Create a meaningful legacy at UM

Since Alexander Kennedy Isbister left the first gift to the University of Manitoba 140 years ago, his legacy of giving has continued to inspire others like you to plan their own gifts and pay it forward to the next generations of UM students and researchers. 

A planned gift is a meaningful way to give back to the UM and has no immediate cost, allowing you to retain control of your assets during your lifetime. For your planned gift, you will receive a donation receipt for use in the year of your passing and the previous year, and your estate can claim tax credits in subsequent years. 

A middle aged couple sit at a table having coffee with a laptop open while they talk. The background is full of lush greenery.

Celebrating 25 years of the Isbister Legacy Society

  • Celebrating 140 years of the Isbister Legacy Society

    The Isbister Legacy Society honours the vision of the University’s first benefactor, Alexander Kennedy Isbister, who left the University of Manitoba its first bequest of $83,000 along with 4,958 books in 1883.

    The society recognizes over 700 individuals who have informed us about a gift in their will benefiting the University of Manitoba, or established another planned gift such as a life insurance policy, charitable gift annuity, charitable remainder trust and others. The society also recognizes individuals whose gifts are currently in action.

  • Join the Isbister Legacy Society

    Members of the Isbister Legacy Society will receive invitations to special Isbister Legacy Society events, our planned giving newsletter, Visionaries and ongoing information about the University of Manitoba.

    If you are planning to make a gift to the University of Manitoba, please let us know so that we can ensure you are recognized as a member of the Isbister Legacy Society. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us at giftplanning@umanitoba.ca

  • Alexander Kennedy Isbister.
Five students seated together at a table studying on their laptops.
The 25th anniversary of the Isbister Legacy Society is an opportunity to learn about what you can do to support your university. People can make a significant difference after they pass away. Planned giving is a profound way to support your alma mater in perpetuity.
Jim and Sandra Pitblado creators of the Pitblado Scholars

Types of gifts

The University of Manitoba is grateful for all that our donors make possible through their generosity. Your gift can be unrestricted, allowing us to direct it where support is needed most, or designated to benefit student awards, research or a specific department, school or faculty.

Bequests

The University of Manitoba has benefited from the generosity of many individuals who have left gifts in their wills.

Bequests can be directed to an area of your choice, or left unrestricted to allow the university to apply them to the area of most need. Your estate will benefit from a tax receipt equal to the amount of any gifts to charity. Up to 100 per cent of your net income can be claimed in charitable donations in the year of death and the preceding year.

Securities

Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are a great way to provide a gift to the University of Manitoba while avoiding the tax on capital gains which may otherwise be applicable on these items.

The University of Manitoba can accept both electronic and certificate shares. The university can also accept donations of private securities and flow-through shares. You can donate shares during your lifetime or in a will. Charitable tax receipts are issued for the end-of-day trading value on the date of the transfer of ownership. For testamentary gifts of shares, the charitable tax receipt is based on the value of the shares at the date of death.

Life insurance

Not only can life insurance help ensure a family’s financial security after a death, it can be used as part of a financial plan to accomplish a substantial gift to the University of Manitoba while preserving the value of your estate for your family.

There are three common options available to benefit your estate planning while helping to achieve philanthropic goals: donation of an existing policy, purchase of a new policy, or designating the university as the beneficiary of an existing policy.

Donated life insurance policies are eligible for charitable tax receipts based on the fair market value of the policy. Tax receipts are also issued for ongoing premium payments on donated policies.

Real estate

Creative planning can make a gift of real estate an attractive option for a philanthropic person. There are various ways to donate real property: an outright gift, by way of the residual interest, as a gift in a will or to fund a charitable remainder trust. With limited exceptions, gifts of property to the university will be sold.

The proceeds of the sale, less any costs incurred by the university in undertaking the gift, will be directed toward the use agreed upon between the donor and the university. For outright gifts of real estate, charitable tax receipts are issued based on the appraised fair market value of the donated property.

Trusts

An individual may create a trust in which all or a part of their assets are left to the
university when the trust terminates. Trusts can be established using cash, bonds, securities, real estate or other appreciable assets. You or your family may receive the income from the trust until it terminates.

