shepherd Ministries as the beneficiary of your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF).

This asset resides outside of the estate and therefore is not subject to probate fees. The charitable tax receipt received from making the gift may help to offset other taxes owing on the estate.

The gift is treated as a charitable donation in the year of death and is eligible for a tax credit on your final tax return or the one immediately preceding the final return.

All that is required to make this planned gift is to change the beneficiary information on the plan document and advise the institution holding the retirement account.

Multiple beneficiaries can be named: charitable organizations, family, and friends.

Should your spouse be the beneficiary of the plan, you may make a contingent beneficiary. The proceeds of the plan will only be directed to the charity following the death of the primary beneficiary.

For your document information, our legal name is GOOD SHEPHERD REFUGE SOCIAL MINISTRIES.

Life Insurance

You can transfer ownership and beneficiary status of an existing policy or new policy to Good Shepherd Ministries. You will receive an immediate tax receipt for the cash surrender value.

New Policy

You can take out a new policy and name Good Shepherd Ministries as both the owner and beneficiary. This entitles you to a tax receipt annually for any premiums you subsequently pay.

Existing Policy

If you have an existing policy that has outlived its original purpose for the protection of you or your family, you can donate it to Good Shepherd Ministries and provide hope for the homeless in the future.

Your tax receipt will be for the full cash surrender value of the policy. Many policies have enough in cash and dividends within them to pay the premiums without any more contributions required by you. If premiums are still owed, and if you continue to make the payments, Good Shepherd Ministries can issue you a tax receipt for them as well.

When Good Shepherd Ministries becomes the beneficiary, your estate will receive a tax receipt for the value of the policy which results in substantial tax savings for your estate. Your heirs will benefit.

For your document information, our legal name is GOOD SHEPHERD REFUGE SOCIAL MINISTRIES.

Property

Before you can donate property (real estate, jewellery, art, etc.), a professional appraisal must be completed by a qualified third-party appraiser to determine the fair market value of the property.

Once the appraisal is complete, and the property legally transferred, a receipt for income tax purposes will be issued for the appraised value.

• an irrevocable gift of property while retaining life interest (use and enjoyment for the remainder of the donor's life which is termed residual interest);
• donate it outright;
• place it in trust;
• gift it by will.

For your document information, our legal name is GOOD SHEPHERD REFUGE SOCIAL MINISTRIES.