Giving to St. Andrew’s Hall

Thank you for considering making a gift to St. Andrew’s Hall. We hope that the information presented here will help you to make a choice that fits with your interests and passions. For example, your gift could make it possible for students to participate in an education that will be inspiring and will shape their future ministries. In some cases, your support could make it possible for a student to respond to God’s call when no other option was available. You could help fund The Elders’ Institute, which offers continuing education opportunities to develop and enhance leadership skills, theology and knowledge of the Presbyterian tradition. Or, your gift could help fund a faculty position, thereby strengthening the Presbyterian presence in the theological schools on the University of British Columbia campus.

Ways of Giving

By cash or cheque

Gifts can be made by cash or cheque and should be sent to: St. Andrew’s Hall, 6040 Iona Drive, Vancouver BC V6T 2E8

By the gift of stocks, bonds or other securities

For gifts of stocks and securities, the donation receipt will be based on the full value of the stock on the day of the transfer. Federal tax incentives have made it very attractive to donate publically listed securities that have appreciated in value.

To give a gift of securities is a simple process. Stocks can be electronically transferred from your broker to St. Andrew’s Hall’s brokerage account. You give your broker authorization to act on your behalf and we can give your broker transfer instructions.

Memorial or honour gifts

Over the years a special tradition has evolved as individuals have contributed to St. Andrew’s Hall in memory of particular individuals, such as a beloved family member, a faithful church elder, a revered professor or a devoted minister. Gifts could also be made in honor of an individual’s current ministry.

Named endowments

A named endowment fund is a permanently maintained fund that is part of our Designated Funds and is given an approved name and purpose at its inception by the donor in consultation with St. Andrew’s Hall. Income from endowment fund is disbursed in accordance with the trustees’ policies. Gifts toward endowment are invested by St. Andrew’s Hall, and the income from the gift is directed toward a purpose selected by the donor. Only the income from the principal is expended in accordance with the St. Andrew’s Hall’s spending policies, so that the gift continues in perpetuity, helping to safeguard against changing economic climates. Endowment opportunities include scholarships, professorships, Elders’ Institute courses and faculty support.

A minimum of $10,000 is required to establish a named endowment fund, although the minimum may be higher for special kinds of funds. The donor(s) may take up to three years to reach the minimum level provided the donor has provided St. Andrew’s Hall with a written record of such a pledge.

The endowment is established when the St. Andrew’s Hall has received at least $10,000 and the donor and Dean of St. Andrew’s Hall have signed Terms of Reference outlining the purpose of the fund.

Capital Gifts

Capital gifts, either on a one-time or annual basis, help organizations make one-time upgrades or expansions to their facilities. Donors who choose to make capital gifts can direct their support toward a specific purpose that matches their personal interests with the needs and priorities of St. Andrew’s Hall. Such purposes include facilities, student aid and faculty support. Capital gifts may also provide naming opportunities, which honor or memorialize a person of the donor's choosing.

Including St. Andrew’s Hall in your will

A charitable bequest is one of the simplest ways to make a gift to St. Andrew’s Hall, and often at a level not possible during one’s lifetime. Upon receipt of the bequest, St. Andrew’s Hall will issue a tax receipt to the estate to offset taxes owed.

Ways to Name St. Andrew’s Hall as a Beneficiary

There are a number of simple ways to include St. Andrew’s Hall in your will. The most common is an unrestricted outright bequest. In making such a gift, you may designate either a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate to St. Andrew’s Hall. Alternatively, you may choose to name St. Andrew’s Hall as a remainder beneficiary. In this case, St. Andrew’s Hall will only receive funds after specific sums have been paid to other designated beneficiaries and all debts are paid.

A third option is a contingent bequest which will provide for the distribution of assets to St. Andrew’s Hall only if one or more of your named beneficiaries does not survive you.

Including a Bequest to St. Andrew’s Hall in Your Will

For an Unrestricted Bequest:

"I give and bequeath to St. Andrew’s Hall ($__________) or (__________% of the residue of my estate)."