Charitable Remainder Trusts receive a charitable tax receipt upon their creation
based on the future value of the amount to be left to the university when the trust
terminates. Other trusts receive tax receipts when the assets are received by the
university.

Pension funds

It is possible, easy and can help preserve your estate value to make donations through beneficiary designations on your RRSP or RRIF savings. You will receive a charitable tax receipt for the value of your gift to be used on your final tax return. Also, naming a beneficiary other than your estate removes these assets from probate and executor fees.

Gifts-in-kind

A gift-in-kind is a non-cash donation and usually includes items such as personal effects, archival materials, artwork and equipment. The University of Manitoba will accept gifts in kind that can be used on campus. When possible, a tax receipt will be issued for the fair market value of the gift.

Annuities

A charitable gift annuity is an arrangement under which you make a contribution to the university and receive guaranteed payments for life. When the contribution is made to the university, we will retain a portion of it, either for present use or to build a future endowment – depending on your wishes – and a charitable tax receipt will be issued to you for the retained amount.

The balance will be used to purchase (through a licensed insurance company) an annuity that pays the agreed rate of return to you. The payments, which may be tax-free depending on your age, can be made to you on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis.

Outright gifts

Cash

Those who choose to give gifts of cash by personal cheque or credit card will  receive a tax receipt for their gift. The entire amount of your donation will support your designated fund, or you may give an unrestricted gift which will go to the area of greatest need within the university.

Donor-advised funds

Donor-advised funds are available through financial advisors or some community foundations and can provide flexibility to donors in their charitable giving. You may choose to direct your donor-advised fund’s annual disbursement to the university.

Giving is part of the story of my life, my quite ordinary life

Mei Yin Chan Faculty of Social Work and Environment, Earth, and Resources bursary

I always view myself as an ordinary person. So, the setting up of a bursary at the University of Manitoba is an ordinary act done by an ordinary person. I feel very grateful for receiving the education from the Faculty of Social Work and that had helped me establish a life-long career as a social worker. I worked in the Department of Social Welfare for 28 years in all areas of front-line social work: probation, child protection, custody. And every single day I would always meet people where they are.

Apart from the University, my piano teacher, a French Canadian in Winnipeg was also a big influence to me. Though I was only average among her students and lazy to practise playing the piano, she was very kind to me and guided me the enjoyment of playing classical music. And this enabled me to keep it as a hobby up to now. I believe my University years and my stay in Winnipeg had contributed to the life-changing opportunities for me. So, I hope those students who wish to pursue University education but have financial difficulties can have the opportunities as mine. It is a blessing for me to give. I have this chance, and I’m happy the university gave me a chance. This is part of the story of my life.

Mei Chan

Mei’s generous gift is known as a ‘blended gift’—she made a donation today that will also become an endowment in the future.

A story of spouses

The willingness to keep learning keeps you open-minded and young at heart.

From the time I was 7, I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. I’ve worked in community mental health, palliative care, psychiatric nursing, intensive care, emerg…and I’ve worked up north and in the city. I probably would not have been accepted into nursing right after high school. It was getting some experience and opportunities at work that motivated me to expand my education and return to school part-time. That’s why it’s important to me that my bursary can support part-time students, who often will be working full or part-time while they study. And they don’t have to be an A or A+ student, I certainly wasn’t. Work ethic, caring and compassion matter more than marks in nursing. I’m very proud to support future generations of nurses forever with my gift.

Maggie Katzeley

Continued 

Never stop learning. That’s when you get old!

My degree was in physics, and I’ve been working and teaching every day since. I believe that we always learn more from listening than talking, and I am amazed by how much I have learned from curious and eager students. Going to university is a privilege, and I could see for myself that there was a gap in support for students. I wanted to make an impact and a real difference for students. There is not much that I can do that will go on forever. But by leaving a legacy, others will benefit from that generosity forever—and that makes me feel great. When it comes down to it, when you give, you also receive.

