Your gift will reshape healthcare tomorrow
By leaving a gift in your will to The Ottawa Hospital, you will be helping future generations access the kind of care that might seem impossible today.
Why give in your will
Right now, at The Ottawa Hospital, we’re conducting major surgeries through incisions the size of a keyhole. We’ve learned how to dissolve brain tumours, personalize chemotherapy, and repair a heart after a heart attack. We’re using viruses and stem cells to change the outcomes of deadly diseases.
Ten or fifteen years ago, none of that would have been possible. And for the patients diagnosed with those diseases, the outcome would have been very different.
But today, we can offer these lifesaving therapies and treatments, because forward-thinking donors chose to include The Ottawa Hospital in their will. Those gifts funded the research, purchased the equipment, and built the care teams that are saving lives, right here in Ottawa, every single day.
You can impact the future of healthcare for decades to come.
Canadians have already left a gift to charity in their will. You don’t need to be wealthy — just thoughtful.
Inspiring stories of leaving a legacy
When you decide to leave a gift in your will to The Ottawa Hospital, you ensure your values will extend beyond your lifetime — and that you will also reshape tomorrow’s healthcare for generations to come. These gifts fund the research, purchase the equipment and build the care teams that are saving lives, right here in Ottawa — every single day.
Pulse podcast
Discover Annie Grenon’s family legacy for a healthier tomorrow and learn more about the impact of leaving a gift in your will.
Resources
Your Toolkit
We’re here to provide you with the guidance you need to leave a gift in your will to The Ottawa Hospital. Here are some easy steps to write your will.
Professional advisors
We work closely with financial advisors, accountants, and lawyers, and can assist you and your client with making a planned gift to The Ottawa Hospital. Here is some important information you may find useful about leaving a gift to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
Executors
Our team would be delighted to speak with you about your estate plans — whether you’re just starting to think about your will, looking to update an existing will, or in need of more information.
FAQs
Do you have questions about remembering The Ottawa Hospital with a gift in your will? Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
Other ways to leave a legacy
While a gift in a will is by far the most common way to include The Ottawa Hospital in your estate planning, it isn’t your only option. We suggest you work with your professional advisors to choose the giving vehicles that makes the most sense for you, your loved ones, and your estate.
Make a gift of life insurance
With a gift of life insurance, you can make small payments today that will add up to a very generous gift in the years to come. There are several ways to do this, including:
Transfer an Existing Policy to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation: You can name the Foundation as the owner and beneficiary of a policy you already own. You will be eligible for a donation receipt for the cash value of the policy and for any premiums you continue to pay.
Transfer a New Policy to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation: You can buy a new policy and name the Foundation the owner and beneficiary. You will receive a tax receipt for the premiums paid each year.
Name The Ottawa Hospital Foundation as a Direct Beneficiary: You may retain ownership of your policy and name The Ottawa Hospital Foundation as the direct beneficiary. Upon your death, your estate will be eligible for a donation receipt equal to the proceeds of the insurance. You do not receive a tax credit for current premium payments.
Give the gift of registered funds
You may choose to designate The Ottawa Hospital Foundation as a beneficiary of a registered fund, like an RRSP or RRIF, or even a TFSA. Since income from those funds is taxable upon death, donating the funds creates a donation credit that can almost eliminate the taxes.
There are two ways to make this type of donation–designating The Ottawa Hospital Foundation as the beneficiary or donating the proceeds of the fund through your will. Ask your advisor which option is best for you.
Establish a charitable gift annuity
A charitable annuity guarantees you tax-free income for life in exchange for a charitable donation. You make a sizable gift to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation using cash, securities, or possibly other assets. In return, you receive a fixed stream of income from us for the rest of your life. Your initial donation will be eligible for a tax receipt as well.
Other life income options include charitable remainder trusts and a gift of residual interest. We strongly recommend you consult with your financial advisor if you are considering a donation of life income gifts to the Foundation.
Gifts of securities
Questions about a gift in your will
Do you have questions about remembering The Ottawa Hospital with a gift in your will? Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
What is a will?
Who can leave a gift in their will?
What types of gifts can you make?
Why is it important to leave a gift to charity?
How will The Ottawa Hospital Foundation use my gift?
How can I leave a gift in my will and provide for my loved ones?
Your will is the best way to make sure your friends and family are provided for. We understand that this may be the most important consideration for you.
One way to think about this is to divide up your estate into percentages. For a moment, think of your will like a pie. You can choose to leave a slice to each of your children, another to your grandchildren, and another to a cause you care deeply about.
In some cases, leaving a gift to charity in your will can help reduce the amount of inheritance tax that needs to be paid on your estate. If you’d like to know more about this, we recommend discussing it further with a professional advisor.
What if I already have a will?
You can certainly include The Ottawa Hospital in your will, even if it’s already been written. You can use a special legal document called a codicil to update your will at any time. Here is some sample wording to include in your will.
Residual Bequest: “I give the rest, residue and remainder of my estate [or ___ % of the residue] to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation in the City of Ottawa, Province of Ontario, Canada.”
Specific Bequest: “I give the sum of $________ (dollars) to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation in the City of Ottawa, Province of Ontario, Canada.”
Contingent Bequest: “If [name of beneficiary] does not survive me, or shall die within thirty days from the date after my death, I give to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, City of Ottawa, Province of Ontario, Canada, ___ % of the residue of my estate [or $____].”
Legal Name: The Ottawa Hospital Foundation · Charitable Registration Number: 86904 2747 RR0001 · Address: 737 Parkdale Avenue, 1st Floor, Ottawa, ON K1Y 1J8
To be legal, the codicil must meet the same requirements as a will. It must be in writing, dated, signed by you and two witnesses.
How can I change my will?
Isn't it better to help now, and not later?
Do I have to let you know about my decision?
Sample Codicil Language
The following is some general information that may be useful to you and your legal advisor if you are planning a gift through your estate.
We're here to help.
If a gift in your will feels like it might be the right choice for you, or if you’d just like some more information, we invite you to get in touch. You’ll be under no obligation, and our conversation will remain completely confidential.