Helping to Plan a Gift | Queen's Alumni

For Professional Advisors

Today, perhaps more than ever, philanthropic giving is a vital part of the financial planning process. Your clients likely put as much – or more - thought and care into their philanthropy as they do into other aspects of their financial life.

Offering counsel on tax-effective planned philanthropy can help you build deeper relationships with your clients and strengthen their loyalty to you.

If your client chooses to give to Queen’s, our Gift Planning team will work closely with you to help your client support research, teaching and student experience at Queen’s.

Our giving options empower our donors to making meaningful legacy gifts at the end of their lives, while enjoying tax benefits either now or for their estate. These include:

Our Legal Name and Charitable Registration No.
Queen’s University at Kingston
B/N 10786 8705 RR0001

We look forward to working with you to find the option that works best for your client.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What types of gifts are accepted?

Queen’s University accepts many different types of charitable gifts ranging from gifts of cash to gifts-in-kind.

Learn more about ways to give

2. My client doesn't have the means to make a large gift. Do you accept more modest investments?

Queen’s is pleased to accept gifts of all size. Every investment from every donor is valued for its thoughtfulness and generosity.

3. My clients want to include Queen’s in their will. What is the appropriate wording?

Queen’s can provide general wording to help you prepare a will. We suggest that the wording be written as broadly as possible to ensure the gift can be accepted and eventually used as intended by the donor. If necessary, we can prepare a separate memorandum of understanding that reflects your client’s wishes in more detail. This memo is not legally binding and can be changed by the donor at any time.

While we understand and respect that some people prefer not to speak directly with the charity about their bequest, we encourage you to contact us to confirm information, such as the existence of a specific program, the proper name of a project, etc.

Donors may also want to let us know about their intentions by providing us with a copy of their will or the relevant pages pertaining to their bequest for Queen’s.

4. Where do I send information?

Send all information about giving to Queen's to:

Office of Gift Planning
Department of Development
Old Medical Building
Queen's University
Kingston, Ont. K7L 3N6

Phone:1-800-267-7837 (Toll Free Canada/U.S.)
Local: 613-533-2060
Fax: 613-533-6762
Email

5. My client wants to set up a scholarship or bursary. How do they do this?

We suggest that you or your client contact the Office of Gift Planning to discuss a donation toward a scholarship or bursary. We would be very pleased to learn more of your client’s interests to assist in the creation of a new award and forward relevant information.

Donors have the option of contributing to an existing scholarship or bursary, or creating a new scholarship/award/bursary, which can be endowed or expendable. Through discussions with the donor, terms of reference will be prepared.

Individuals who intend to support a student award with a bequest in their Will are encouraged to keep the wording very general. We suggest that they include the following:

Their wish to support a scholarship/bursary
The designated faculty/department/school, if appropriate
Their preference for an award name, if known

This information provides Queen’s with sufficient direction for the gift without limiting our ability to accept it. We strongly encourage individuals who intend to create a new fund or support an existing one with a bequest in their Will to contact the Office of Gift Planning to ensure that the gift can be accepted and eventually used as intended by the donor.

6. How are endowments established?

Endowments are wonderful opportunities to create lasting legacies. A donor’s gift is invested in the Queen’s Pooled Endowment Fund and according to the Spending Policy, a portion of the interest earned is used to support a designated project, such as scholarships, student aid programs and research. These funds are then awarded annually.

Read more about Queen’s Pooled Endowment Funds.

We would be pleased to discuss endowment opportunities and the amount of funds required. The amount will vary and is dependent on the specific designation.

7. My client wishes to remain anonymous. Is this possible?

We understand the importance of protecting the confidentiality of your clients. We are aware that many people prefer their gift to remain anonymous. We will certainly respect and honour their wishes, and consult with these donors or with their advisors to determine the level of privacy that would be most appropriate.

8. Will my client receive a tax receipt?

An individual making a charitable donation will receive a tax receipt based on Canada Revenue Agency's guidelines on gifts and receipting. Queen’s is committed to forwarding tax receipts as soon as possible following receipt of the donation.

9. My client has very specific ideas about how he/she would like his/her gift spent. Can you accommodate his/her wishes?

Donors are encouraged to designate their gift to an area that is important to them and in keeping with Queen’s mission and vision. In order to ensure the viability of the proposed gift, we recommend you or your client contact the Office of Gift Planning early on in the decision-making process.

Should the proposed designation not be feasible, we can suggest an alternative designation that closely matches your client's needs and interests.

Over time, the needs of Queen’s University may change due to revisions of program offerings, developing research interests and external considerations. For that reason, we urge donors who have restrictions identified in their bequest language to also include the following power to vary statement in their bequest clause.

In the event that circumstances make the specified use of this gift no longer practical or desirable, the Board of Trustees of the University are hereby authorized to make changes in its use in keeping as far as possible with the spirit and general intent of the gift.

Learn more about sample bequest wording

10. My client wants to support Queen’s, but would like suggestions on what to support. Can you do that?

In consultation with you and/or your client, we will provide information on Queen’s University funding priorities, based on your client’s specific areas of interest.

Connect with our Gift Planning Team to find out more.