The Bruce Trail Conservancy has partnered with the national Will Power campaign to raise awareness among Canadians about the power of leaving a charitable gift in their will. “We all have the power to make a difference – and leaving a gift in your will to charities like the Bruce Trail Conservancy is just one of those ways,” says Gloria Vidovich, the BTC’s Planned Giving & Donor Relations Officer.
Last year, 6.6% of contributions to the Bruce Trail came from those who left money in their Wills. These gifts are automatically applied towards land securement, unless otherwise designated. “Our donors are ordinary people who are using the power of their Wills to make an extraordinary difference. People can choose to leave any amount in their will. Even 1% of your estate can make a big difference, while still leaving 99% for family and friends,” she says.
People have many different reasons for wanting to give, she says. Often, a common story is that they have loved their special experiences on the Bruce Trail and they want to make sure the Niagara Escarpment is protected forever.
Typically, what may happen is an individual will approach the BTC and ask them questions such as how the funds would be used, what are the various gift options, and how might their gift be recognized. “The Will Power campaign is helping people realize that you don’t have to choose between your loved ones and the Bruce Trail Conservancy,” says Gloria. “It is possible to do both,” she adds. Often a financial planner is involved with a donor to advise on estate planning and tax issues (estates receive a charitable receipt which also lowers taxes for the estate.) If there is an existing will, a lawyer can draw up a codicil to the will (A codicil is a legal document that amends an existing will without replacing it).
“There is a that allows anyone to see what the impact of their estate gift might be if they left 1%, 3%, or any amount to their charity of choice,” says Gloria. “The legacy calculator is just one example of the free resources available through the Will Power site. You can also find articles on various ways to give, the tax benefits of estate gifts, and a directory of financial and estate advisors. While the Will Power campaign focuses mainly on gifts in wills, there is also information on giving through RRSPs, RRIFs, family foundations, and life insurance policies.”
The BTC has also partnered with , an online will platform created by two estate lawyers. The platform is easy to use, and assistance is available should you have any questions while creating your will. Anyone who accesses the platform through the Bruce Trail Conservancy website automatically receives a 20% discount; however, if you’re a BTC member, you are eligible for a 50% discount. Members can find the promo code under “Member Discounts” when they sign into their account at brucetrail.org/my-account/.
“A number of Toronto Club members have given estate donations because they loved the Bruce Trail and hiked it many times,” says Gloria. “When people hear of their generosity, they realize, ‘I could make this gift too – if they can do it, so can I,’” In addition to this program, Gloria’s other duties include on-Trail recognition, the annual donor recognition event in the fall, and property tours. She is an avid hiker herself, taking in the Bruce Trail regularly as well as indulging in some international hiking adventures.
If you are considering a gift in your will to the Bruce Trail Conservancy and have questions, you can contact Gloria Vidovich at gvidovich@brucetrail.org or 905.529.6821 ext. 248.