Often, people think about contributing to a cause they care about by making monthly donations, volunteering their time or advocating on social media – but a growing number of people are taking their philanthropy one step further by leaving a charitable gift in their wills. These ordinary Canadians recognize that they can make a powerful contribution that will last for generations, without taking away from the resources they and their family need now.

We are fortunate that many longtime donors and new supporters have already notified us that Operation Eyesight is included in their will. Thank you! This forward-thinking mindset has been sparked in Canadians of all ages; they understand that it is possible to do more simply by giving in another way.

If more Canadians left even a small percentage of their estate to charity, the sum of all their efforts could represent as much as $40 billion to advance charitable causes. We could literally eliminate avoidable blindness for the whole world with that kind of capital!

You may be surprised to learn that a donation of one per cent could result in a much bigger gift than you ever thought possible. You would still be leaving 99 per cent of your estate to your loved ones while supporting your favourite charity.

The best part is that leaving a gift in your will can be a simple process. Here are some suggestions for getting started:

Calculate your donation. With a simple calculation, you can determine how much you want to leave to Operation Eyesight, and how much you want your loved ones to receive. The Legacy Calculator on our Will Power webpage is a unique tool to help you with this calculation. It’s available because we have partnered with Will Power, a national public education campaign designed to inspire Canadians to consider charitable giving in their will.

Discover the tax benefits. Did you know that the Canadian government has created some of the best tax incentives in the world to encourage more giving to charity, especially from your estate? That’s right! To share an example, this article illustrates how a couple’s financial advisor helped them give big to charity and take advantage of the tax benefits, all while leaving a sizable inheritance for their daughters.

Use the Operation Eyesight Will Preparation Guide. Not sure what should be in your will or what you should consider? Check out our Will Guide to set you up for a successful conversation with your adviser.

Ask a financial adviser. Consulting a financial expert can help you ensure your donation works in your favour. You can use Will Power’s Financial Adviser Finder to match with an expert in your region.

Find out how to keep the love going. Click here to learn how a gift in your will to Operation Eyesight would be used to advance accessibility to quality eye health care in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

For more information, visit our Legacy Giving page or contact me, Alena Schock, directly at SchockA[at]operationeyesight.com or +1-587-355-1003. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Wills are a powerful tool for “being the change you want to see in the world”. Ordinary people across Canada are using their wills to become philanthropists who will inspire others to make an impact on the future. Join the movement, keep the love going and work with us to be the change you’d like to see.

Thank you for your generous and thoughtful support!  

The post More Canadians are leaving a gift to charity in their will appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Maureen Bush is just one member of an Alberta family that’s been supporting Operation Eyesight across four generations.

The story begins with Ella Marcus, Maureen’s grandmother. Ella knew Dr. Ben Gullison, whose work inspired our organization. Her son-in-law, Gordon Bush, became a donor after he lost the sight of one eye from a detached retina. He treasured the cards he received from Operation Eyesight that told of another person’s sight restored – proof of responsible stewardship of dollars.

That’s a theme that continues to drive Maureen’s donations even today. “It’s hard to know how charities are spending their money,” she says. “My mom lived overseas and saw incredible misuse [of charitable donations]. That led me to being cautious about which organizations I donate to. I feel like I can trust what Operation Eyesight is doing.”

Maureen became a donor to Operation Eyesight during the 1980s and has been giving ever since. She passed that spirit of generosity on to her daughter Adriene, who has volunteered for us.

Thank you Ella, Gordon, Maureen and Adriene. Our work is possible because of people like you!

Tell us your story! We’d love to hear how and why you support Operation Eyesight.

The post Wow! Four generations of supporters! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

As an organization that relies on the support of Canadians in our mission to eliminate avoidable blindness, we are concerned by the cut to the tax credit for charitable donations in the 2015 Alberta provincial budget. We know that the generosity of Albertans won’t change, but it’s a worry that this will impact how businesses and organizations donate.

According to the Calgary Herald, the tax credit cut applies to all donations over $200, and the tax credit will be reduced from 21 percent of the donation, to 12.75 percent. The Herald estimates that this move will save the government of Alberta $90 million a year. Donations under $200 will not be affected.

At Operation Eyesight, good stewardship of donor funds is hugely important to us, so we understand the move by the government to set Alberta on a healthier fiscal path. But that $90 million is money that won’t be going back to the province’s most generous individuals, organizations and businesses, at a time when taxes and fees are also increasing.

For example, a donation of $1,000 in 2016 (above the $200 threshold) will result in a combined federal and provincial tax credit of only $417.50. This is a reduction of $82.50, compared to the $500 tax credit that a donation of $1,000 would have received in 2015.

We are concerned that this will affect not just Operation Eyesight’s work, but all non-profit and charity organizations that fundraise or operate in Alberta, and that the most needy, be they here in the province, or elsewhere in the world, will be the ones who are most impacted. We know our supporters donate because they want to give the gift of sight, not because they want tax savings, but the tax credit makes the decision to donate much easier.

This move reverses an Alberta tax credit increase that came in 2007, when the tax credit jumped from 12.75 percent to 21 percent. We hope that the tax credit cut is just a temporary measure, and we urge the provincial government to restore the 21 percent tax credit as soon as is fiscally possible.

Have questions? Contact your Alberta MLA.

The post Charity tax credit cut a disappointment appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Providing eyeglasses to those in need is still vital to our approach. Here’s how we do it. Every Indian and African hospital we work with ensures that each patient who needs glasses gets comfortable, modern, NEW prescription glasses.

Those who can’t afford the cost (the equivalent of $2 to $4 in most locations) have those costs subsidized by local customers who can afford to pay for more expensive frames.

Some people may think “Used eyeglasses are still useful! Why don’t you try and use them?” In addition to the difficulty of matching used eyeglasses, there are also compelling economic reasons. It’s actually less expensive for us to buy locally-made eyeglasses for distribution in the countries where we work, than to collect, sort and ship used eyeglasses overseas. In fact, India no longer allows used eyeglasses into the country, as they interfere with their own eyeglasses industry.

So please, don’t leave your used eyeglasses at our door. We appreciate your generosity, but we can’t use them. And if you’d like to help in another way, please consider clicking here to donate $20, which can provide new, custom-fitted prescription eyeglasses for up to three people in Africa or India. Imagine their happiness at being able to see clearly!

The post Thanks – but no thanks – for used eyeglasses appeared first on Operation Eyesight.