Leave a Legacy
Your Legacy. Their Future.
Some gifts reach beyond our lifetime.
Including Epilepsy Canada in your estate plans is a meaningful way to carry your generosity forward. After providing for those you love, you can help build a future with better treatment options, greater understanding and new possibilities for people living with epilepsy.
Your legacy can help make tomorrow’s research possible.
A Lasting Investment in Research
Research begins with questions. Why do seizures happen? Why do some treatments work for one person but not another? How can we improve life for people living with epilepsy?
Finding answers takes time, expertise and sustained investment. A legacy gift to Epilepsy Canada helps researchers explore ideas that could change how epilepsy is understood and treated.
Whether epilepsy has touched your own life, someone you love or a community you care about, your gift can reflect that connection and help move research forward.
“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.”
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Remembering Epilepsy Canada in your will allows you to support future research while keeping your assets available during your lifetime.
You can leave a specific amount, a percentage of your estate or a portion of what remains after other commitments have been met. Your lawyer or notary can help you choose the approach that fits your wishes.
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Life insurance can be another way to include charitable giving in your plans. Options may include naming Epilepsy Canada as a beneficiary or transferring ownership of a policy to the charity.
Each arrangement has different implications. Speak with your advisor and our team to explore what may work for you.
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You may be able to name Epilepsy Canada as a beneficiary of your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF).
Your financial advisor can explain how a beneficiary designation would fit into your estate plans and help you understand the potential tax benefits.
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Shares, bonds and mutual fund units can support epilepsy research during your lifetime or through your estate. Direct gifts of eligible publicly traded securities may offer tax advantages compared with selling the investments and donating the proceeds.
Our team can provide transfer information for you and your advisor.
Ways to Leave a Legacy
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A home, cottage, parcel of land or other property could become a lasting investment in epilepsy research. You may choose to give real estate during your lifetime or through your will, with potential tax benefits depending on your circumstances.
In some cases, a carefully planned arrangement may allow you to continue using the property during your lifetime. Please contact our team to discuss your intentions and whether the proposed gift can be accepted.
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A charitable remainder trust can allow you to provide income for yourself or another beneficiary while arranging a future gift to Epilepsy Canada. Assets are placed in a trust, with the remaining property passing to the charity when the trust ends.
This arrangement may offer tax benefits and requires careful legal and financial planning. Contact our team and your advisors to explore whether it is right for you.
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A charitable life annuity can combine a gift to charity with regular income for the rest of your life. Part of your contribution supports charitable work, while the remainder funds the annuity payments. Depending on the arrangement, the charitable portion may qualify for a donation receipt.
If you are interested in this approach, please contact our team and your financial advisor to discuss whether a suitable arrangement could support Epilepsy Canada.
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An endowment gift can provide lasting support for epilepsy research. Funds are invested, with distributions made according to the fund’s terms to support research over time while preserving capital for the future.
An endowment may also offer a meaningful way to honour someone special and carry their generosity forward. Please contact our team to discuss available options, your wishes, and how your gift could help advance epilepsy research for generations to come.
Start With What Matters to You
You do not need to have every detail worked out before starting a conversation.
Think about the people you want to provide for, the causes that matter to you and the impact you would like to leave. Your legal and financial advisors can help turn those priorities into a plan.
If you have a particular research interest or would like to honour someone through your gift, please speak with us before finalizing your arrangements. We would welcome the opportunity to learn about your wishes.
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Yes. Your estate plans can include both loved ones and charitable causes. For example, leaving a percentage to Epilepsy Canada allows the gift to adjust as the value of your estate changes. Your advisor can help you find a balance that feels right.
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A gift through your will is made from your estate after your death. You retain access to your assets during your lifetime.
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Your lawyer or notary can advise whether to prepare a new will or amend your existing one. In some circumstances, a legal amendment called a codicil may be appropriate.
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A gift in your will can generally be revised if your circumstances or wishes change. Other giving arrangements may have different conditions, so discuss these with your advisor before making a commitment.
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Charitable estate gifts may qualify for donation tax credits. The benefits depend on the type of gift, your circumstances and applicable tax rules. Your advisor can explain how these may apply to your plans.
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Your gift will support Epilepsy Canada’s work to advance epilepsy research. If you would like to specify a particular purpose, please contact us so we can discuss your intentions before your documents are finalized.
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That choice is yours. If you feel comfortable sharing your plans, we would appreciate the opportunity to thank you and learn what inspired your gift. You can speak with us confidentially.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s Talk About Your Legacy
Whether you are exploring your options or have already included Epilepsy Canada in your estate plans, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Contact us for a confidential conversation or to request our legacy giving guide. Asking for information does not commit you to making a gift.
Johanna McDougall, CEO
jmcdougall@epilepsy.ca
1-877-734-0873
Information for Your Advisor
Charity name: Epilepsy Canada
Charitable registration number: 13117 6042 RR0001
Address: 3250 Bloor St. W., East Tower, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario M8X 2X9
The information on this page is general in nature. Please consult your lawyer, notary, financial advisor or tax professional when making estate and charitable giving arrangements.