Being charitable can mean a number of things. For many Canadians, it’s supporting causes or organizations you care about via donations and financial means. For some, it may be contributing your time through volunteering. How and why you give, and the level of emphasis you place on charitable activities, is something completely personal to you or your family.

Motivations for giving are often fueled by wanting to make a positive difference within your community or to give back, or a passion for a specific cause. Amidst the pandemic in particular and in seeing the direct impacts on the charitable sector, for some individuals, these motivations and emotions around charitable giving have grown and deepened. With this in mind and for those who may want to create a more significant charitable impact, it’s important to look at the range of benefits that a structured approach can offer as part of your wealth planning as a whole.

Charitable sector impacts during COVID-19

Over the course of the pandemic, the charitable sector in Canada has been significantly impacted, from decreased donations to growing service demands. According to Imagine Canada’s second Sector Monitor Study in February 2021, 75 percent of charities noted a drop in at least one type of donation, and over half have experienced lower revenues since the onset of the pandemic, with an average decline of 43 percent.¹

Furthermore, 46 percent are reporting increased demand, creating a growing gap between service needs and capacity to support, and concerns among many charities about long-term viability.²

While statistics do seem to indicate that many Canadians gave less overall to charities in 2020, and that charitable giving has been down in recent years and as a result of COVID-19,³ for some, these times have instead encouraged a stronger mentality to help and a greater motivation to set a strategy.

In general with charitable giving, there can often be a tendency to focus on the immediate or short-term. Throughout the pandemic, and as a direct response to the effects of COVID-19 in communities and society, that tendency in some ways has intensified — many want to see their charitable dollars in action now so the impact is immediate. At the same time, for many individuals and families who have charitable motivations and available resources, there’s also been a shift to a more focused approach and the longer-term benefits it may offer.

Getting started with structured giving

At the core of structured giving is developing a vision for what you want to achieve over time and mapping out when and how you will give. While charitable giving typically tends to be more reactive, a structured approach is more targeted and proactive. Many individuals often ask, “How can I have a greater impact?” and, more recently, “How can I extend my charitable impact over time?” In both cases, considering the different options for giving and carrying out planning introduces a range of potential advantages, tying in tax efficiencies and estate planning, and at the same time helping individuals make a more meaningful difference over the long-term.

As a starting point, you or your family may want to spend some time thinking about and discussing values, causes or charitable organizations that resonate with you. Creating a list of charities or areas of interest that are close to your heart, and articulating what impact you’re looking to have with your charitable dollars, may also help in determining the framework for your strategy.

Other aspects to consider are how philanthropy fits into your personal or family circumstances, now, during your lifetime or as part of leaving a lasting legacy. Your family may also have ambitions for getting the next generation involved. From there, the next phase is determining the amounts and timing that best meet your charitable objectives and carrying out the appropriate planning with your qualified advisors to ensure these objectives are properly accounted for in your overall plans.

Identifying areas of charitable interest

As part of early conversations in developing your charitable strategy, and as you give thought to your areas of interest, it may be beneficial to take steps in getting to know certain charities and their programming. Doing so may help identify where you and your family can maximize your giving and accomplish your objectives by supporting a few focused charities. It can also broaden your sightlines to other charities that may be of interest.

An example

Say a family has recently focused on immediate pandemic needs, so they’ve been supporting their local food bank. They have strong charitable motivations and now want to build more structure and purpose with their giving. In speaking with the charity and developing a better understanding of its programming, this family learns that further to having the capacity to address immediate needs like the pandemic and short-term food insecurity, the food bank’s areas of focus also include longer-term advocacy for food insecurity, supporting newcomers and diverse cultural populations, gender inequalities and youth malnutrition.

In learning these additional focus areas, this may help the family recognize that their impact can be greater than they thought, and that they can accomplish additional charitable goals via a structured giving approach that focuses on this charity of choice or charitable sector areas of focus.

What are the different approaches for giving?

Depending on your goals, circumstances and time horizons for giving, there are a number of options that may be suitable and that may offer immediate or long-term tax benefits while at the same time fulfilling your charitable intentions. The following list highlights options for both during your lifetime or as part of wealth transfer and estate planning.

