LEGACY GIVING BEFORE YOU GIVE
10 THE OKANAGAN SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2012
A charity checklist
“The Kelowna General Hospital has always been there to provide excellent health care to my family and my community. We all have the capacity include a charitable gift in our will. Including a gift in my will to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation provides me with the satisfaction of knowing that I’m giving back to my community and helping future generations.”
Helen Arneson
People often ask – how can I be confident that the not-for-profit organization I have chosen will use my money effectively? The following questions may be useful in making that meaningful decision to make a gift to a favourite charity:
1. Are you dealing with a charity registered with Canada Revenue Agency, or a Not-for-Profit socie- ty?
Your Gift for Life Health is for living. We invite you to celebrate your life, and the
lives of those whom you cherish. Make KGH Foundation your charity of choice in your philanthropic plans for now, for the generations to follow, For Life.
For information on How to Make your Legacy Gift, please contact: Diane Paterson, Gift Planning Officer Phone: 250.862.4300, local 7011 Email:
diane.paterson@
interiorhealth.ca www.kghfoundation.com
While both may do meaningful work, the differ- ence is important if you are looking for a tax receipt for your contribution. 2. Are the charity’s annual report and financial statements available to the public? 3. Does the charity allow donors to designate to specific area or for a special purpose? 4. Does the charity have pressing immediate needs and if so what are they? 5. In the case of a more mature (aka been around longer!) charity, is there an endowment fund that is invested to provide a sustainable source of income for the future? 6. How does the charity handle matters of confi- dentiality? Can the donor make an “anonymous” gift? Can the donor specify no solicitation or un- wanted contact? 7. Are donors of future gifts (such as life insur-
ance, RRSPs/RRIFs, bequests) recognized during life and if so how? 8. Is the charity “effective”? Take the time to pick up the phone or request a meeting. Can staff provide you with a simple state- ment of mission and examples of successful pro- grams and outcomes? 9. Beware the trap of giving high grades for low
overhead. Prudent investment in professional staffing, train- ing, effective technology and equipment that works is an investment in the future. If we want charities to be more effective, we have to allow them the tools to make a real difference… efficiently. 10. How do you “feel” about the charity and the
work they do? Yes, that is a subjective measure, but it’s your money. Has the charity earned your trust?
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