Malcolm Burrows

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Malcolm is a philanthropic advisor with over 30 years of experience. He is head, philanthropic advisory services at Scotia Wealth Management and founder of Aqueduct Foundation. Views are his own. malcolm.burrows@scotiawealth.com

One in Ten: Why Bequest Donors Don’t Inform Charities

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One in ten.  That, according to charitable sector studies, is how many estate donors inform the charities in their will of their intentions.  While this ratio varies by charity it underscores a fascinating paradox.  Bequest donors trust charities enough to make them beneficiaries of their estate, but they don’t trust them enough to tell them in advance. The Paradox This paradox is frustrating for charities.  Charities spend a lot of….

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Estate Donations, Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Uncategorized

Restricted gifts of real estate

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When I was a young charitable gift planner, my charity was offered a cluster of islands on Georgian Bay.  Surrounding the 100-year-old family cottage were sheds, cabins and boat houses.  The donors had a vision: it would be a children’s camp. It was a stunning property.  Valuable, despite the sagging, mouse-infested buildings.  But this gift by will was contingent and restricted.  It would be a children’s camp, or nothing at….

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Estate Donations, Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Uncategorized

Cultural Property Donations Update

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[caption id="attachment_6826" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Iris bleus, jardin du Petit Gennevilliers, 1892, Gustave Caillebotte, Art Gallery of Ontario[/caption] The charitable tax incentives for donations of certified Cultural Property – art and artifacts – is the richest in Canada.  Cultural Property donations are exempt from capital gains tax and can be claimed against 100% of the donor’s net annual income over up to six years. The incentive is part of a complex….

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Estate Donations, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Uncategorized

Endowment Variations

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COVID-19 has hit the charitable sector hard, and arts organizations face particular challenges. A recent article in The Globe and Mail about the Banff Centre described closed facilities, lost fundraising, cancelled programs, layoffs, deficits, resignations, and protests. The article also mentioned a request to endowment donors for “permission” to use annual payout of “their” funds for operations, not the designated purpose. One donor, Myra Davis, refused. The money was for….

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Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Uncategorized

Residual Interest Gifts of Homes

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Can you donate the residual interest of a principal residence to charity?  Absolutely!  The question, however, is not can it be done, but should it be done.  In most cases, the answer is no – especially for the charity. Structuring Options Let me address the structuring options first.  It is possible to donate a home to charity with an intervening life (or term) interest.  This means one or more persons….

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Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Trusts, Uncategorized

Valuing In-kind Donations

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There is a saying among charitable gift planners: “beware of in-kind property donors who show up with valuations in hand.”  In other words, eager donors and their gifts may be too good to be true.  This is folk wisdom that points to a serious issue.  Donors, executors and charities often struggle with in-kind donation valuation.  Who commissions and pays for in-kind donation appraisals, the donor or charity? Standard Practice The….

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Estate Donations, Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Uncategorized
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