Wills and Bequests

Your legacy gift helps to provide Unity of Vancouver with a sustainable resource that will be used to enhance our community now and in the future. Remember Unity of Vancouver in your will, along with loved ones and others who have given your life meaning. This is one of the simplest and most flexible ways to create a lasting legacy.

Should you decide to leave a gift in your will, please email donate@unityofvancouver.org to share your wonderful news.

  • IT'S SIMPLE: You just need to add a few sentences in your will or trust!
  • It's flexible: Because you are not actually making a gift until after your lifetime, you can change your mind at any time.
  • It's versatile: You can structure the bequest to leave a specific item or amount of money, make the gift contingent on certain events, or leave a percentage of your estate to Unity of Vancouver.
  • It provides tax relief: If your estate is subject to estate tax, your gift is entitled to an estate tax charitable deduction for the gift's full value. Please review this with your accountant.

A bequest is a lasting gift from the heart with practical benefits to your surviving heirs. Your estate receives a tax receipt for the full amount of the donation, which may offset capital gains or other taxes due. You may designate the gift to specific ministries, or allow us at Unity of Vancouver to put it to work where it is most needed at the time. All undesignated bequests made to Unity of Vancouver supports emerging and unfunded priorities.

Bequests may come in the form of a percentage of your estate, specific cash amount, property, securities, or other assets. A charitable bequest has no effect on you financially in your lifetime.

All it takes is a simple clause in your will to leave a gift demonstrating your commitment to the work of the ministries of Unity of Vancouver — and continue transforming lives long after you have gone. Your lawyer can include a simple clause naming Unity of Vancouver as a beneficiary. 

If you already have a Will, the easiest, least expensive way to include a bequest is to add a codicil, where you specify your gift and name Unity of Vancouver as beneficiary.  The provisions of your existing will remain unchanged. Please consult a lawyer before undertaking a change to your will. 

Note: A codicil is often added after the completion of a Will. The testator (the person making the will) may have a change of heart regarding a specific bequest, the division of their property, or inclusion or exclusion of someone to the Will. In this case, the testator may execute a codicil, an amendment, to the Will. (from canadalegal.com)

Sample clauses for wording your bequest
Proper wording is vital to the validity of a bequest. Unity of Vancouver recommends the following will clauses for your use:

Specific amount bequest:
“I DIRECT my trustee(s) to pay the sum of _________ DOLLARS ($__________ ) to UNITY OF VANCOUVER, currently located at, Unity of Vancouver 5840 Oak Street Vancouver, BC V6M 2V9 for its *general purposes. The receipt of an appropriate officer of Unity of Vancouver shall be a sufficient discharge of my Trustee(s).”

*general purposes – should you want to leave a gift to a specific ministry of Unity of Vancouver, please note it here. For instance, you may wish to give to Children and Youth Programs or The Building Fund, etc.

Residual bequest:
“I DIRECT my trustee(s) to pay (insert number that equates to percentage) parts of the residue of my estate to UNITY OF VANCOUVER, currently located at, 5840 Oak Street Vancouver, BC V6M 2V9 for its *general purposes. The receipt of an appropriate officer of Unity of Vancouver shall be a sufficient discharge of my Trustee(s).”

*general purposes – should you want to leave a gift to a specific ministry of the Unity of Vancouver, please note it here. For instance, you may wish to give to Children and Youth Programs or The Building Fund, etc.

The decision to leave a gift in your will to the ministries of Unity of Vancouver may take place at any stage in your life. Talk to your family; talk to your financial advisor and talk to Unity of Vancouver.

Disclaimer: There are numerous options for legacy gifts. We encourage you to consult with your legal and financial advisors to consider all the relevant issues and income tax provisions.
Let’s connect: Our legal name is “Unity of Vancouver”Unity Centre of Practical Christianity. Email donations can be made to donate@unityofvancouver.org