For a Specified Bequest:

"I give and bequeath to the St. Andrew’s Hall ($____________) or (____________% of the residue of my estate), the income to be used only for the following purpose: (state purpose). If, in the future, it is in the opinion of the Dean, with the concurrence of the Board of Management, that all or part of the income of this fund cannot be usefully applied to such purpose, St. Andrew’s Hall may use the same for any purpose that will most nearly accomplish my wishes."

For a Contingent Bequest:

"In the event that any of the beneficiaries named herein (in my will) predeceases me (or predeceases me leaving no heirs), I leave the rest and residue of my estate to St. Andrew’s Hall."

Planned giving

(Please note, the information on this website does not constitute legal or professional advice and should not be substituted for appropriate professional advice. St. Andrew's Hall encourages you to seek professional legal and financial advice before deciding on a course of action.)

Gift Annuities

For people sixty years old or older, St. Andrew’s Hall offers charitable Gift Annuities through a fund established and administered by The Trustee Board of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Depending on your age, a portion or all of the income from an annuity may be tax exempt. Donors receive fixed guaranteed payments for life. The portion of the gift annuity left after the death of the final beneficiary (in the case of a joint annuity) would go to St. Andrew’s Hall. The gift annuity is set up in such a way, that St. Andrew’s Hall can expect to receive at least 50% of the initial gift when payments end.

For an investment which could be as little as $5,000 an annuitant would:


• have a guaranteed income for life deposited directly into your bank account
• an income which is mostly tax-free
• a safe, guaranteed investment
• the knowledge that after your death, your annuity would benefit the work of St. Andrew’s Hall.

Gift of Life Insurance

A gift of life insurance can become a gift of much greater value than the original amount expended when the policy is given to St. Andrew’s Hall. There are several different giving opportunities available with life insurance which qualify for an income tax receipt:

Donate an Existing Policy - Irrevocable

Paid-up Policy: St. Andrew’s Hall is named owner and beneficiary of an existing and fully paid-up policy. The donor receives a charitable tax receipt for the total cash surrender value of the policy (based on the guaranteed cash value of the policy plus any accumulated dividends but minus any outstanding loans).
Policy on which premiums are still being paid: St. Andrew’s Hall is named owner and beneficiary of an existing policy. The donor will receive a charitable receipt for the cash value of the policy and for any premiums subsequently paid. If the policy is straight term insurance, or if the policy has no cash value, the donor will receive a receipt only on payment of the premiums.

Donate a New Policy - Irrevocable

The donor establishes a new policy on his/her life, or establishes a joint policy on the lives of a husband and wife, and names St. Andrew’s Hall as beneficiary. The policy is issued upon payment of a small initial premium by the donor (the initial premium is not eligible for a charitable receipt) and ownership is then transferred to St. Andrew’s Hall. All subsequent premium payments made by the donor are then receipted.

Life Insurance Beneficiary - Revocable

A donor may also name St. Andrew’s Hall as the beneficiary of the life insurance proceeds. It is possible to name St. Andrew’s Hall as primary beneficiary, co-beneficiary or even contingent beneficiary. A charitable receipt may be issued to a donor’s estate for the life insurance proceeds paid directly to a charity.

Your gifts at work

Meet an immediate need

We are frequently aware of a pressing need of one of the students in our community. While we do trust that God will provide, we encourage donors to ask us about pressing needs. Some of our students are troubled by failing financial support from home or additional expenses due to an unexpected trip home because of illness or a death in the family. Students with special needs sometimes need to pay for the installation of lift equipment or electronic door openers. St. Andrew’s Hall itself can be surprised by unexpected repairs or replacement of appliances or other equipment in the residence. Small gifts to assist with any emergencies like these are most welcome.

Set up a named endowment

Would you like to honour someone by naming an Endowment Fund? Over the years, generous friends of St. Andrew’s Hall have made outright contributions or bequests that have established endowments to fund special purposes. After the funds were established, many others have made gifts to support the objectives of these endowments.

