Legacy Giving - Gifts Added to your Will
Adding a gift to your will is the most personal and meaningful decision you can make to support the vision of a world free of MS. I’m here first to listen to your story and understand what motivates you to support those living with MS, and then to help you build a legacy that’s both meaningful and fulfilling to you.
I joined MS Canada after 25 years in financial services guiding discussions rooted in deep discovery and understanding what mattered most to clients for their insurance and estate plans. My pivot to legacy giving was a natural fit and now lets me bring my professional experiences to discussions with members of our valued MS community.
I’m passionate about the work we do and our vision for a world free of MS. This became clearer to me at our 2023 endMS Conference: Canada has one of the highest incidence rates of MS in the world, and MS Canada supports globally recognized, Canadian researchers across the country. That’s astounding to me and something I want to support.
Adding a gift to your will in support of MS Canada and its critical research is an opportunity for you to support an organization that holds meaning to you, and perhaps, in doing so, make the most significant gift and donation in your lifetime. I look forward to connecting with you.
-Paisley Hill Manager, Legacy Giving, MS Canada
Please contact me at mslegacy@mscanada.ca or at 1-800-268-7582.
What Are Gifts In A Will?
They are a specific clause written into your will to provide a specific dollar amount from your estate to a person or a charity. These gifts can also be provided as a percentage of your estate remaining after all final expenses, liabilities, income taxes and any specific bequests are paid by the estate.
As of 2022, 8% of Canadians had added a gift to their will by working with a professional. This figure is up from 5% in 2019 (Source WillPower) and represents more wonderful gifts being made by generous Canadians.
Why the Increase in Gifts Added to Wills?
Now more than ever, Canadians are deciding how they want to live, and what story they want to tell about their life, shaped on their unique experiences. They’re deciding how to define their legacy and express their generosity and values in a way that’s personal and meaningful to them.
Hear From Our Donors
“I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS 27 years ago. I’d lost all feeling in the right side of my body and couldn’t hold a pen or brush my teeth. Since then, I’ve learned to live and succeed with the disease. I’m an avid hiker, cyclist, and insect lover; I’m fortunate that my MS still allows me to enjoy these activities, just at a different pace. I don’t have any visible symptoms now, but fatigue pops up from time to time. When it does, I make sure to give myself compassion and time to rest.
I’m grateful for everything I’ve been able to accomplish over the years, thanks to advancements in MS research driven by dedicated MS researchers and generous donors. I also know just how hard MS Canada is working to support MS research to eventually give us a world without MS, which is why I decided to leave a legacy gift in my will.
Since my diagnosis, the MS community has held a special place in my heart. Over the years, I’ve met hundreds of people living with MS, volunteers, MS doctors, nurses, and researchers who all share my passion for finding a cure. The conversations I’ve had and the relationships I’ve formed inspired me to leave a legacy gift to MS Canada, and the gratitude I was shown by the organization strengthened my decision. My parents taught me the importance of belonging to a community, where people support those in need. I think they’d be proud of my choice to leave a legacy gift in support of the MS community. I’m fortunate to be able to leave this gift behind and MS Canada made the decision easy since they’ve been by my side, answering every question I’ve had for 27 years. Leaving a legacy gift is my way of thanking the organization for what they’ve given me over the years, and I hope this gift will inspire others to do the same.”
-Shauna, Legacy Donor
“I was diagnosed with MS a month before I turned 41. When the neurologist confirmed it was MS, I didn’t know what that meant. The first thing I did was open the phone book and call MS Canada for answers.
They sent me a wealth of brochures (there was no internet then!), and I signed up for a newly diagnosed information session. It was led by two women who were at different stages of their MS. Even today I still remember things I learned in that course. The information, the connection, the support... MS Canada was there for me from the moment I was diagnosed.
When I was first diagnosed, there was only one drug therapy available. Now, there are many more therapies available for those living with relapsing-remitting MS. I think we’ll see even more treatments in my lifetime. Whatever I can do to move that ahead, I’m happy to help.
It feels good to leave a gift in my will to MS Canada. They have heart and I believe in them. They use the funds in the best interest of people with MS, like me. Whether it’s funding research, programs, services, education, or advocacy, it all goes to improving the quality of life for people living with MS, and I’m all for that.”
-Marie, Legacy Donor
"When neurologists saw my MRI, they were pretty sure I’d had it for about 15 years with no symptoms. Again, I felt that powerlessness– but this time, I went to MS Canada and started learning everything I could.
I also started volunteering with the annual research grants review committee. My job was to be the voice of people affected by MS, so research money could be put towards what we think would be most beneficial to us. The first year I had 30 grant proposals to review!
