Your Legacy. Their Tomorrow.
A gift in your Will can create a world of opportunity.
WAYS TO GIVE
Leave a planned gift in your Will or Estate.
A legacy gift is one of the most powerful ways to create lasting change. When you include Opportunity International Canada in your Will or estate plans, you extend your impact beyond a lifetime—empowering women, families, and communities to build sustainable futures free from poverty. Every life you help transform becomes part of your story. Your legacy gift ensures that:
- Women entrepreneurs gain access to tools, training, and financial resources
- Families can build stable businesses and send their children to school
- Communities grow stronger and more resilient for generations to come
Even a small percentage of your estate can have a profound ripple effect—changing thousands of lives for years to come.
Benefits of leaving a gift in your Will
Tax Relief
By choosing to support Opportunity International through methods such as charitable remainder trusts or gifts of appreciated assets, your estate can receive a charitable tax receipt to help offset taxes.
Peace of Mind
Planning Giving will provide peace of mind in knowing that your affairs are in order. Your current income will not be affected and you can make changes to your plan at any time.
Further Your Impact
You can leave a more significant gift than you may be able to during your lifetime.
How to leave a legacy gift
1. Create or update your Will
Writing your Will is one of the most important steps in caring for your loved ones—and making a difference for others. You can easily create or update your Will online through our trusted partner, Epilogue. It can take as little as 20 minutes to complete.
2. Choose the type of gift that’s right for you.
- A gift in your Will (a fixed amount, percentage, or residue of your estate)
- Naming Opportunity International Canada as a beneficiary of your life insurance, RRSP/RRIF, or TFSA
- A gift of securities or other assets
Here’s sample wording that you can use in your Will:
Option 1: if you are leaving a percentage of the residue of your estate (i.e. 1% of your estate after debts are paid, specific gifts are made, etc.)
“I leave X% of the residue of my Estate to Opportunity International Canada, charity registration 87751 6385 RR0001.”
Option 2: if you are leaving a specific dollar amount (i.e. $25,000).
“I give $_____________ to Opportunity International Canada, charity registration 87751 6385 RR0001.”
For additional wording for other situations, please refer to our Legacy Giving Guide.
3. Let us know (optional, but appreciated!)
If you’ve chosen to include OIC in your estate plans, we’d love to thank you and ensure your wishes are honoured. Sharing your intentions also helps us plan for the future with confidence.
Lise and Robert's Enduring Legacy
“Opportunity International is in my blood—I’m committed for life and beyond. Microfinance has not only given families the dignity to build their own futures; it’s reshaped how our family thinks about money: earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can. After my husband Robert died suddenly in 2019, friends established a memorial fund in his name. Each year, our family gathers for dinner on the anniversary of his death; collectively we remember him with stories and toasts, then choose which Opportunity project to support. Each anniversary turns to a time of joy by supporting something life-affirming with intelligent giving that Robert would have loved. I cannot describe what a rich time together and heart-filling addition to our lives this legacy experience is for all of us. I am also leaving money in my Will to be added to the memorial fund.
It’s deeply meaningful to know that by leaving a gift to Opportunity in my Will, our family’s legacy of giving will continue to create opportunity long after my lifetime as well.”
–Lise S.
Resources to help you get started...
Download our Legacy Giving Guide
Learn how to plan your legacy, talk with loved ones, and make decisions that reflect your values.
Start your online Will with Epilogue
We’ve partnered with Epilogue Wills – Canada’s leading online estate planning solution to save you 20% off on the Will you need. Writing your Will in as little as 20 minutes – get started today!
Frequently asked questions
Your gift will be used where most needed and help provide microloans, training, and support to women and men working their way out of poverty. With your help they start and grow small businesses, educate their children, and provide jobs in their communities.
You can also direct your gift toward a particular area of OIC’s work.
Not at all. Many supporters choose to leave a small percentage of their estate. Every gift, no matter the size, helps change lives.
Absolutely. You remain in full control of your estate and can modify your Will or designations at any time.
Yes. Legacy gifts are arranged after you’ve provided for loved ones.
No. You don’t have to redo your entire Will to leave a gift to Opportunity. It can be done by including a special clause that states your intentions.
We are always glad to answer any questions that you may have. For more information, please contact Stefanie Joseph at plannedgiving@opportunityinternational.ca.