Donations

Credit card donations are accepted online, using a secure server provided by CanadaHelps.org. You may choose a one-time or monthly donations. Gifts may also be made in honour or in memory of someone significant in your life. Tax receipts are available for immediate download.

Please call 705.722.5995 to make a donation by credit card.

If you would like to make a donation by mail or fax, please print and send us  following forms:

• One-time Donation
• Monthly Donation
  

Please visit Hospice Simcoe to make a donation in person. Our offices accept cash, cheques and credit cards.

Be a partner in providing palliative care in Simcoe County by making a general donation today. Your donation will go a long way to provide compassionate care within the communities we serve.

Our monthly donors are individuals who make meaningful donations with manageable monthly gifts to ensure hospice palliative care and services are available in Simcoe. When you become a monthly contributor, you not only help us reduce our administrative costs; but you also provide us with a predictable source of income that allows us to more effectively plan ahead and maximize donor dollars. The size of your gift is not as important as the regularity of it.

$100 per month accumulates to $1,200 per year.

$50 per month accumulates to $600 per year.

$25 per month accumulates to $300 per year.

Download your Monthly Donation form here.

A donation in memory of a family member, friend or colleague who has passed away is a kind and thoughtful way to let others know you care. We will mail a personalized card on your behalf recognizing your gift.

Acknowledge a special occasion or someone's survivorship. A donation in honour of another person is a unique and meaningful way to say congratulations, thank you or best wishes. We will mail a personalized card on your behalf recognizing your gift.

Communities all share in the journey of end-of-life care. Hospice Simcoe is honoured to provide care to those who are ill or grieving as well as providing support to their care-givers, friends and family. Many local companies choose to support an organization which serves their employees and retirees.

Join our monthly giving program by charging your donation to your credit card, or set up a monthly withdrawal from your bank account.

* Sign up online!  If you would like us to charge your credit card monthly for your contribution and you want to sign up right now, simply fill out this online form. This is the fastest way to join our monthly program, and it reduces administrative costs, allowing your donation to go further in providing compassionate palliative care.

Or

* Simply download and complete this online monthly donation form and someone will contact you to complete your monthly donation.

How can I change or cancel my commitment?

We respect your financial situation. If at any time you want to change your commitment, please contact us and we will make the necessary arrangements.

There are many other ways you can support Hospice Simcoe including advocating, volunteering your time, or participating in a local fundraising event.

Hold a Fundraising Event

Fundraising can be fun, and for many community organizations, service clubs, schools and local businesses, it’s a great way to team-build and support Hospice Simcoe at the same time. Bake sales, garage sales, dances, and golf tournaments are all terrific ways to get involved and raise funds for Hospice Simcoe

Planned Giving refers to a donation that will materialize at a future date.

Planned giving allows donors to provide gifts of cash, property or other assets to Hospice Simcoe through wills, life insurance policies, or a variety of other means. By integrating planned gifts into your overall financial, tax and estate plan, you can increase the benefits to both you and Hospice Simcoe. One key advantage of planned giving is that you can defer your gift. This gives donors the opportunity of providing larger gifts, without impacting their existing finances or lifestyle. Immediate tax benefits on future gifts make this an attractive option for many donors. These gifts provide a source of stable future funding, which ensures that compassionate hospice palliative care is available in our community.

* Provide a significant gift to Hospice Simcoe while providing personal income in your lifetime.

A charitable gift annuity is a “gift that gives something back”. It's a way of making a gift to help support palliative care and programs, and in return get back a guaranteed income for life that can be largely or entirely tax-free. Charitable gift annuities can be especially appealing to people aged 70 or over and who are more concerned about financial security than income growth.

Advantages

* You may be eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

* A charitable gift annuity enables you to turn your taxable interest income into tax-free income.

* Guaranteed income that is safe and secure, without investment worries or management decisions.

* A charitable gift annuity offers an excellent alternative to GICs or bonds. You get the same income guarantee but with improved cash flow and reduced or eliminated tax on your income, providing peace of mind knowing that there will be a guaranteed, reliable source of tax-free income.

* A charitable gift annuity provides the satisfaction of seeing your gift working while you are still alive.

How does it work?

You donate a sum of money to Hospice Simcoe. Hospice Simcoe receives a portion of the sum immediately (usually between 25% and 35%) to help fund community visiting programs and residential care. The balance is used to purchase an annuity (single or joint) from one of the highest rated insurance companies. From this annuity, you (and/or another named individual) receive regular, equal payments for life – guaranteed. A gift annuity is a simple contract between you and Hospice Simcoe in which you exchange cash or securities for a fixed income for life – for any person you choose.

For more information

If you would like more information about arranging a charitable gift annuity with Hospice Simcoe, please contact the Charitable Fundraising Advisor at 705.722.5995.

A will is the easiest and most effective means to ensure that you fully provide for your family and that your assets are distributed as you wish. Gifts by will, or bequests, have become an increasingly important source of revenue for Hospice Simcoe, enabling us to continue to provide exemplary, compassionate palliative care.