Barry Konzelman

Through bequests, Maggie has established an endowment fund to reward the academic achievements of undergraduate students in the College of Nursing and Barry has established an endowment fund to reward the academic achievements of undergraduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

 

Wawatay: Lighting a path for Indigenous students 

The Carbotte family bursary

Wawatay is the Ojibway word for the Northern Lights, and we are honoured to use this name for the bursary for Indigenous students in honour of my late husband of 60 years, Jules Carbotte. He was a professor for decades, and every single day, he loved to share his infinite curiosity with all his students. He was keenly aware of the challenges facing Indigenous students in science, and this bursary represents his commitment to helping more Indigenous students find their path as scientists, alongside traditional knowledge. 

Jules came to the University of Manitoba as a French-speaking undergraduate with a foundation in mathematics but no background in science. I remember one instructor said Jules was the worst speller he had ever encountered! He felt such gratitude that he was able to attend, and he soon discovered a passion for physics that proved to be lifelong. I feel very connected to Jules’ energy through the Wawatay bursary and I’m so proud that Indigenous students will be able to find their own paths in his name. And Wawatay will be part of the fabric of their stories, making that energy stronger forever.

Ramona Carbotte

Ramona, along with the help of her kids and grandkids, is finalizing the details of this bursary established by her late husband, Jules.

Mei Yin Chan, an East Asian woman standing outdoors in front ocean fronted cityscape
Maggie Katzeley and Barry Konzelman caucasian couple wearing evening attire and beside large flower arrangement
Maggie Katzeley and Barry Konzelman caucasian couple wearing evening attire and beside large flower arrangement
Jules Carbotte white hair indigenous man with glass in leather jacket from shoulders up

How to plan a gift

Planned gifts come in many forms: gifts in a will, gifts of securities, gifts-in-kind, annuities or insurance-related gifts. There are many potential tax advantages to gift planning. We are proud to work closely with many attorneys, accountants, financial planners, insurance agents and other professionals when organizing donors’ charitable estate plans.

Sample will clauses

This information has been prepared for the use of lawyers, estate planning or other financial professionals when acting for clients who wish to make gifts by will to the University of Manitoba. The suggested wording is provided in the form of examples and can be amended to suit an individual’s circumstances. It is strongly recommended that donors seek legal advice when incorporating a charitable bequest into their estate plans. This will ensure the clause chosen is properly placed in overall structure of the will, thus ensuring that the gift will be valid.

Unrestricted bequests

Unrestricted bequests are bequests that allow the University to use the donors bequest where it is felt to be needed most.

Unrestricted Specific Bequest

(An Unrestricted Bequest for specific dollar amount or stated fraction of the Estate)

I direct my Executor or Trustee to pay to The University of Manitoba at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (____ percentage (%) of my Estate; or the sum of $____) for the general use and purposes of The University of Manitoba in its absolute discretion. The Receipt of the Comptroller or other designated officer of The University of Manitoba shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Executor or Trustee.

Unrestricted Residual Bequest

(An Unrestricted Bequest for all or a percentage of the remainder of the donor’s Estate after other specific debts, testamentary expenses or other specific legacies have been paid)

I direct my Executor or Trustee to pay or transfer the residue of my Estate to The University of Manitoba at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for the general use and purpose of The University of Manitoba in its absolute discretion. The Receipt of the Comptroller or other designated officer of The University of Manitoba shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Executor or Trustee.

Unrestricted Endowed Request

(For a specific or residual amount)

I direct my Executor or Trustee to pay or transfer to The University of Manitoba at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (the whole of my Estate; the residue of my Estate; ____ percentage (%) of my Estate; or the sum of $____) to be held as part of The University of Manitoba’s Endowment Funds. The income and capital are to be used by The University of Manitoba for whatever purposes it deems necessary from time to time. The capital and the income therefrom is to be administered in accordance with the University of Manitoba’s Investment policies as they exist from time to time. The Receipt of the Comptroller or other designated officer of The University of Manitoba shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Executor or Trustee, who shall not be bound to see to the application thereof. 

Restricted bequests

Restricted bequests are bequests with a specific purpose. The donor may, for instance, specify the bequest be used for a particular area of interest in a specific faculty, for example, scholarships, bursaries, endowments, research, etc.

