About the Library:
Library Legacy Fund
Make a lasting gift to the Library Legancy Fund as part of your Community Bequest Portfolio. A donation in your name to the Library Legacy Fund will benefit Hamilton forever.
Only the investment income generated by the Library Legacy Fund will be used for the enhancement of library services. Your principal investment will continue to grow and generate further investment income every year.
Your donation will be professionally managed by the Hamilton Community Foundation.
A donor-driven organization with over $80 million in assets, the Hamilton Community Foundation has managed endowed philanthropic gifts to community agencies since 1954. Agencies benefit from reduced overhead costs and the investment of larger sums of money.
The Library Board will allocate the annual income for the enhancement of library services forever.
The Library Board will respect the wishes of each donor.
Planned Giving Options
There are a variety of ways to make a gift to the Library Legacy Fund. Planned giving allows you to receive tax benefits today while helping others tomorrow. Below are just a few of the options available.
Outright Gifts
- Cash Contributions
- Gifts of Property
- A non-cash gift may include securities, real estate and tangible property such as artwork, books or equipment. Tax receipts for such donations will be at fair market value.
- Irrevocable gifts of artwork or real estate can allow you to enjoy your assets in your lifetime and gain a tax benefit today.
- Publicly traded securities donated to charities receive attractive tax relief.
Deferred Gifts
A deferred gift is arranged now but is not available for use by the library until some future time, usually after your death.
- Bequests
- A portion of your assets may be designated by bequest to benefit charitable organizations. More and more donors are choosing to bequeath a gift by Will.
- Life Insurance
- Gifts of life insurance are an attractive way to support the Library. There are different ways to make a gift and receive favourable tax benefits. Contact either the Hamilton Public Library or the Hamilton Community Foundation for more information.
Recognition
Both the Hamilton Public Library and the Hamilton Community Foundation recognize all donations to the Library Legacy Fund. All donations are acknowledged and a tax receipt issued.
The donor reserves the right to remain anonymous and decline public (or private) recognition at all times.
Donors may establish a named fund which will be recognized in the Foundation's Report to the Community and in the library's Annual Report each year in perpetuity. Donors of $5,000 or more may name the fund, however, income will be used at the discretion of the Library Board. Donors of $25,000 or more may name the fund and choose to direct the donation to a specific field of interest, in consultation with the Library Board.
How the Fund is Administer and Managed
This Fund is administered and managed by the Hamilton Community Foundation on behalf of the Hamilton Public Library. The Library Board allocates the annual income for the enhancement of library services in accordance with the wishes of each donor.
Library or Foundation staff will work together with you, your lawyer, accountant, life insurance agent or financial planner to establish which type of donation to the Hamilton Public Library best meets your goals.
Call the Hamilton Public Library, Communications and Community Development Department at 905-546-3280 or contact the Hamilton Community Foundation at 905-523-5600.
Donations should be made to:
Library Legacy Fund
c/o Hamilton Community Foundation
Suite 700
120 King Street West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4V2
Existing Legacy Library Funding Options
- The Edward and Connie Dowler Fund
- The Freda Waldon Thompson Trust
- Funds are designated for local history and Canadiana collections, or any related purpose which will promote this study of local history, sociology or ecology. Named in honour of Freda Waldon, the former Chief Librarian of Hamilton Public LIbrary.
- The Ketha McLaren Memorial Fund
- Funds are designated for use by library staff to develop their library skills and to promote librarianship and the Hamilton Public Library. This fund was established in memory of Ketha McLaren (1944-1984) a Hamilton Public Library staff member.
- Other donors to Library Legacy Fund:
- Anonymous
- Estate of Henrietta Jane Alderson
- Estate of Arthur William Hunter
- Dawei Zhang
