Leave a Gift in Your Will

You can continue to impact human rights long into the future

Listen to Hamid Ghassemi-Shall share his own story about how his five-year ordeal in Iranian prison ended after thousands of Amnesty International supporters joined the movement to free him.

Other ways you can leave a legacy gift

A Gift of RRSPS or RRIFS

Your retirement funds: for saving and giving

You take injustice personally, and you believe everyone has the right to be treated equally and with dignity. You also believe in human rights for all, forever, and you wish to protect and promote human rights for generations to come.

You can be an enduring voice for freedom and justice by making a gift of retirement funds to Amnesty International.

Naming a charity as the beneficiary of your registered retirement savings plan or retirement income fund is easy to do and can be highly beneficial. Simply contact the financial institution managing your retirement plan and sign a declaration (known as a “beneficiary form”) naming Amnesty International Canadian Section (English Speaking) as the beneficiary of the plan.

You can choose to name Amnesty International as the primary beneficiary, or as a secondary beneficiary in the event that your spouse or other primary recipient should pass on before you. It is not necessary to amend your will in order to take advantage of this option, and designating a charitable beneficiary does not affect your own use of the retirement funds in any way. The after-tax amount of funds remaining in the account upon your demise will go to supporting the cause you believe in, and your estate will receive a charitable donation tax receipt for the full amount of the gift.

Two ways to make a gift of an RRSP or RRIF

1. Name Amnesty International – Canadian Section (English Speaking) as the designated beneficiary. You can do so with your financial institution on a designated form.

2. Leave the proceeds of your RRSP or RRIF to Amnesty International Canadian Section (English Speaking) in your will.

In both cases, Amnesty International will issue a charitable receipt to your estate. By naming Amnesty International as a beneficiary, you will also avoid probate tax and ensure that funds are available to help address critical human rights issues as quickly as possible.

If you choose to withdraw money from your retirement fund during your lifetime to make a donation to Amnesty International, we recommend that you carefully review the tax implications with your financial advisor.

How much can I give? 

You can make a long-lasting difference and receive significant tax benefits when you support Amnesty International. Learn how using our online calculator.

Always seek professional advice

Amnesty International will provide information and assistance to you on this and other ways you can support our work. However, we strongly encourage you to seek independent advice when making charitable gifts of annuities, securities, property, life insurance, wills, trusts, contracts and other legal agreements.

A gift of life insurance 

Giving back with life insurance 

You take injustice personally, and you believe everyone has the right to be treated equally and with dignity. You also believe in human rights for all, forever, and you wish to protect and promote human rights for generations to come.

You can be an enduring voice for freedom and justice by making a gift of life insurance to Amnesty International.

Depending on how you structure your gift, you can realize significant tax advantages during your lifetime— or benefit your estate. Remember, your life insurance needs can change. Once your children become self-sufficient, your life insurance coverage may no longer be needed for the purpose it was originally purchased.

Life insurance does not diminish your estate, because the death benefit is paid by the insurance company.

Gifts of life insurance can be made in three ways:

1. Change an existing life insurance policyIf you no longer need to provide financial security for your heirs, you can change the name of the beneficiary to Amnesty International. We cannot offer an immediate tax receipt to you. However, after death, your estate will get a charitable donation receipt for the proceeds of the policy. This can offset income tax payable on your estate’s final tax return. In addition, your thoughtful gift will not be subject to probate taxes.
    
2. Transfer ownership of an existing policyIf you’d like to receive immediate tax savings on the donation of an existing policy, you can transfer ownership to Amnesty International, making Amnesty the beneficiary. A portion of your policy’s value will be taxable as income, but you will receive a receipt to help offset taxes payable. If premiums are still owing, you will receive a charitable tax receipt for every premium you continue to pay on that policy.
    
3. Purchase a new life insurance policy 
   You can purchase a new life insurance policy to support Amnesty International. By designating Amnesty International as owner and beneficiary of the new policy, you will receive an income tax receipt for your annual premium payments. If you name Amnesty International as beneficiary only, you will not receive an income tax receipt for your annual premium payments but your estate will receive a tax receipt for the face value of your policy.

 
Always seek professional advice
Amnesty International will provide information and assistance to you on this and other ways you can support our work. However, we strongly encourage you to seek independent advice when making charitable gifts of annuities, securities, property, life insurance, wills, trusts, contracts and other legal agreements.