Many friends have remembered Hospice Simcoe in their will after providing for their family. Such bequests provide continuing support of the ongoing work of Hospice Simcoe.

Advantages

* Other than the cost of preparing the will, it doesn’t cost you anything to make a generous gift to Hospice Simcoe.

* A bequest allows you to make a long-term commitment without affecting your current standard of living.

* A bequest provides the comfort of knowing your assets are still available to you today if needed.

* In many cases, it can allow you to make a larger gift to Hospice Simcoe than one made during your lifetime.

* A bequest allows you to make a tax-effective gift. Your estate may claim charitable donations to Hospice Simcoe in the year of death equal to 100% of your net income (higher than the limit of 75% for living donors). Any unused charitable donations can be carried back to the previous tax year at the same higher rate.

* A bequest ensures your gift will be used to support ongoing community programs and services and residential care.

How does it work?

* leave a specific dollar amount or a specific piece of personal property

* leave a share or percentage of your estate

* provide for the needs of your loved ones (either through an outright gift or subject to a trust) and give the rest (or residue) of your estate to Hospice Simcoe.

To include a gift to Hospice Simcoe in your will follow these two steps:

1.  Record our full legal name and charity number:

• Hospice Simcoe
• Charitable Number

2.  Choose one of the following sample clauses which you can share with your Legal Advisor.

Although your lawyer will review all the terms of your will we suggest the follow wording for gifts to Hospice Simcoe:

Standard Will Clauses

Suggested will clause wording for an unrestricted specific bequest:

I give the sum of ___________ (insert a specific sum) to Hospice Simcoe for its general purposes as Hospice Simcoe sees fit.

Suggested will clause wording for unrestricted residual bequest:

I give the ____ % of the residue of my estate to Hospice Simcoe for its general purposes as Hospice Simcoe sees fit.

Suggested will clause wording for an endowment specific bequest:

I give the sum of ___________ (insert a specific sum) to Hospice Simcoe to be directed to the Endowed Fund. 

Suggested will clause wording for endowment residual bequest:

I give the ____ % of the residue of my estate to Hospice Simcoe to be directed to the Endowed Fund.

If you would like more information about leaving a bequest to Hospice Simcoe in your will, please contact the Charitable Fundraising Advisor, at 705.722.5995.

Should you decide to leave a gift to Hospice Simcoe in your will, please let us know. We would like to be able to express our appreciation to you personally for your commitment and support. Your gift intention will be held in strictest confidence.

A gift of life insurance allows you to make a larger donation to Hospice Simcoe than you would have thought you could afford, at relatively little cost. A gift of life insurance is a deferred gift, which means that the proceeds from a gift commitment made now will be realized Hospice Simcoe sometime in the future. A gift of life insurance also allows flexibility in structuring your gift to your tax relief goals.

Advantages

* A gift of life insurance does not reduce the value of your estate for your loved ones.

* Life insurance proceeds are paid directly to Hospice Simcoe and are not subject to probate fees.

* You have the ability to determine how you want your resulting tax credits structured. Life insurance can provide an annual tax credit or a tax credit in the year of death. How you structure your gift will depend on where you may have the greatest need for tax relief.

How does it work? 

* You can purchase a new policy, naming Hospice Simcoe as the irrevocable owner and beneficiary. You then pay the premiums and receive an income tax receipt yearly for the full amount of all premiums paid.

* You can donate an existing policy that you no longer need, by designating Hospice Simcoe as the irrevocable owner and beneficiary. Hospice Simcoe will give you a tax receipt for the net cash surrender value (less any outstanding policy loans) and any subsequent premiums paid.

* You can make Hospice Simcoe the beneficiary of a new or existing policy. As amended in the 2000 federal budget, a charitable donations tax credit will be available when a donor designates that the death benefit proceeds of his/her policy be paid directly to a charity.

* You may have a life insurance policy from your employer or former employer that you want to donate to Hospice Simcoe. Since you will not be able to change the ownership, you would make Hospice Simcoe the beneficiary of the policy. As above, a donations tax credit will be available when the death benefit proceeds from the policy are paid directly to Hospice Simcoe.

If you would like more information or assistance on how you can use life insurance to support Hospice Simcoe please contact the Charitable Fundraising Advisor at 705.722.5995.

Should you decide to set up an insurance gift to benefit Hospice Simcoe, please let us know. We would like to be able to express our appreciation to you personally for your commitment and support.

* Create a lasting legacy in your honour or in honour of a loved one.

An endowment gift is an ideal way to leave a lasting legacy to Hospice Simcoe to support end-of-life care and at the same time commemorate or memorialize yourself, a spouse, your parents, children or perhaps a dear friend.

An endowment is a contribution where the original capital donation is preserved in perpetuity. Only the income generated from the endowment fund is used for the purposes outlined in an endowment agreement.

There is a minimum gift amount required to establish an endowment fund. Endowment gifts may be funded using cash, securities, paid-up insurance policies, or other types of assets. These funds can be created during your lifetime, or can be arranged through instructions in your will.

