LegalWills published the 2024 Canadian Report Gifts in Wills, which reveals the most frequently bequeathed items among Canadians. As part of the study, 8172 Wills were analyzed to determine the trends in giving. Of the 8172 Wills, $380.8 million (CAD) was bequested, and the mean residual gift value was $44,982. In this sample, 2588 of the Wills featured more than one bequest, and 44 of the Wills featured more than ten bequests.
According to the study, Toronto leads in philanthropic giving by total volume and number of charitable donations, however, its ranking drops when considering the average donation size. Animal charities received the largest amount of monetary bequests, totalling nearly $88 million, followed by religious and community organizations at $77 and $63.3 million. Community charities were featured in 1,958 unique Wills and accounted for 18% of all monetary gifts and residual gifts.
For further research findings or to download the report, click here.