At Nellie’s shelter, we are forever grateful for the generosity of our donors near and far—from small businesses to large corporations to individual fundraising events and donations. Every donation helps ensure that we can always meet the needs of the women and their children living at Nellie’s as well as those who need the support of our community programs and services.

Another great way to support us is by including Nellie’s shelter in your will and estate plans.

“Leaving a legacy gift to Nellie’s is a great way to make a tremendous impact on our organization while controlling your legacy,” says Ingrid Graham, Director of Development.

May is Leave a Legacy Month in Canada, a national, public awareness campaign that encourages people to consider planned giving as a way to support non-profit organizations. There are many reasons you may choose to leave a legacy gift. For some it’s about supporting a charity close to their heart, for others it’s a way to ensure their memory lives on after they’re gone. Whatever your reasons for leaving a legacy, naming Nellie’s for a gift through your estate ensures that we can continue to welcome women and their children impacted by abuse, trauma and homelessness. Government funding ensures a roof over our heads, beds to sleep in and other essentials, but the essential programs and services we deliver to meet the changing and complex needs of our community are only possible because of our donors.

There are many different ways to leave a legacy to Nellie’s in your will.

Bequest a cash amount. This is the most common type of legacy gift. It can be a specific dollar amount, a specific gift, a percentage of your estate or the remaining balance of your estate after you’ve provided for loved ones.

Name Nellie’s as a beneficiary on your life insurance policy. This allows you to make a significant donation to Nellie’s at a relatively low cost while protecting the value of your estate and possibly even providing you with a tax saving.

Gift of retirement saving plans. If you’re not survived by a spouse and have no dependent children (or have already made arrangements for your children), leftover retirement funds make an excellent charitable gift, and offer a tax-saving benefit on your estate.

Invest in charitable gift annuities. This provides a way to increase your income and reduce your taxes all while making a substantial gift to Nellie’s to help us ensure we can always provide a safe space to the women and their children who need us.

To leave a legacy to Nellie’s, you need to know our legal name (Women’s Hostel’s Inc.), our charitable registration number (11930-2727-RR0001) and our mailing address (970 Queen St. E. P.O. Box 98118, Toronto, ON, M4M 1J8).

Here are some other tips to consider when leaving a legacy:

• Talk to your family about your wishes. These can be tough conversations but doing so will make it much easier for your loved ones when you pass away.
• Get professional advice. A financial advisor can help you better understand legacy options and a lawyer can help you write your will.

For more information on leaving a legacy, please contact Ingrid Graham, Director of Development at Ingrid@nellies.org or at 416-645-1419.