I want a cure for MS. I believe the way to get that is to put more money towards research. That’s why I decided to leave a gift in my will to MS Canada. Even if we don’t find a cure in my lifetime, we’re discovering better treatments. That’s the power of research — investing today for the treatments of tomorrow.”
-Corinne, Legacy Donor
“After talking about it with my sons, I decided to remember MS Canada in my will. My hope is that my gift will help them be there for folks who really need help. And I was delighted to learn I can leave a much bigger gift in my will than I could ever give during my lifetime.”
-Linda McGowan, Legacy Donor
The Impact of a Gift in Your Will
When you decide to add your gift in your will in support of MS Canada, you’re supporting a brighter future for all those affected by MS; you’re making a gift that’s critical for the advancement of MS research, and one that will benefit the 1 in 400 Canadians living with MS and the 12 Canadians being diagnosed with MS each day.
A few decades ago, if you were diagnosed with MS, your doctor’s advice was to go home and rest. Today, living with MS looks very different than it did 20 years ago – and gifts added to wills have been a key part of advancements made in MS research. Powerful support from donors, including generous gifts added to wills, have led to amazing improvements in the diagnosis and management of MS.
“It takes decades of work, and millions of dollars, to develop breakthrough therapies for a complex disease like MS. I don’t want the benefit of my contributions to end when I’m gone. So, I decided to include MS Canada in my will to ensure that my support will continue to benefit my son, and all the other people living with MS – maybe someone you love – for years to come.”
- Valerie Hussey, legacy donor
MS Governor and former Chair of the MS Canada
A world free of MS is possible. It’s worth fighting for. And it’s a future you can help build with a gift added to your will to MS Canada.
3 Simple Steps To Get Started
- Contact Paisley Hill (paisley.hill@mscanada.ca) to discuss your personal story further
- Discuss and execute your plan with your professional advisors (lawyer, accountant, financial advisors)
- Discuss your legacy plans and estate goals with your family.
Information For A Bequest In A Will
Let us know how we can help you. For individual donors, or for Professional Advisors, who have questions, or require information for adding a gift in a will, please email paisley.hill@mscanada.ca.
FAQs
Q: Who can leave a gift in their will?
A: Anyone. In fact, many Canadians find they can have a greater impact with a gift in their will than they ever could during their lifetime.
Q: Do many Canadians leave gifts in their will?
A: As of 2022, 8% of Canadians had added a gift to their will up from a figure of 5% in 2019.
Q: Is there a newsletter I can subscribe to?
A: Yes, to receive a copy of our Tribute newsletter, please email paisley.hill@mscanada.ca
Q: What is your organization’s legal name?
A: MS Canada
Q: What is your charitable registration #?
A: MS Canada’s charitable registration number is: 10774 6174 RR0001
Q: What is the contact’s name and address?
Paisley Hill
Manager, Legacy Giving
MS Canada
500-250 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
M5T 2Z5
Phone: (647) 254-2647 or 1 (800) 268-7582
Email: paisley.hill@mscanada.ca
Q: Will my name and or my gift be made public?
A: Not without your consent. A gift in a will is a very personal matter, and we respect your right to privacy.
Q: Is there a way to provide for my family and still leave a gift in my will?
A: A residual gift is the easiest way to support both your loved ones and your causes of choice. It simply means that you’ll provide a gift with what’s leftover in your estate to MS Canada, after providing for your family.
Q: What if I already have a will completed? Can I update it?
A: Absolutely. You can use a short legal document known as a codicil to add MS Canada into an existing will. Below, you’ll find sample, suggested wording to share with your advisor:
“My Executor/ Trustee shall transfer to MS Canada all [or ___%] of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate after paying all debts, taxes, expenses and specific bequests. I ask that this gift be used for the general and/or research purposes of the organization.”
Q: How do I discuss this gift with my family?
A: It’s never easy to talk about end of life, or what happens to your assets when you pass away, but it’s important for your family to know your wishes, and what they will be asked to do as potential executors of your estate, especially if they are also beneficiaries in your will.
Some key first steps include:
- Plan your estate and communicate early by having a 1:1 conversation or having a family meeting
- Use an agenda to outline what you want to discuss and what you hope to accomplish by having this meeting.
- Remind your family of your values, what’s important to you, and the importance of your relationship with your family
- Outline your overall estate goals
- Explain how your will is structured and how it helps to accomplish your estate goals in line with your values including the names of your professional advisors, locations of your important documents, and details of your burial preferences
- Discuss the specific items of which you want them to be aware, and why you have made certain decisions. Ask them what they think, and how they feel about them
- Anticipate what questions will be asked and prepare to answer them
Q: Are there other ways to provide a legacy gift to MS Canada?
A: Yes, if you are interested in discussing gifts of securities, designating MS Canada to your RRSP or to your life insurance, please email paisley.hill@mscanada.ca