Planned Giving Conversations to Have With Your Family and Advisors
A substantial planned-giving decision is rarely made in isolation. The donor sits at the centre of a small network — family, advisors, and the charity — each of whom contributes to the final structure. This guide walks through the conversations that matter, who needs to be in them, and what to discuss.
The three conversation groups
Family — spouse, children, primary heirs. They need to know about the bequest so they're not surprised post-death. See our talking-family article.
Advisors — lawyer (for will and estate structure), accountant (for tax implications), financial advisor (for invested-asset logistics). They handle the technical implementation.
Charity — planned-giving office or development office at the recipient charity. They design the gift to maximize impact for both donor and charity.
What to discuss with each group
Family
- The fact of the bequest (you're including a charitable element)
- The cause and your reasoning
- The financial impact (after tax credit, family inheritance reduction)
- Whether you want input or are sharing a decided plan
Advisors
- Total commitment you're considering
- Charitable goals and any specific charities
- Tax-efficient structures (RRSP/RRIF beneficiary, securities donation, will bequest)
- Coordination with other estate planning decisions
- Province-specific issues (especially for cross-border or multi-province estates)
Charity
- Confirmation they accept the gift type you're considering
- Suggested will language
- Restriction options that work for them
- Naming opportunities for substantial gifts
- Recognition preferences (public attribution vs. anonymous)
Recommended sequencing
For most donors, the natural sequence is:
- Initial reflection — what causes matter, what amount feels right
- Advisor consultation — accountant and/or lawyer for tax framework
- Charity conversation — confirm fit, design the gift
- Family conversation — share the decision
- Implementation — update will, update designations, update Life Discovery Kit
For more sensitive family dynamics or larger gifts, family conversation may happen earlier.
Specific complications
Family disagreement. If family strongly objects, you have several options — proceed anyway (it's your will), modify the plan to address concerns, defer until you can reach common ground. The will is yours; family input is one factor.
Tax complexity. For substantial estates, the most tax-efficient structures (RRSP designation, securities donation, private share donation) require coordination between the lawyer, accountant, and charity. Don't try to optimize in isolation.
Charity unable to accept the gift. Some charities decline specific gift types (private shares, certain real estate). Check before designing around them.
Restrictions that don't work for the charity. Overly specific restrictions may be unacceptable. The charity's planned-giving office can suggest workable alternatives.
Cross-border considerations. US property, US-citizen heirs, or international charities add complexity requiring specialised cross-border counsel.
When to engage specialised planned-giving counsel
- Total commitment to charity exceeds $500,000-$1M
- Strategy involves multiple sophisticated structures (foundation, CRT, donor-advised fund)
- Significant private business interests
- Complex family situation (blended family, business succession)
- Cross-border or international elements
For most donors with modest bequest plans, the standard combination of estate lawyer, accountant, and charity planned-giving office is sufficient.
What we focus on at It's Simple Will
The will questionnaire supports substantial charitable bequests and prompts users to consider the conversations they should have. For complex planned giving, we encourage engagement with specialised counsel and the charity's planned-giving office.
Related guides
Citations & sources
- [1]Canadian Association of Gift Planners — CAGP
- [2]Will Power Canada — Canadian Association of Gift Planners
Frequently asked questions
Who should I talk to first?
Usually advisors first (lawyer or accountant) for an initial assessment of tax-efficient structures, then the charity to confirm fit, then family to share the considered decision. For larger or more sensitive gifts, you might involve family in the early discussion rather than after the decision. There's no fixed sequence; what matters is that all three groups eventually have appropriate input.
What does the charity's planned-giving office do?
Helps you design the gift to maximize impact for both you and the charity. They can confirm acceptance of specific gift types (cash, securities, real estate, private shares, etc.), suggest restriction language that works for the charity, provide standard will language, discuss naming opportunities for substantial gifts, and follow up if you have specific use restrictions. The conversation is free, confidential, and welcomed.
How does the lawyer fit in?
Estate planning lawyers handle the will drafting, ensure the charitable provisions are legally sound, address province-specific issues, and coordinate the charitable strategy with the rest of the estate plan (residue allocation, beneficiary designations, family bequests). For complex structures (private foundations, trusts, large bequests), specialised planned-giving counsel may be appropriate.
What about the accountant?
Models the tax implications of different gift structures, identifies the most tax-efficient combinations (RRSP designation vs. will bequest vs. lifetime giving vs. securities gifts), and ensures the charitable strategy integrates with the broader tax plan. For substantial estates, the accountant's modelling often identifies opportunities the donor wouldn't have seen alone.
When do I involve the financial advisor?
When the gift involves invested assets (securities, RRSPs/RRIFs, life insurance). The advisor handles beneficiary designation updates, securities transfer logistics, life insurance ownership/beneficiary changes, and ongoing portfolio adjustments. The advisor is operational; the planned-giving office and lawyer are strategic.
How long does the full process take?
For substantial planned gifts, plan for 2-6 months from first conversation to final implementation. Quick decisions are sometimes appropriate (e.g., year-end giving for tax timing), but most thoughtful planned gifts benefit from the time to discuss with all relevant parties.