Ways To Give - Garth Homer Foundation

There are many ways to support the work of the Garth Homer Foundation:

Make a Donation

On Line via CanadaHelps.org
CanadaHelps is a registered charity created to accept charitable donations online for over 78,000 charitable organizations.

All information, including financials, personal identification and any other records, are securely protected behind multiple security measures. CanadaHelps.org has worked extensively with a number of major technology companies and online security experts to ensure that the site not only meets security requirements, but far exceeds them. Secure Socket Layers (SSL) are used to encrypt all information before sending it to our servers. Your information remains encrypted until it reaches our servers and, once there, it is protected by firewalls and the most effective security measures available.

If you would like to make a donation on-line, please click the "Donate Now" CanadaHelps.org link below.
$Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!\$

In Person
Come to the Garth Homer Centre at 813 Darwin Avenue, Victoria on weekdays between 8:30 and 4 pm.

If you call ahead and let us know when you are coming, we'd be delighted to give you a tour of the Garth Homer Centre.

By Mail
Below is a link to take you to our printable donation form. Simply fill it in online, print it off, and mail it to:

The Garth Homer Foundation 813 Darwin Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8X 2X7

By Phone
We will be happy to take your credit card donation over the phone. Simply call (250) 475 2270, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. (excluding holidays).

Monthly Gifts
Making one large donation is not always possible. With our convenient monthly giving program, you have the benefit of small monthly donations. Over a year, those donations add up, reflecting your strong support for the Garth Homer Foundation. Monthly donations are a cost-effective way to give, and they provide the Foundation with stable, year-round funding.

You may change your donation amount or cancel at any time. Your official income tax receipt for the full amount of your gift will be sent to you each December.

If you would like to make a monthly gift, please call our office for more information. We're at 475 2270.

Planned Giving

Plan a significant gift within your estate plan or your financial plan that will become available to the Garth Homer Foundation in the future.

You may give:

A Bequest: Make a planned gift that is written in a will. Leave a specific amount or a percentage in a will to the Garth Homer Foundation.

Life Insurance: You can name the Foundation as the owner or beneficiary of a fully paid current or new life insurance policy. There are tax benefits if the Foundation is made owner and beneficiary.

Charitable Gift Annuity: You can receive regular, tax-free income for life, and a current income tax receipt for a portion of your donation if you name the Foundation beneficiary of the principal.

Charitable Trust Remainder: Ownership of a substantial asset can be transferred to the Foundation with the donor continuing to receive regular interest payments from the asset. The principal of the trust becomes a irrevocable gift to people with disabilities. For example, give a home and live in it for your lifetime and then it goes to the Foundation.

Securities: Securities that are publicly listed can be gifted to the Foundation and give you significant tax savings by reducing your capital gains significantly.

RRSP or RRIF: Name the Garth Homer Foundation as a beneficiary.

Memorial Gifts: Remember loved ones with a memorial gift. There are many options that can be considered.

Other Gift Options: These options include cash, bonds, shares, mutual funds, term deposits, real estate, vehicles, art, and jewelry. If you have a professional advisor (financial or estate planner, lawyer, accountant, trust officer or insurance agent) please talk to her or him about leaving a gift. He or she can advise you about the tax benefits as most gifts offer attractive tax incentives both current and through the donor's estate.

If you are interested in receiving a Planned Giving Information Package please call our office at 475 2270.

Tax Incentives

Our governments encourage us to direct funds to the causes we support by way of allowing tax credits.

This credit is an exceptional tax break for most Canadians, and the more funds donated, the more taxes are saved.

Indeed this is worth a look: If a person donates $200 or less to The Garth Homer Foundation or Society this year, the amount of income tax paid will be reduced by at least 22 cents for every dollar donated ...

Even a closer look: For every dollar that is donated exceeding $200, one's taxes will be reduced by at least 40 cents.
For example, if a person makes a total donation of $1,000 by the end of the year a tax credit of approximately $400 is received.

It seems that many Canadians underestimate the value of tax credits for donations to registered charitable organizations because of the complex way they are calculated.

But it is pretty simple really ...
1. Charitable donations are tax credits rather than deductions. They are applied like cash to the amount of taxes paid thus making them more valuable than tax deductions.
2. Donations of less than $200 will reduce the basic federal taxes by 17% of the amount donated
3. Donation amounts greater than $200 will reduce the basic federal taxes by 29% of the amount donated.
4. Provincial income taxes are also reduced since they are calculated as a percentage of basic federal taxes as are the numerous surtaxes.

Questions often asked:

Explain the process for claiming tax credits: When a person donates funds to The Garth Homer Foundation or Society, an official income tax receipt is issued to the donor. When completing a tax return, complete the section on charitable donations, and attach the original donation receipts.

What is the maximum amount of donations that can be claimed? The limit that one may claim for the charitable donation tax credit is 75 percent of the donor's net income for the year. Charitable receipts may be held for up to five years to get the maximum benefit. If one gives more than 75 percent of their net income in a given year, the unclaimed portion can be carried forward to any of the next five years.
Remember, tax credits mean that we can all consider options to give more.

Ten ways to leave a lasting gift to The Garth Homer Foundation for the benefit of people with disabilities

Prepare a will. Without a will, control can be lost over any property at death.

Leave a gift in a will for the charitable organizations that made a difference in your life. Imagine the positive impact on our community if everyone made a gift from their estate to their favourite charities.

Leave a specific dollar amount or a percentage of the assets in your will to The Garth Homer Foundation

Consider using assets for a charitable gift. These include but are not limited to cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, term deposits, real estate, vehicles, art, jewellery, or insurance. Such gifts may even provide enhanced tax savings.

Name The Garth Homer Foundation as a beneficiary of a RRSP, RRIF or pension.

Name The Garth Homer Foundation as the beneficiary of an existing or paid-up life insurance policy.

Purchase a new life insurance policy naming The Garth Homer Foundation as the beneficiary. To get a tax credit, the Foundation must also be named owner of any policy.

Remember loved ones with a memorial gift donated to The Garth Homer Foundation.

Encourage family and friends to leave gifts to The Garth Homer Foundation in their wills.

Ask financial or estate planning advisors to include gifts to The Garth Homer Foundation as part of their counsel to clients.