• Direct donation of cash
• Donation of non-cash gifts, including capital property, art and other collectibles, or even life insurance policies
• Donating publicly listed securities with accrued capital gains
• Charitable bequests in a Will
• Making a gift upon death by naming a registered charity as the beneficiary of certain plans and policies (e.g. RRSP, RRIF, TFSA or life insurance policy)
• Private foundation
• Charitable gift fund/donor-advised fund

Note: This list is non-exhaustive and includes only a selection of strategies and options that may offer potential tax advantages. A financial plan may assist in providing a more comprehensive model for donations. It is crucial to consult with your qualified tax advisor to ensure your individual circumstances are properly considered and addressed and that options are best suited to your needs and goals. Furthermore, when considering a gift of securities, it is important to consult with the charity directly to determine whether they are able to accept this type of gift.

In the context of more recent times, a hybrid approach to giving has been a growing strategy among some individuals and families. This type of approach incorporates philanthropy during one’s lifetime and through an estate. With this method, individuals are able to see the benefits of their charitable impact now and during their lifetimes, and at the same time create a longer-term legacy for years after their eventual passing. A blended strategy can also create tax efficiencies over the course of life and as part of one’s estate. For those who choose to engage family members as part of this approach, this may also be beneficial in building and extending charitable values across generations.

Focusing on the long-term impacts of your giving

In looking at the big picture as it relates to your charitable intentions, keep in mind that the process and the approach will be unique to you and your family. Whether you’re a younger individual, you have a busy career or growing family, or you’re approaching or already enjoying retirement, incorporating structure and strategies with your charitable giving can create benefits now, in the years to come and on a lasting basis for future generations.

Regardless of the amount being given (or granted from a foundation or donor-advised fund) annually, cumulatively in life or via one’s estate, if a more focused approach aligns with your charitable goals, it’s important to carefully consider your objectives, specifically and holistically. Think about how you’re currently giving, and how much in total you’re giving — and then measure that against the impact you’d ideally like to have. With these elements in mind, it’s here that planning and implementing a giving strategy may help in creating a broader ultimate impact.

This document has been prepared for use by the RBC Wealth Management member companies, RBC Dominion Securities Inc.*, RBC Phillips, Hager & North Investment Counsel Inc., RBC Global Asset Management Inc., Royal Trust Corporation of Canada and The Royal Trust Company (collectively, the “Companies”) and their affiliate, Royal Mutual Funds Inc. (RMFI). *Member – Canada Investor Protection Fund. Each of the Companies, RMFI and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliates. “RBC advisor” refers to Private Bankers who are employees of Royal Bank of Canada and licenced representatives of RMFI, Investment Counsellors who are employees of RBC Phillips, Hager & North Investment Counsel Inc. and the private client division of RBC Global Asset Management Inc., Senior Trust Advisors and Trust Officers who are employees of The Royal Trust Company or Royal Trust Corporation of Canada, or Investment Advisors who are employees of RBC Dominion Securities Inc. In Quebec, financial planning services are provided by RMFI which is licenced as a financial services firm in that province. In the rest of Canada, financial planning services are available through RMFI, Royal Trust Corporation of Canada, The Royal Trust Company, or RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Estate and trust services are provided by Royal Trust Corporation of Canada and The Royal Trust Company. If specific products or services are not offered by one of the Companies, clients may request a referral to another RBC partner. The strategies, advice and technical content in this publication are provided for the general guidance and benefit of our clients, based on information believed to be accurate and complete, but neither the Companies, RMFI, nor Royal Bank of Canada, nor any of its affiliates nor any other person can guarantee accuracy or completeness. This publication is not intended as nor does it constitute tax or legal advice. Readers should consult a qualified legal, tax or other professional advisor when planning to implement a strategy. This will ensure that their individual circumstances have been considered properly and that action is taken on the latest available information. Interest rates, market conditions, tax rules, and other investment factors are subject to change. This information is not investment advice and should only be used in conjunction with a discussion with your RBC advisor. None of the Companies, RMFI, Royal Bank of Canada nor any of its affiliates nor any other person accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this report or the information contained herein. In certain branch locations, one or more of the Companies may carry on business from premises shared with other Royal Bank of Canada affiliates. Notwithstanding this fact, each of the Companies is a separate business and personal information and confidential information relating to client accounts can only be disclosed to other RBC affiliates if required to service your needs, by law or with your consent. Under the RBC Code of Conduct, RBC Privacy Principles and RBC Conflict of Interest Policy confidential information may not be shared between RBC affiliates without a valid reason.

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