Restricted Bequest

I direct my Executor or Trustee to pay or transfer (the whole of my Estate; the residue of my Estate; ____ percentage (%) of my Estate; or the sum of $____) to The University of Manitoba at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for the general use and purpose of in its absolute discretion. The Receipt of the Comptroller or other designated officer of The University of Manitoba shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Executor or Trustee.

Restricted Bequest for Scholarship or Bursary Fund

I direct my Executor or Trustee to pay or transfer to The University of Manitoba at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (the whole of my Estate; the residue of my Estate; ____ percentage (%) of my Estate; or the sum of $_____) to be used for the following purpose (identify the particular faculty, program, fund or purpose, such as scholarships to which the gift is directed). The conditions and recipients of such (scholarship or bursary) are to be determined from time to time in such a manner as The University of Manitoba may direct, provided that in the event that circumstances make this specific use or purpose of this bequest no longer practicable or desirable, The University of Manitoba is authorized to make changes in its use in keeping as far as possible with the spirit and general intent of the bequest. The Receipt of the Comptroller or other designated officer of The University of Manitoba shall be a good and sufficient discharge of my Executor or Trustee, who shall not be bound to see to the application thereof. 

Restricted Bequest for Endowment Fund

I direct my Executor or Trustee to pay or transfer to The University of Manitoba at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (the whole of my Estate; the residue of my Estate; ____ percentage (%) of my Estate; or the sum of $____) to be used for the following purpose: (provide specifics of the name of the fund, its purpose and the terms of reference under which income is to be disbursed). The capital and the income therefrom is to be administered in accordance with the University of Manitoba’s Investment policies as they exist from time to time. In the event that circumstances make this specified use or purpose of this bequest no longer practicable or desirable, The University of Manitoba is authorized to make changes in its use in keeping as far as possible with the spirit and general intent of the bequest. The Receipt of the Comptroller or other designated officer of The University of Manitoba shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Executor or Trustee, who shall not be bound to see the application thereof.

Contingent bequests

Contingent bequests are bequests by which the University would receive all or a share of the donor’s Estate only in the event of the prior death of other named beneficiaries.

If any of the beneficiaries named in this Will should die before becoming entitled to receive their distributive share of my Estate, I direct my Executor or Trustee to pay or transfer the share to which such beneficiary would otherwise be entitled, to The University of Manitoba at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to be for the general use and purposes of The University of Manitoba in its absolute discretion (or for a purpose defined by the donor; see “designated bequests” or “restricted bequests” for suggested wording.)

Reversionary bequest

In the event any bequest or residuary gift contained in this Will to any charitable organization or institution, or to any person or persons in trust for such organization or institution, cannot take effect in whole or in part because of any legal prohibition or because of the inability of any such organization or institution or person or persons to take for any reasons whatsoever, I direct my Executor or Trustee to pay or transfer the whole of the bequest or residuary gift or the portion thereof affected by such prohibition or inability to take to The University of Manitoba at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, for the general purposes of The University of Manitoba in its absolute discretion (or for a purpose defined by the donor; see “designated bequests” or “restricted bequests” for suggested wording.)

Charitable registration number: 11926-0669-RR0001

Under the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention, University of Manitoba alumni and their family members (spouses, children, grandchildren, parents and siblings) may make donations directly to the University of Manitoba and use the charitable receipt for your U.S. income tax returns. Other U.S. citizens (or residents), corporations, foundations, estates and trusts requiring a U.S. tax receipt, may contribute to the University of Manitoba Foundation USA, a not-for-profit organization recognized under the US Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3). Its EIN is 36-3683991.

The purpose of this page is to provide general information, not to render legal advice. In addition any changes in the tax structure may affect the examples listed in this information. You should consult your own lawyer or other professional advisor about the applicability to your situation.

I just hope that people will see that an average person can make a significant difference. This whole experience has been wonderful and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Joanne Buggey Founder of the Leslie F. Buggey Graduate Scholarship

Contact us

Please reach out if you would like to discuss a planned gift to the University of Manitoba.