CREATE A LEGACY
As the largest community foundation in Canada, Vancouver Foundation assists people in establishing endowment funds in order to support charities and causes. President and CEO Kevin Mccort is especially proud of his organization's Legacy Fund, a startup permanent endowment with flexible donor advised terms that can be started with a gift as low as $1,000 plus a commitment that a future gift of $9,000 or more will follow through your estate.
Granting begins when the fund reaches $10,000, either through the estate gift or additional lifetime donations. “It's the easiest way to get involved in legacy giving, and the beauty of this strategy is it only takes a line in your will stating that you want to support your fund at Vancouver Foundation,” says Mccort. “After that, should you choose over time to change who or what your fund will benefit, you simply make the adjustment through us.”
In the event donors stipulate that Vancouver Foundation can do with their assets as they see fit, the organization abides by a rigorous procedure to ensure the money is well spent. “Essentially, we ask different charities to identify specific issues and determine their root causes,” says Mccort. “Let's say the issue is homelessness, and one root cause might be the outcome of foster care: this may allow us to direct assets to programs that better transition foster children into independent living.”
Hundreds of individuals and families have entrusted their legacies to Vancouver Foundation, safe in the knowledge their gift will make a real difference for generations to come.
United Way has been operating in the Lower Mainland for 87 years now. The non-profit organization works to identify social issues, address root causes, and affect positive, long-term change. “One of the ways we work with the local agencies is by providing core funding,” says Michelle
One of the donors to the Vancouver Foudation is Derek Wills, who established the Derek and Janice Wills Foundation fund. Flexible donor terms can start with a gift as low as $1,000.
Bernard, manager of philanthropy at United Way of the Lower Mainland. “We take an holistic approach to serving our community.”
It's a crucial strategy, given that so many smaller organizations are struggling