Donating It Forward: How Legacy Gifts Support Metro Vancouver

As older Canadians start passing down properties, savings and other assets to the younger generations, more of these wealth transfers include a legacy gift to charity through people’s wills. These legacy donations play an important role in supporting the health and well-being of the community—the type of support that can only be provided through philanthropy. Here’s how nonprofits support Metro Vancouver and B.C. with the legacy donations they receive.

Supporting Care Close to Home: Burnaby Hospital & Community Foundation

Every day, families in Burnaby and East Vancouver rely on Burnaby Hospital for care when it matters most. Burnaby Hospital & Community Foundation (BHCF) ensures that care continues to grow and improve and stays close to home, thanks to donors’ generosity.

A legacy gift is one of the most powerful ways to support the health and wellness of Burnaby and East Vancouver.

“These gifts help secure the future of healthcare in our community,” says Kristy James, president and CEO of BHCF. “It’s a meaningful way to ensure exceptional care long after your lifetime.”

Legacy gifts help fund advanced medical equipment and technology, education grants that strengthen healthcare expertise, healthy living programs, and the multi-phase redevelopment of Burnaby Hospital, first built in 1952 and now preparing for its future.

The Foundation’s next priority is raising funds for Phase Two of the hospital campus redevelopment. This phase will deliver a new, modern 12-storey acute care tower, including an ICU, medical imaging department, inpatient oncology unit, cardiac telemetry unit and a regional Cancer Centre.

As the health needs of the community grow, long-term support matters more than ever. Including BHCF in your will allows you to reflect your values while helping ensure quality care for those who follow.

For many people, a legacy gift can have a greater impact than annual donations. As more Canadians plan their estates, they are choosing to include the causes that mattered most in their lives.

“Legacy giving is growing as the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history unfolds,” says James. “Your gift will continue to provide care for the people you love and touch the lives of countless others you may never meet, strengthening healthcare in your community for generations.”

Supporting Individuals in Crisis: Family Services of Greater Vancouver

When you leave a legacy gift in your will, your donation can be designated to a specific purpose or initiative within a charity, or it can be open for the charity to allocate.

“Most donors choose to support the highest-needs priorities, providing flexibility for the charity each year,” says Kyle Tiney, director of development at Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV). FSGV offers support to people in crisis along with services to help people develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to create positive change in their lives.

“Over the years, legacy gifts to FSGV have contributed to our endowment fund, which continues to provide sustainable, unrestricted revenue every year for us,” says Tiney. “This allows the organization to focus on creating new programs that meet the needs of the community, expanding our reach and continuing to support clients for as long as needed.”

Tiney notes that different types of donations—a legacy gift versus an annual gift—support organizations in different ways. “Legacy giving is unique because it allows someone to make a meaningful contribution without affecting their daily financial needs,” he says. “While annual gifts support today’s programs, legacy gifts help ensure stability, resilience and innovation for decades to come.”

These forward-looking gifts are notably important as day-to-day financial realities inevitably shift for charities. “The nonprofit sector continues to adapt through changing economic times, evolving government priorities and increased demand for services,” notes Tiney. “Legacy gifts are a much-needed source of revenue for charities to keep up with demand and the changing financial landscape.”

This stability through uncertainty is particularly important for organizations like FSGV that provide vital support to individuals in crisis or in vulnerable situations.

“A legacy gift to FSGV is a profound way to strengthen the well-being of families, survivors of violence and unhoused youth for generations to come,” he says. “If you believe in building more resilient communities with a brighter tomorrow, this is one of the most meaningful ways to make that commitment last.”

Supporting Cancer Care in British Columbia: BC Cancer Foundation

As B.C.’s population grows and ages, the number of British Columbians living with cancer also rises. “More than 80,000 British Columbians and their families are living with cancer today,” says Elissa Morrissette, senior vice president & chief development officer at the BC Cancer Foundation. “The need for long-term, sustainable investment in cancer research, treatment and infrastructure has never been greater.”

Legacy giving, she notes, plays a vital role, now more than ever, in shaping the future of cancer care in this province. “Legacy gifts provide a unique opportunity to plan ahead and invest in transformative solutions,” says Morrissette.

A legacy gift with the BC Cancer Foundation goes toward the future of cancer care, whether it’s driving breakthroughs, fuelling cutting-edge research programs, acquiring best-in-class technology or supporting compassionate and expert care close to home.

“Every dollar donated stays right here in our province, advancing world-leading research and treatment options in the very communities where we live, work and raise our families,” she says.

