The Children’s Legacy Challenge

Thank you for taking the time to read these examples and for considering a legacy gift that will help sustain The Children’s far into the future.

Example 1

Richard would like to make a lasting impact with a legacy gift of $100,000 to the Children’s.

He confirms his commitment by completing the Legacy Challenge Campaign form and expresses his desire to champion research, one of the six key hospital priorities.

Here's the exciting part: 20% of his generous donation will be promptly matched. That means $20,000 from the Matching Pool is immediately directed to the hospital, fortifying current research initiatives.

But the impact doesn't end there:  

Richard’s legacy gift will ensure future support to sustain the Children’s, according to his instructions outlined in his last will and testament.

Richard’s total impact? A remarkable $120,000.

Example 2

Marie would like to make a lasting impact with a legacy gift of $3,000,000 to the Children’s.

She confirms her commitment by completing the Legacy Challenge Campaign form and expresses her desire to support mental health, one of the six key hospital priorities.

As a result 20% of her generous donation will be promptly matched up to a maximum of $200,000. That means $200,000 from the Matching Pool is immediately directed to the hospital for current mental health initiatives.

But the impact doesn’t end there:

Marie’s legacy gift will ensure future support to sustain the Children’s in accordance with her instructions, outlined in her last will and testament.

Marie's total impact? An incredible $3,200,000.

1. The Healthy Kids Fund

None of us can predict the future, particularly when it comes to treating children in a Hospital setting. On any given day, an infant, child, or teenager may require treatment that wasn’t anticipated, and providing that care may mean the difference between life and death. By supporting the Healthy Kids Fund, you give the Hospital the flexibility to direct funds where they are needed most, including direct help for families facing financial hardship due to their child’s illness or hospitalization.

2. Innovation to Fuel the Medicine of Tomorrow

Care and treatments today began with a vision in a laboratory. Investing in research, new technologies, and training the next generation of pediatric professionals will help to ensure that the next big discoveries happen. Furthermore, The Children’s will be able to attract and retain the best talent to care for our young patients.

3. Enhancing The Children’s Healing Environment

The Children’s focus on family and patient-centered care means that we put our children and their families first. From child life services to an art program designed to transform what a pediatric hospital can be, there are numerous opportunities to calm, educate, and entertain our young patients during difficult moments.

4. Specialized Care for Quebec’s Sickest Children

As a tertiary and quaternary pediatric hospital and a Level-1 trauma centre, The Children’s treats Quebec’s sickest babies, children, and adolescents. Our expert surgical teams perform more than 7,000 specialized procedures each year, while our ambulatory clinics receive 100,000 patient visits annually. Together we will ensure that our dedicated health professionals always have the tools they need to give every sick child the best chance of recovery or survival.

5. The Best Care for Moms and their Babies

With its state-of-the-art birthing centre, obstetrics program, and 52-bed neonatal intensive care unit, all on one floor, The Children’s offers the complete range of care for high-risk pregnancies, and for critically ill and premature newborns. Your support will make a difference in this quickly advancing field, leading to better outcomes and innovative ways to treat our most fragile patients.

6. Behavioural and Mental Health

According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, 20% of Canadian children and youth will experience mental illness. The Children’s is at the forefront of this major health issue, with programs and services to address teens in crisis, eating disorders, neurodevelopmental challenges, and the unique needs of ASD (autism spectrum disorder) patients. Your gift will support the resources, tools, and space necessary to optimize every level of care.

Legacy Advisors Committee

This Advisory Committee is comprised of professionals in fields related to estate planning who share the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation’s commitment to advancing philanthropy by educating the public on tax-wise and values-based planning.

All LAC members are volunteers in Montreal who have a solid experience in the areas of accounting, law, financial planning, taxes, trust management, and other related domains.

We thank our Legacy Advisory Board for contributing their time and expertise with the Children’s community.

For our Donors: should you wish to contact any of our LAC members, let them know you found their coordinates through the Children’s.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Children’s Legacy Challenge Campaign?
The Children’s Legacy Challenge Campaign uses matching dollars to inspire donors to create or confirm legacy gifts, such as gifts in Will or gifts of life insurance policies, to support a healthier tomorrow for our young patients.

How does the Legacy Challenge work?
When you confirm your legacy gift to benefit The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, 20% (up to a maximum of $200,000) of the value of your gift is matched right now. You can designate the matching gift to one of The Children’s top 6 priorities: The Healthy Kids Fund; Innovation to Fuel the Medicine of Tomorrow; Enhancing The Children’s Healing Environment; Specialized Care for Quebec’s Sickest Children; Best Care for Moms and their Babies; and Behavioural and Mental Health for Children and Teenagers.

Which donations qualify for The Children’s Legacy Challenge?
Legacy gifts eligible for matching funds include gifts in a will, gifts of life insurance policies, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable gift annuities.

How do I confirm my estate gift for the Legacy Challenge?
It’s simple! Please return the Legacy Challenge Gift Confirmation Form to The Foundation, which is included in this page. Should you wish, you can provide an excerpt of your will, a copy of your life insurance policy, or other documents related to your gift intention.

If I have already confirmed a future estate gift with The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, will it qualify for The Children’s Legacy Challenge?
Thank you for confirming your legacy gift with the Foundation. The Legacy Challenge Campaign is meant to encourage the creation of new legacy gifts or to inform The Foundation about previously established but unreported legacy gifts. However, if you have already informed us that you have made a bequest to The Foundation but have not communicated the details of this bequest and are willing to do so now, we will recognize this amount for the match. If you have already informed us of a bequest but would like to increase the value of that gift, the increased amount will be considered for the match.

Where can I designate my matching gift funds?
You can change or save a child’s life by designating your matching gift to one of The Children’s top 6 priorities: Healthy Kids Fund; Innovation to Fuel the Medicine of Tomorrow; Enhancing The Children’s Healing Environment; Specialized Care for Quebec’s Sickest Children; Best Care for moms and their babies; and Behavioural and Mental Health.

How long does The Children’s Legacy Challenge Campaign last?
The Legacy Challenge Campaign will last until December 31, 2026, or when all matching dollars are spent.

If I designate my legacy gift to a fund or program not listed among the 6 top priorities, will my investment still be eligible for the gift match?
Yes, your legacy gift can be directed to any area or program approved by the Hospital. Only the matching gift will be allocated to one of the six main priorities. We will be happy to guide you in your choices.

How can I provide for my family and at the same time support The Children’s?
Many people set aside part of their estate to support The Children’s, ensuring that the majority of the estate goes to their nearest and dearest.

Do I have to decide on a specific dollar amount for my legacy gift today?
Many people opt for leaving a gift as a percentage of their estate, allowing the gift to adjust to future changes. For the Legacy Challenge campaign, we recommend you provide us with your best estimate of the value of your estate, or your legacy gift so that we can calculate the matching gift of 20%.

What if the value of my legacy gift exceeds $1,000,000? Do I qualify for more than the maximum $200,000 in matching funds?
Thank you for your exceptional generosity. Your extraordinary gift will strengthen our ability to support The Children’s for many years to come. The maximum matching fund available for a single gift is $200,000.

Who made the Legacy Challenge Campaign possible?
Current major donors and undesignated bequests have contributed to the Matching Pool of $5 million. These donors believe in The Children’s mission and invest to support sick children now and well into the future.