Why Give
Vancouver Foundation is your community’s foundation.
Your generosity + our expertise creates a brighter future.
What matters to you matters to us
Community foundations help make giving easy and impactful. Whether you’re passionate about education, healthcare, the environment, or all of the above, Vancouver Foundation will help connect your generosity with the causes that matter most to you.
Stronger together
When you give through Vancouver Foundation, your impact is amplified. Your gift joins forces with others, creating greater opportunities for change that help strengthen the organizations making a difference in your community.
Local knowledge, lasting impact
We work closely with communities to understand their unique needs so that you can be confident your support is making a meaningful difference—now and for future generations.
A trusted partner
For over 80 years, Vancouver Foundation has been helping thousands of donors make a positive difference in their communities. No matter how you choose to give, we’re here to help. We’ll handle the complicated book-keeping so you can focus on the most fulfilling part… giving.
How to give
Start a Charitable Fund
By establishing a Donor Advised Fund, you can support the causes you’re passionate about year after year. Launch your endowment fund with a gift of $10,000 (or $1,000 to start), and support any registered Canadian charity, or let our community advisors evaluate hundreds of projects on your behalf.
This is my way to honour and thank [my parents].
Other Ways to Give
Vancouver Foundation offers a variety of options for giving. Whether it’s setting up an endowment fund, contributing to an existing fund, or making a legacy gift, we work with you to meet your financial needs and your personal philanthropic goals.
Here are a few of the most popular ways to give:
By Cheque
Cheques can be made payable to “Vancouver Foundation” with the name of your fund noted in the memo line.
You will receive a charitable donation receipt for the year your contribution was made for all donations over $25. We do not accept cash donations.
By Credit Card
You can donate directly to your fund at any time using Visa or MasterCard, by clicking here .
You may also want to consider setting up monthly or quarterly donations through your credit card. This is an easy way to give and, if at any time you want to stop, increase, or decrease the amount, just contact us.
With Publicly Traded Securities
A simple, tax-conscious way to contribute is by donating stocks to charity. By gifting publicly traded securities, you transfer the ownership of stocks or bonds to Vancouver Foundation. If your shares have increased in value, 50% of those capital gains are taxable. However, if you donate these shares to Vancouver Foundation, the entire gain is tax-exempt.
For more information, visit the Donate Securities to Charities page .
I’m just one person, but when we all contribute to causes together, great things can happen.
Options for Giving Later
There are also ways to give to Vancouver Foundation in the future. Check out our helpful Donation Calculator to learn about tax savings by donating from your estate, or read below for other ways to donate to charity after death.
Charitable Bequest
If you’re interested in donating through your estate, you can include Vancouver Foundation in your will. A bequest can be a specific dollar amount, or a residual gift (the entire portion of your estate), and can be given outright, or as a contingent gift.
Vancouver Foundation will provide an official receipt for income tax purposes to your estate when we receive the bequest. We’ve prepared a handy document with sample clauses for your will that your lawyer can use as a guide.
Life Insurance
By naming us as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy, you can provide a sizeable future gift to Vancouver Foundation, without reducing what’s given to family and friends through your estate.
If you designate Vancouver Foundation as the beneficiary (or owner and beneficiary) of your life insurance policy, we will provide you with an official receipt for income tax purposes, for the amount of premium you pay each year.
RRSP/RRIF/TFSA
Your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) or Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) can be used to make a significant donation to Vancouver Foundation by naming us as your beneficiary. This can save your estate from paying probate tax on the proceeds.
For American Donors
If you’re an American citizen, charity, or corporation that’s interested in donating, Friends of Vancouver Foundation is a separate legal entity based in Washington State that can accept your donation. They will also provide tax receipts that can be used for filing American taxes.
For more information, visit Giving Options for Americans.
Working with Charities
We’re Here to Help
To get started, please contact our Donor Services team by emailing donorservices@vancouverfoundation.ca, or give us a call at 604.688.2204.