Estate Donations

Total 88 Posts

Charities Law for Testators: Director Compensation

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Gwenyth Stadig, Partner, Amber LeBlanc, Articling Student, Upama Poudyal, Associate, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP When a testator located in Ontario intends to create a charity through their will and fund it with estate assets, it is essential to understand Ontario’s rules regarding compensation of charity directors. Generally, directors of charities cannot receive remuneration, with limited exceptions and potential approval pathways. Estate-planning professionals should ensure the will, constating documents of the….

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Charitable Giving, Estate Donations

Estate Donations of Art

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[caption id="attachment_21746" align="aligncenter" width="666"] Decisions, Decisions, Charles Pachter (Courtesy of Heffel Auctions)[/caption] Fine art is an asset class of growing importance among the affluent and is beginning to be a significant part of select estate plans.   A recent estimate pegged the international art market at US$57.5 billion in 2024 (a 12% decline from 2023)  and Canada has seen some record prices at auction.   Many collectors are contemplating donating their art….

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Estate Donations, Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving

Valuing In-kind Donations

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There is a saying among charitable gift planners: “beware of donors of in-kind property with valuations in hand.”  In other words, some gifts may be too good to be true.  This folk wisdom contains a serious point. Donors, executors and charities often struggle with the valuation of in-kind donation.  Who commissions and pays for in-kind donation appraisals, the donor or charity? Does the valuation have integrity? Standard Practice The recommended….

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Estate Administration, Estate Donations, Uncategorized

When Private Foundations Die

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Pieter Claesz, “Vanitas Still Life” 1630. Private foundations are believed to be durable entities.  Perpetuity is often assumed at the planning stage.  Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) data shows, however, that 3,073 private foundations closed during the period 2000 to 2025. Growth in Private Foundations Private foundations have seen significant growth in Canada, with an increase in assets of over 300% in the last 20 years to over $100 billion in….

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Estate Donations, Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving

Scheming With a Purpose

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This week’s blog has been written by Darren Lund In Ontario, as in most common law jurisdictions, charitable gifts are treated differently than other gifts in important ways. One of the clearest examples of this is that a gift for a charitable purpose will generally not fail for uncertainty. In addition, the court’s inherent “scheme-making power” may save a charitable gift where the charitable purpose cannot be carried out, or….

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Charitable Giving, Courts, Estate Donations, Estate Planning, Wills

Founders: the good, the innovative, and the toxic

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Founders are a source of innovation and energy in the social good sector. Lionized as “social entrepreneurs” they identify gaps and create organizations to fill them. But there is, sometimes, a dark side to founders. Donors, employees and stakeholders should be aware of these dynamics. Dr. Susanna Kislenko is a researcher who focuses on founders, especially those in the non-profit world.  In 2025, she established The Founder Leadership Research Lab,….

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Estate Donations, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving
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