As Canada’s number-one research hospital, and home to the number-five hospital in the world, UHN has a rich history of discovery that has saved – and continues to save – countless lives, in our local community and beyond. From revolutionizing transplant surgery to curing blindness through cell transplantation and more, UHN’s teams of world-class clinicians and researchers are driven every day to unlock new ways to make lives better.

But they can’t do it alone. Donor support is absolutely critical to this life-saving work, and philanthropy is responsible for funding some of the most transformational research and discoveries in health care today.

The reality is that, just as in life, we don’t know what the future holds. A gift in your will helps ensure a safety net of funding for our hospitals’ future needs – from purchasing the latest state-of-the-art equipment to fuelling the next major discovery.

It’s not only meaningful – it’s simple to arrange and has other benefits as well:

• Your income today is not effected and you can ensure your loved ones are taken care of first
• You can choose to leave a percentage or an amount, no matter how big or small
• There will be significant tax savings for your estate
• You will have peace of mind knowing your estate is arranged and your legacy will have a lasting impact

A gift in your will could be YOUR legacy – making an impact on health care for generations to come.

Thank you for considering leaving a future gift in support of our hospitals. We are here to help with any legacy giving questions you may have and would be delighted to work with you to ensure you have all of the information you need and your questions are answered.

Below you will find sample will wording to help get you started. Our team is happy to work with you to ensure your gift supports the program of your choice and your wishes are fulfilled.

You can view the wording below or download and print a copy.

Or email us with any questions.

Please remember it is important to consult your lawyer and/or financial advisor to ensure your wishes are properly documented.

Sample bequest wording

Types of gift by will:

1) A specific bequest is a gift by will of a specified amount or property such as real estate, art, or securities.

• I direct my trustees to deliver, pay or transfer the sum of $________ in cash or in kind to UHN Foundation to be used where it is needed most.

2) A residual bequest is a gift from the remaining portion of the estate, after debts, taxes, and administrative expenses have been paid.

I direct my trustees to divide the residue of my estate into as many equal shares as may be necessary to give effect to the following provisions and to distribute such shares to the following organization:

• ____ % share to UHN Foundation to be used where it is needed most.

Legal name: UHN Foundation

Address: Toronto General Hospital, 190 Elizabeth Street, R. Fraser Elliott Building, 5th Floor, Toronto Ontario M5G 2C4

Registered Canadian Charitable Organization Number: 12386 4068 RR0001

Power to vary

To ensure your gift is utilized according to your wishes, you may want to include the following Power to Vary clause.  It ensures that if a program you designate no longer exists, your gift will support a program that is the closest possible match to your original designation.

If, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the UHN Foundation, it should become impossible, inadvisable or impractical to use this gift for the purposes of supporting ____________________________________, then the Board may in its discretion use the gift to the best advantage of the UHN Foundation, keeping in mind the original wishes of the donor.

Please consult a lawyer when making changes to your will.

• Download our free guide to speaking with your advisor

Note: As of April 1, 2021, Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation and Toronto Rehab Foundation amalgamated to form UHN Foundation. If you left a gift in your will to either previous foundation prior to April 1, 2021, there is no need to change anything in your will.

If you have already included us in your will – thank you!  We would like to know so we can thank you and ensure your gift is recognized the way you would like it to be.

When you leave a gift to UHN Foundation through a bequest, life insurance policy, trust or other estate plan, you can become a member in our Legacy for Life Society in perpetuity.

Benefits of membership:

Members of the Legacy for Life Society enjoy special benefits that bring them closer to the excellent health care they make possible:

• Invitation to our Annual Members Luncheon and Induction Ceremony
• Listing on our Legacy for Life Donor Walls
• Invitations to special tours, events and Behind the Scenes lectures
• Subscription to Report on Your Support

Our Legacy for Life Society is incredibly special to our organization and we want to make sure that our donors know how grateful we are for their gift.

Leaving a bequest in your will is the most popular and easiest way to make a future gift. It has no effect on your current income and significantly reduces the taxes payable by your estate. Your gift can be a specific amount, stocks or securities, or a percentage of your estate. Here is sample wording to assist you in getting started.

You can designate UHN Foundation as a beneficiary or co-beneficiary on an existing life insurance policy and your estate will receive a tax credit. Or transfer ownership of an existing life insurance policy over to us and receive a tax receipt for your annual premiums.

You can designate UHN Foundation as a beneficiary or co-beneficiary on your residual RRSPs and your estate will receive a tax credit.  This is an excellent way to reduce taxes on your estate.

Looking for a simple, convenient and cost-effective alternative to creating a private family foundation? Donor Advised Funds provide all of the advantages of a family foundation without the upfront costs and administrative responsibilities. If you have a number of charities that you would like to support through your estate, you can create a Donor Advised Fund at UHN Foundation. Your contribution is invested by the Foundation for a fixed period or in perpetuity, with the portion of the capital and/or investment income made available for granting to your favourite charities.