Depending on your financial needs and philanthropic goals, Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) can facilitate a variety of types of gifts. Here are some of the most common methods that our Donors use:

Online
It is very common for people to choose to make donations online with their credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Visa Debit) or via Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal. Tax receipts are delivered immediately via email through our online vendor CanadaHelps.

e-Transfer
If you prefer to make your donation by sending money via e-Transfer from your bank account, please email Dan Robert at dan@wrcf.ca to get the instructions. Please note that many accounts have a daily sending limit of approximately $2,500.

Cheque
Cheques should be made payable to Waterloo Region Community Foundation. In the memo line, please make note of the fund that your donation is to be added to. Our mailing address is: 200-2 King Street West, Kitchener, ON N2G 1A3

Pre-Authorized Debit
If you are interested in making recurring donations, the easiest way to do so is by setting up pre-authorized debit (PAD) from your bank. While the most common recurrence is monthly, you can also set up PAD donations at other intervals including annually. Please email Dan Robert at dan@wrcf.ca to get the necessary paperwork.

Phone
Instead of donating online, some donors prefer to make a credit card donation over the phone. To do so, please contact us at 519-725-1806 x 205.

Publicly Traded Securities
Donating publicly traded securities in-kind is a very cost-effective way to make a big impact in the community. Not only will you receive a tax exemption on any capital gains (otherwise 50% of the capital gains are taxable), but you’ll also get a tax receipt for the market value of the securities at the time of the donation. These donations can be made in the form of stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Simply complete and follow the steps on this form (pdf) and send a copy to your broker and a copy to WRCF.

Cryptocurrency
Similar to publicly traded securities, you may choose to donate cryptocurrency from your investment portfolio. We can support this type of donation through our online vendor CanadaHelps. Please contact Dan Robert at dan@wrcf.ca or 519-725-1806 x 205 to discuss the process.

Options for Giving Later
There are many ways that you can plan to give later as part of your legacy. With any of these options, it is important to seek professional advice to understand all of the benefits and implications. We are happy to discuss these options in further detail with you and/or your advisors before any paperwork is finalized to ensure we fully understand your intentions for when the donation is realized. These options include:

• Charitable Bequest
  Bequests made in your will can include a specific amount or a residual gift. Donating via a bequest will provide a tax receipt to your estate, which can help reduce estate taxes. Sample will clauses are available for you to use in consultation with your professional advisors at wrcf.ca/sample-will-clauses.

• Life Insurance
  Making a donation through life insurance is a way to make a significant impact in the future at a manageable cost today. Donors can transfer ownership of an existing policy to WRCF or name WRCF the beneficiary. The same options exist if you purchase a new policy for the purpose of donating it. To understand the tax implications of these options, our friends at the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) have put together a helpful summary here.

• RRSP/RRIF/TFSA
  When it comes to transferring wealth to your loved ones, retirement funds are one of the most heavily taxed assets. By naming WRCF as the sole or partial beneficiary of your RRSP, RRIF or TFSA, you’ll retain ownership and use of the fund during your lifetime, receive a tax receipt for the value of the plan, avoid probate fees by removing these assets from your estate, and reduce your overall estate taxes.