Legacy Giving

Leave a Lasting Legacy with HAT

Legacy giving is a powerful way for you to give back to nature, even beyond your lifetime.

The environments we love today are not guaranteed for tomorrow. Healthy ecosystems are the foundation of thriving communities—providing habitat for wildlife, supporting biodiversity, and connecting people to the places around us. Because these ecological relationships unfold over generations, caring for the land is work that extends far beyond our own lifetimes.

By leaving a gift to HAT in your will or through another legacy giving option, you can help create a lasting source of conservation funding and ensure the places, ecosystems, flora, and fauna you love have a future. With just a small amount of planning now, you can help protect local habitats for generations to come.

In 2024, the HAT Foundation was established with legacy giving in mind. As a dedicated charitable foundation, the HAT Foundation provides a way to build lasting financial resources for habitat conservation, restoration, and stewardship, helping HAT continue this work for generations to come.

Legacy gifts given through the HAT Foundation help provide financial stability for HAT to continue protecting and stewarding local habitats in perpetuity. Your contribution, no matter the size or type, can help HAT protect the landscapes you love for generations to come.

Less than 8% of Canadians set themselves up for legacy giving. Yet, it’s estimated that if an additional 3.5% of Canadians gave a gift in their will in the next decade, $40 billion could be gifted to charitable causes. You don’t need to own significant assets to have a meaningful impact.

The most common form of legacy giving is a bequest in a will. However, there are many flexible options, many with significant tax benefits. With some thoughtful preparation, you can be sure to care for both your loved ones and the causes you care about most.

HAT's Legacy Giving Guide

Habitat Acquisition Trust Foundation (70420 8016 RR0001)

Habitat Acquisition Trust (88962 6545 RR0001)

Thank you for thinking of us! Whether you’ve already set up a legacy gift or are thinking of doing so, we recommend connecting with us so we can ensure your wishes are met.

Kevin Smith, Executive Director, kevin@hat.bc.ca

Shania LaFreniere, Development & Communications Manager, shania@hat.bc.ca

(250) 995-2428

Legacy Giving FAQ

  • Legacy giving, also known as planned giving, is when an individual donates a portion of their estate to a charitable organization. This can take many forms, from the donation of assets (like land) to securities (RRSPs, TFSAs, etc.) to life insurance. There are many options that are flexible and can be suited to your needs. Take a look at our Legacy Giving Guide for more information, or speak to a financial advisor or estate planner.

  • Legacy gifts donated to HAT provide longer-term financial stability relative to regular donations. This is because they are often larger in size and are typically managed as an endowment, which offers predictable annual funds.

    The stability provided by legacy gifts helps maximize our impact on-the-ground by allowing us to spend more time delivering programming!

  • Legacy gifts take many forms and can offer significant tax benefits, for you and/or your loved ones. Talk to a financial advisor or estate planner to learn more.

  • Legacy giving does not have to be complicated! For many, it is easier than expected to set up legacy giving.

    You can add a charitable organization to your will and/or as a beneficiary on your accounts or policies by speaking to your provider, financial advisor, or estate planner. All you need to provide is the name of the charity and their charitable number.

    Online will services like https://www.legalwills.ca/ and https://www.willpower.ca/ also make it easy to create a will online.

    Habitat Acquisition Trust Foundation (70420 8016 RR0001)

    Habitat Acquisition Trust (88962 6545 RR0001)

  • Absolutely! There are many ways to ensure you’re providing for your loved ones while still creating a legacy gift. And with tax benefits, legacy giving can be a wise decision to make to reduce tax burdens for those inheriting your estate. Talk to a financial advisor or estate planner for more information.

  • The HAT Foundation was established as a way to manage legacy gifts and large donations, creating long-term financial stability for HAT. Funds from the Foundation directly support HAT. Listing the HAT Foundation as a beneficiary allows us to streamline the financial process of managing a large gift. If you are planning to provide a legacy gift to HAT but are unsure about which organization to list, contact us and we can discuss what works best!

Victoria Foundation’s HAT Endowment Fund

Donors may prefer to provide a legacy gift through the Victoria Foundation. You can donate directly through The Victoria Foundation by specifying that the funds be directed to HAT's Endowment Fund. Contact the Victoria Foundation for more information.