Our official legal name is “University Hospital Foundation” and our charitable registration number is 88900-3240 RR0001
University Hospital Foundation
Donor Office – Room 1H1.91, WMC
8440 – 112 Street, N.W.
Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7
A will is the simplest and most reliable way to make sure your wishes are honoured after your death. In Canada, a valid will gives you control over how your assets are distributed, helps provide for the people and causes you care about, and can reduce the taxes and fees your estate may have to pay. Without a will, provincial laws decide how your estate is divided—which may not reflect your intentions. Having a will is truly a lasting gift for your loved ones and community.
A legacy gift, also called a planned gift, is a donation arranged now that takes effect in the future—most often through your will, life insurance, or retirement funds. These gifts allow you to make a meaningful impact on the causes you care about, while often offering tax benefits for your estate. Legacy giving is a way to create a lasting contribution that reflects your values and helps future generations.
A gift in your will has the power to transform health for generations to come. Legacy gifts support prevention and primary care, as well as advanced treatment and research at the University of Alberta Hospital, the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute and the Kaye Edmonton Clinic.
Your generosity helps doctors and researchers pursue discoveries that change lives—like developing more effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, breakthroughs that help people with spinal cord injuries walk again, and more accurate ways to diagnose complex conditions.
In the past, planned gifts have helped bring world-leading innovations to Edmonton, from incision-free brain surgery to advanced cardiac care. Your gift can spark the next breakthrough and create a healthier future for your community and the people you love.
The most powerful way to give is often through an undesignated gift. By giving where the need is greatest, you enable doctors and researchers to respond quickly to urgent priorities, invest in emerging opportunities and drive breakthroughs that may not yet be imagined. Many of the most significant advances in care and research at the University of Alberta Hospital, the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute and the Kaye Edmonton Clinic have been possible because of this kind of flexible support.
However, you can also direct your gift to an area of care that’s meaningful to you—such as cardiology, urology or neurology—if there is alignment with the Hospital’s needs. We are honoured to help carry out your wishes and are always happy to help with wording to ensure your gift goes where you want it to.
Yes, a small portion of each donation, 10%, is directed to support the Foundation’s long-term sustainability. This ensures we can steward your gift responsibly, provide transparent reporting and continue securing even more funding for health priorities.
For more information please visit: Transparency and Accountability
Most people look after their loved ones before including a charity in their wills, so it’s a good idea to speak with your primary beneficiaries first to discuss the plans for your estate.
There are many ways to include the Foundation in your will, from a simple cash gift to a donation of securities, each of which has their own tax implications. We recommend speaking with your legal counsel, accountant or financial advisor. They can help you include a gift in your will in a way that reflects your wishes and supports the people and causes you care about.
If you already have a will, adding a charitable gift can be as simple as making an update with your lawyer. If you haven’t created a will yet and your estate is straightforward, you may also choose to use a trusted online platform like Epilogue Wills—Canada’s only online estate planning service founded by experienced tax and estate lawyers. It’s a safe, simple and affordable way to create your will and power of attorney online.
Your existing will can easily be amended to include a gift to the University Hospital Foundation. All that’s needed is a simple addition called a codicil. Speak to your lawyer about how to add a codicil into your will.
If you would like examples of how the Foundation can be incorporated into your will, you can find samples of will wording on our website here.
Your financial advisor can help walk you through the different kinds of gifts and their tax implications. The two most common are:
For wording, see the sample will wording pdf, here: Gifts In Your Will
Without the generosity of donors, the University of Alberta Hospital and its institutes could not deliver the advanced patient care and research that change lives every day. We deeply value the trust donors place in us and are committed to stewarding every gift with integrity and transparency.
The Foundation adheres to Imagine Canada’s Standards Program and the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Donor Bill of Rights—national benchmarks that guide how we manage, report and honour your generosity.
To learn more about how we uphold these standards, visit our Transparency and Accountability Page.
Yes. If you leave a gift in your will, your estate will receive a tax receipt and can claim a charitable tax credit for the full amount of your gift, up to 100% of your net income in that year. Any excess tax credit can be carried back to the previous year.
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is like a charitable investment account. You contribute cash, securities, or other assets to the fund, receive an immediate tax receipt and then recommend grants from the fund to charities over time.
Your donor advised fund can directly support the University Hospital Foundation by recommending a grant through your fund. Simply share our legal name, address and charitable registration number with your DAF provider and designate the Foundation as the recipient.
One of the great benefits of a legacy gift is that you can change it at any time to reflect your current financial situation. If you need to adjust your planned gift, talk to your financial advisor or lawyer. We would also be happy to assist you in finding a giving option that works better for you.
No! Gifts come in all shapes and sizes. Even 1% of your estate can make a difference.
Yes. Sharing your plans with us ensures your gift is recognized in the way you wish and that your intentions are clearly understood and honoured. We can also provide suggested wording if you’d like your gift directed to a specific area of care.
Letting us know is not legally binding and your will remains fully in your control, but it does help the Foundation plan with confidence. Most importantly, it gives us the opportunity to thank you today for one of the most meaningful gifts you can make.
When you inform us of your legacy gift, you’ll also be welcomed into the Gold Leaf Society—a special community that honours those who have chosen to leave a lasting legacy through their will.
The Gold Leaf Society honours donors who choose to leave a legacy gift to the University Hospital Foundation. As a member, you’ll join a community of forward-thinking donors whose generosity will transform health for generations to come.
Membership benefits include:
Most importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to design your gift, ensuring your philanthropic goals are outlined in an agreement and honoured by the Foundation in the years to come.
You can email our legacy giving team at LegacyGifts@GiveToUHF.ca
Disclaimer: This information is provided for general purposes only and is not legal, accounting or tax advice. Please consult your professional advisor.