In March 2026, the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (“CAGP”) released Legacy Giving in Canada (the “2025 Report”), a national study examining trends in charitable bequests, gifts in wills, and estate planning. The research was produced by the CAGP Foundation for its Will Power campaign, aimed at encouraging Canadians to leave charitable gifts in their Wills. The findings are based on a survey of 1,246 adults in Canada designed to reflect a cross-section of Canada’s population in order to understand the perspectives and experiences of communities that are often underrepresented in research of this sort.
The 2025 Report found that the number of Canadians leaving charitable donations in their wills has doubled from 5% in 2019 to 10% in 2025, with 44% of Canadians saying that they are likely to leave a gift in their will to a charity. It also identifies a notable shift toward younger donors, Canadians from diverse cultural backgrounds and middle-income households showing greater interest in leaving charitable donations in their wills to create a lasting impact and support causes aligned with their values. Although only a minority of those interested have actually included such a bequest in their will, a much larger group is open to the idea but has not yet acted. Many remain in the decision-making phase or cite practical barriers such as needing more information, completing estate planning, or choosing which charities to support.
For charities and not-for-profits, the key takeaway from the 2025 Report is that legacy giving is a growing, accessible opportunity. Despite the growth, a significant gap remains between intention and action. A significant number of Canadians are open to leaving charitable gifts in their wills, but have not yet taken that step. The report also highlights that the most common barrier remains concern about leaving enough for loved ones, indicating that messaging must balance family priorities with charitable impact.
The 2025 Report underscores that organizations that prioritize education, normalize legacy giving in everyday donor conversations, and make it easy for supporters to plan a gift may have opportunities to receive substantial long-term funding, particularly when conversations occur during estate planning rather than only at the point of will writing. The report further notes that awareness of giving vehicles beyond wills, such as registered funds and life insurance, remains limited, representing an additional opportunity for education and outreach. With interest expanding across younger, more diverse, and middle-income donors, charities that adopt inclusive, proactive approaches now will be best positioned to benefit from the coming surge in intergenerational wealth. This includes engaging donors earlier, reflecting diverse motivations, and providing clear guidance to help convert intent into action.