Currently, the BC Cancer Foundation is fundraising for four new BC Cancer centres across the province in addition to the existing six locations. “Breakthroughs in areas like precision medicine, early detection and discovery research require sustained support,” she says. “Legacy giving helps provide this continuity.”

Morrissette offers the example of the late John Jambor’s transformative estate gift that has already led to meaningful change for future generations. “In the estate plan John Jambor and his grandson William McCarthy created, he left a bequest to the BC Cancer Foundation that grew to $21.4 million and was gifted to BC Cancer Foundation in 2012,” she says. “This was the largest charitable bequest in B.C.’s history at the time.”

In recognition of this gift, the organization named its John Jambor Legacy Circle after the late philanthropist. “This circle celebrates our community of legacy donors, creates meaningful opportunities to learn about the impact of philanthropic investment in BC Cancer, and allows us to recognize individuals according to their preferences,” says Morrissette.

A legacy gift doesn’t have to be large to have an impact—and it can come from anyone. “Everyone should have an estate plan, and anyone who wishes to make a lasting difference can plan for a legacy gift,” she says. “Estate plans involve gifts of wealth, rather than income, and often allow donors to make a much bigger impact than otherwise possible.”

Legacy donations are also a great way to align your legacy with your values and ensure the causes you care about continue to make an impact after your lifetime.

“Last year, donors collectively contributed over $20 million through their estate plans to the BC Cancer Foundation—a truly transformational impact and a testament to the power of legacy giving,” notes Morrissette.

Support Children’s Healthcare: BC Children’s Hospital

There’s only one hospital in all of B.C. and Yukon that’s dedicated exclusively to children’s care. And it serves a pediatric population of almost one million.

“Legacy gifts support innovations and advances that provide the best health outcomes for kids and families—and ensure that BC Children’s continues to rank among the top pediatric hospitals in the world,” says Hilary Beard, director of gift and estate planning for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Thanks, in part, to legacy gifts, BC Children’s Hospital has achieved many firsts in healthcare. It was the first Canadian hospital to implant a new pacemaker into a newborn, giving new hope to those with severe heart conditions. Researchers developed the first simple test predicting a serious transplant complication months before it would occur supporting preventive care. The hospital also launched the Clinical Trials Super Hub, the first of its kind in Canada, bringing the world’s most advanced treatments closer to home.

“Legacy gifts fuel this kind of groundbreaking work that’s not only improving the health of kids across B.C., but also setting new standards worldwide,” says Beard. “With breakthroughs we can’t yet imagine, a legacy gift can drive medical advancement beyond what’s possible today.”

The need for donor support is high, Beard notes, adding that children’s healthcare needs are becoming more complex and demanding. “Over 30 percent of Canadian children and youth live with chronic diseases, one in five experiences chronic pain and many children now wait longer for essential health services than adults do,” she says. “Canada invests just 1.6 percent of its GDP in children and youth—less than half of other leading countries. Our country now ranks 19th out of 36 wealthy countries in the health and well-being of children and youth.”

Legacy gifts play an important part in closing this investment gap while supporting future generations’ health. “In speaking with many community members across B.C. who have made their legacy plan, often in their will, I’ve noted their deep satisfaction and sense of inner peace that their future legacy might be the biggest achievement of their decades of hard work,” says Beard. “It is for some a way of sharing success—a form of ‘paying it forward.’”

Beard adds: “You can make a meaningful legacy gift without changing your current lifestyle or business. You can support the future while taking care of today.”

Supporting Individuals with Disabilities: Easter Seals BC/Yukon

Almost 30 percent of British Columbians age 15 and older live with a disability, according to the provincial government. Easter Seals BC/Yukon provides supportive programming and helps individuals with disabilities develop self-esteem and independence.

“Our programs and services support people at critical points in their lives,” says Tristan Klassen, acting CEO of Easter Seals BC/Yukon. “Generous legacy donors ensure that these programs and services continue to be available for individuals when they need them.”

Gifts fund core programs at Easter Seals, like summer camps for children and adults with disabilities—a place where they can gain confidence, develop social skills and build relationships. Donations also support Easter Seals House, which provides convenient and comfortable accommodation for people who must travel to Vancouver to seek medical care for themselves or a loved one.