Advantages

* An endowment leaves a lasting legacy as the original donation remains intact while the interest generated from this capital provides an ongoing source of income for Hospice Simcoe.

* An endowment may be designated to fund a specific project, programs and services or operational activities.

* The capital can be increased at any time by additional donations from the donor, family or friends.

How does it work?

A donor or group of donors make a large donation to Hospice Simcoe, which is then invested in perpetuity. The income generated by the capital is used by Hospice Simcoe, while the capital remains protected and continues to generate additional income over the years.

Our personal giving staff can provide you with more information about our endowment fund program including the purposes for which an endowment may be designated. We can also provide you with a draft endowment agreement for your use.

Hospice Simcoe offers several types of endowments:

Named General Endowment Fund

This type of fund is established and named to honour a loved one, one’s self or a family name (for example, The Joseph Smith Fund). The income is used for the general purposes of Hospice Simcoe, where it is needed most. Minimum gift is $100,000.

Named Designated Endowment Fund

This type of fund is established and named to honour a loved one, one’s self or a family name. The income is used for certain specific purposes, in accordance with the designated donations policy of Hospice Simcoe (for example, The Joseph Smith Fund for Community Visiting Program). Minimum gift is $100,000.

Please note: If you with to designate your endowment to a specific purpose, we ask you to contact Hospice Simcoe prior to completing your will, to ensure your gift intentions can be met.

If you would like more information about creating a lasting legacy to Hospice Simcoe in your will, please contact the Charitable Fundraising Advisor at 705.722.5995.

Should you decide to leave a legacy gift to Hospice Simcoe in your will, please let us know. We would like to be able to express our appreciation to you personally for your commitment and support. Your gift intention will be held in strictest confidence.

* Provide a significant gift to Hospice Simcoe through a trust and receive the income through the trust.

A trust is a legal agreement that specifies how assets placed under the trust will be managed by an assigned trustee. A charitable remainder trust is an effective way to provide you with an income for life and know that after your lifetime, the property remaining in the trust will be used by Hospice Simcoe. This is a deferred gift, which means that the proceeds from a gift commitment made now will be realized by Hospice Simcoe sometime in the future.

Entering into a charitable remainder trust agreement with Hospice Simcoe simply means that you leave a capital donation to Hospice Simcoe while you are still alive. The trustee pays regular income to you and/or other beneficiaries you name from the trust for life or for a term of years. When the trust terminates, the trustee pays out the remaining trust assets to Hospice Simcoe.

Advantages

* A charitable remainder trust allows you to make a guaranteed significant gift to Hospice Simcoe, here and now.

* Know that you are making a major difference in helping provide palliative care in Simcoe County.

* You will receive an income for life.

* A charitable remainder trust offers freedom from investment decisions.

* A charitable remainder trust ensures that your wishes will be carried out exactly as you have specified.

* A charitable remainder trust ensures your gift is not subject to probate, estate taxes or possible challenges to your will.

* A charitable remainder trust provides immediate tax benefits.

If you would like to receive additional information or assistance with charitable remainder trusts, please contact the Charitable Fundraising Advisor at 705.722.5995.

Your gift of securities can be made for much less than the net cost of an equal gift of cash

If you own publicly traded securities or mutual funds that have increased in value, you may want to consider donating the securities directly to Hospice Simcoe. Such a gift will eliminate the capital gains taxes you would ordinarily have to pay on those securities.

With your support, you are ensuring that our Residents are given exemplary care and comfort in a home-like environment at the end of life at Hospice House.

Advantages

* You become entitled to a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of the gifted securities at the end of the day on the date the securities are received in our brokerage account.

* Your standard capital gains tax rate on gifts of publicly listed securities is reduced to zero. This means that when you transfer publicly listed securities to Hospice Simcoe, you will not pay any capital gains tax on the appreciated value of those shares.

* A gift of securities to Hospice Simcoe can be made for much less than the net cost of an equal gift of cash. By donating the securities you eliminate the capital gains tax that would ordinarily become due if you had sold the appreciated securities on the open market and donated the proceeds from the sale to charity.

* Your charitable deduction can be claimed against up to 75 percent of your net income and any unused deductions can be carried forward throughout the next five years.

* It’s easy and simple to do!

How does it work?

When making a gift of securities, decide which securities or mutual fund holdings you wish to donate. Then instruct your broker to transfer the shares electronically or endorse the share certificates and forward them to Hospice Simcoe. You'll receive a tax receipt for the closing price of the securities on the date they are received in Hospice Simcoe’s brokerage account. Simply contact us in advance, and we will provide all the necessary information to your broker to facilitate a smooth and prompt transfer.

For more information

If you would like more information about donating securities to Hospice Simcoe, please contact the Charitable Fundraising Advisor at 705.722.5995. Should you decide to leave a gift of securities to Hospice Simcoe now, or in your Will, please let us know. We would like to be able to express our appreciation to you personally for your commitment and support.

If you wish, your anonymity will be respected and your gift held in confidence.

To find out more about donor recognition or naming opportunities at Hospice Simcoe please contact the Fund Development Team at 705.722.5995.