Gift options

Think about your legacy. Think about the good that you can continue to do with a lasting gift. There are many tax-effective ways to support UBC. Learn more about the benefits of different ways of giving before deciding what works best for you.

The most common way to give through your estate is by putting a bequest into your will. To learn more about bequests, go here.

If you have other assets to consider, read more below:

RRSPs, RRIFs, and TFSAs

Giving retirement assets is one of the easiest, most tax-effective ways to support research and learning at UBC. Many do not realize that, upon passing, the total value of your registered retirement accounts must be reported as income. This income is fully taxable, unless the funds can be rolled over to a surviving spouse or dependent child.

While retirement assets can be a costly gift to distribute, they make ideal donations to charitable organizations such as UBC. By naming The University of British Columbia as a direct beneficiary of your RRSP, RRIF or TFSA, you will avoid paying probate fees on those assets. This means more of your estate goes to something important to you. A donation to UBC can also offset taxes owed on other retirement assets. You may designate UBC as a 100% beneficiary or a partial beneficiary.

A gift is easy to make: simply obtain a beneficiary designation form from your plan’s provider and complete the form with UBC’s legal name (The University of British Columbia) and charitable business number (10816 1779 RR0001).

If you would like to dedicate your gift to a specific faculty, endowment or program on either campus, please make your wishes known in a separate letter that you include within your estate documents. If you have any questions about possible programs or places to direct your legacy, please get in touch. Our staff at UBC Gift & Estate Planning will be pleased to help.

Gifts of real estate & personal property

Over our 100 year history, UBC has been fortunate to receive and make use of a surprising range of gifts. If you have an unusual asset, we would be pleased to work with you to understand its true value and to establish whether it is appropriate as a gift to the university. We are always happy to discuss such opportunities and to help you understand the benefits and costs, which may include appraisals, taxes and legal advice related to the transfer. These gifts may be used to advance learning or sold so the proceeds can be directed to your area of interest at the university.

You can make a gift of property now, through your will, or through a gift of future interest. Gifts of real estate can be accepted by The University of British Columbia Foundation. Gifts of future interest allow donors to receive a tax receipt immediately, continuing to enjoy the property in their lifetime, while knowing that the gift will benefit UBC upon their passing.

Our knowledgeable staff have experience with all kinds of assets and gifts, so if you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.