The impact of legacy donors on Easter Seals BC/Yukon lasts for decades. “In addition to being a regular donor to the organization, one donor who stayed in the Easter Seals House years ago during a medical emergency left us a gift in their will,” he explains. “The funds left by this person meant we were able to carry out much-needed updates to one of the guest rooms at Easter Seals House, ensuring many more people would be able to receive and benefit from the same service the donor received all those years ago.”

Legacy gifts have never been more important, Klassen notes, reiterating that there is an increasing demand for programs offered by the charitable sector.

“Having a reliable source of future income ensures that charities can better plan and the impact of their programs continues,” he says. “By leaving a gift in your estate plans, you guarantee that the crucial work being done by Easter Seals BC/Yukon to support individuals with disabilities will affect generations beyond our own, just like it has for almost eight decades.”

Supporting Those Experiencing Food Insecurity: Greater Vancouver Food Bank

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) distributes approximately 9.5 million pounds of food annually to those in need. More British Columbians are turning to services like the GVFB given the rising cost of groceries, housing and other necessities, which makes it increasingly difficult for families to put nutritious food on the table.

A legacy gift to the GVFB ensures ongoing access to fresh, healthy food for people in need, furthering the organization’s reach across communities in the Greater Vancouver area, and creating a secure and sustainable future that addresses food insecurity in the community.

Joe B. is a regular volunteer and a monthly supporter of the GVFB. After witnessing firsthand the positive impact the organization has on the community, Joe and his wife Pat decided to leave a gift in their will.

“As a volunteer, I became aware of the wide range of work being done by the GVFB and the work’s positive impact,” Joe recalls. “Pat and I made a mindful decision to donate to the GVFB. We have been fortunate in our circumstances in our lives and want to provide a gift that helps others. There may always be people in need. A gift to others in your will could be considered a very Canadian legacy.”

The GVFB has made it easier for more Canadians to create a legacy by partnering with Epilogue Wills, an online will platform created by experienced estate planning lawyers, offering supporters the opportunity to create a will at 50 percent off with the discount code GVFB50.

“When I hear from someone who has made a gift to the GVFB in their will, I am overjoyed,” says Greg Douglas, senior director of development at GVFB. “It is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my job—to know that someone cares about the GVFB’s work so much that they want to ensure it continues well into the future.”

Supporting Individuals and Families in Need: The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country, offering a range of services from meal programs, housing support, addiction rehabilitation, life skills development and children and youth programming.

“Demand for programs and services is continuously rising with the increase in population and economic uncertainty impacting people’s work and home,” says Kim Findlay, divisional director of development at The Salvation Army.

Because charities do not budget for legacy donations, these gifts allow organizations like The Salvation Army to help more individuals and families through increased services, new programming or improving infrastructure. “During times like this, where the demand for services and programs has grown by 30 to 40 percent, any additional funding not budgeted allows us to respond where the needs are greatest,” he notes.

Findlay shares the example of Christopher Braun and his wife, who left a legacy gift to The Salvation Army in their will. Braun moved to Canada after WWII, where he later met his wife at a community hall dance. They began buying duplexes in Vancouver to renovate and rent out. Later, they also built apartment buildings to rent out. Each day, Braun would walk around the city and see the many unhoused people living in downtown Vancouver. So, through their will, he and his wife directed their gift to go towards Salvation Army shelters for the unhoused in Greater Vancouver, Vancouver Harbour Light and Belkin House.

Through legacy gifts like Braun’s, people can make a future-focused, meaningful impact on the community where they live and work. Those who leave a legacy gift with The Salvation Army are part of the Circle of Hope, Findlay notes, which is a group of people who “strongly share the belief that our community becomes a better place when we offer hope and dignity to vulnerable people.”

Findlay reminds everyone to think about what they want their legacy to be. “Creating a will with gifts to charities helps provide clear and intentional directions for your family and loved ones, as well as putting your mind at ease,” he says. “When you think about the values that are important in your life and the ideals you wish to be remembered for, consider including The Salvation Army in your legacy.”

Learn more about legacy giving at:

• Burnaby Hospital & Community Foundation | bhfoundation.ca/legacy
• Family Services of Greater Vancouver | fsgv.ca/you-can-help/giving/legacy
• BC Cancer Foundation | bccancerfoundation.com/ways-to-give/leave-a-gift-in-your-will
• BC Children’s Hospital Foundation | bcchf.ca/legacy
• Easter Seals BC/Yukon | eastersealsbcy.ca/legacy-giving
• Greater Vancouver Food Bank | foodbank.bc.ca/ways-to-give/legacy-giving
• The Salvation Army | salvationarmy.ca/create-your-legacy