Did You Know? Less Than Two Cents of Every Dollar Donated in Canada Today Goes to the Environment

Many Canadians are startled to discover that less than two cents of every dollar donated goes to the Environment.(*)

Yet polls continue to show Canadians see the Environment as being a leading challenge facing Canada in the medium to long term.  This holds true even in the current economic situation. 

B.C.’s environmental organizations are our voice for protecting the ecosystem. They are seriously underfunded.  And while struggling to address an unrelenting series of critical issues, they are now facing cutbacks in government and foundation funding.  

These are the very same organizations that need to be working at full capacity for the sake of all of us.  But with such a small amount of donations going to the Environment, it’s a tremendous challenge.

The environment is not an environmental problem
Environmental issues impact every aspect of our lives, they’re no longer problems for environmental groups to tackle alone.  Here are some of the sectors which are or will be affected by climate change:

• health
• education
• social services
• animal protection
• international development
• urban issues
• forests
• agriculture

So what has this got to do with Estate Planning?
As you sit down to prepare your estate plan and contemplate making a charitable bequest, consider including a bequest in your will to an environmental or conservation organization, whether it’s a local, national or international.  

You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Leave a Legacy
You don’t have to be wealthy to leave a legacy, in fact the vast majority of charitable bequests are from “ordinary Canadians”.

Where to Start?
In helping you to identify an environmental or conservation group to support, here are some questions to ask yourself:

• What are you passionate about?
• What values are you seeking in a recipient organization?
• Is your interest at the community, regional, national or international level? (Are you interested in the big picture or local issues? Or both?)
• What geographic area are you interested in?
• What kind of organization are you looking for?
• What accountability measures do you expect?

When you seek an organization or project to give to, answering these questions will help you narrow your search for a recipient for your gift(s).

Give Green Canada is dedicated to helping donors connect with their passion. You can find a handy and free Directory of Organizations on the Give Green Canada website that helps you locate an organization that meets your criteria. 

Consider Applying an Environmental Filter to Your Charitable Giving

Some donors apply a “filter” to their regular charitable giving to test the robustness of the groups they contemplate supporting.  For example, in the field of Health or Education, before making a gift, some donors ask whether a hospital, school or university is doing as much as possible to reduce carbon emissions.   

Whatever your intention, it’s always a good idea to consult a professional advisor before finalizing your estate plan.  Consider leaving a legacy to the environment, for a green and healthy future.

Natasha van Bentum, CFRE
Director, Give Green Canada “G2”
CHANGING THE WORLD ONE GREEN LEGACY AT A TIME
http://GiveGreenCanada.ca