Support campus ministry

Located as we are on the campus of a large public university, St. Andrew’s Hall has the opportunity to minister to students in many ways. Our chaplaincy budget, however, seriously limits our options. Ideally, a named endowment could fund full time chaplaincy work.
Read more about St. Andrew’s Hall’s chaplaincy program here.

Support students

• Cae Dickson Entrance Scholarship
  The Cae Dickson Entrance Scholarship (up to $5,000 per year) is to encourage the enrolment of bright, promising, Presbyterian Church in Canada ministry students entering the M.Div program at Vancouver School of Theology. Further contributions to this fund are most welcome.
  
  
• Walker Bursary is for students enrolled in the joint Regent College/VST program
  The William and Margaret Walker Bursary Fund was established to assist Presbyterian students at Vancouver School of Theology or in the joint Vancouver School of Theology/Regent College program. Further contributions to this fund are most welcome.
  
  
• International students
  Many of our students are from overseas, and a number of them are studying in Canada with severely limited financial resources. We are frequently asked and are usually not in a position to offer any reduction in residence fees to these students who could clearly benefit from such assistance.
  
  
• Housing subsidies
  St. Andrew’s Hall currently provides furnished accommodation in 93 apartments for a variety of students. Some apartments are quads for four single students to share, some are studios or one bedroom apartments, and others are 2 bedroom and den townhouses for families. For certified candidates for the Presbyterian Church in Canada Ministry, subsidies of $100 - $200 per month are available, depending on family status.
  
  
• Tuition Subsidies
  Members of the Presbyterian Church in Canada who are studying medicine may be eligible for bursaries from the Fowlie Fund.
  
  
• Living Expenses Subsidies
  Contributions are welcomed to assist students who have extraordinary living expenses due to circumstances beyond their control. St. Andrew’s Hall hopes to support these students on a case-by-case basis.
  
  
• Textbook Subsidies
  Contributions are welcomed to assist theology students with the purchase of textbooks. Donors may specify whether they would like to sponsor texts for all participants in a certain class, all texts for a single student, or any other variation as suits their wishes.
  
  
• Support a UBC Student with special needs
  Contributions are welcomed to support students in residence who have special needs. Occasionally minor renovations are needed to make our facilities comfortable for those who are blind or deaf, who use a wheelchair or have other mobility difficulties.

Support a faculty position

St. Andrew’s Hall provides faculty support to VST and Regent College. An opportunity exists to name one of these positions by means of establishing an endowment. The new position of Professor of Reformed Studies has recently been established and a candidate chosen. Please contact the Dean for further information regarding how to name this chair.

Support the Elders' Institute

You can support leadership training for ruling elders and lay leaders across Canada through the Elders’ Institute in the following ways:

$750 will fund the writing or teaching of an online course. Recognition may be given to the donor, a designated church, ministry or individual to be honoured.

$350 will fund the development of a self-directed resource that ruling elders and sessions can download.

$100 will provide bursaries for three ruling elders to participate in an online course.

$75 will pay the registration fee for a ruling elder to the national leadership training event – Pre-Assembly Workshops (PAW) - held every year on the Saturday prior to General Assembly.

$25 will fund the development of a tool for the online tool box, helpful tips for ruling elders as they fulfill their calling to serve Christ’s church.

Help fund new facilities

• Residences
• Campus Ministry
• Chapel
• Conference Facilities

Help fund library acquisitions

Through its association with VST, from time to time St. Andrew’s Hall provides funding for library acquisitions. For example, from 2007 to 2009, we provided $30,000 for the acquisition of books in the area of Reformed Studies. For further information on how to assist with library acquisitions, please contact the Dean.

Help fund special educational events

St. Andrew’s Hall endeavours to organize an educational event each year. In 2008, that event was the Best Practices Conference which brought together people from across the country who have been successful in congregational ministry. In addition to Plenary sessions, each speaker led workshops to share their expertise and to inspire local clergy and lay people who attended. In 2009, the Conference will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin.

Be creative!

If you have ideas about giving to St. Andrew’s Hall to support our various ministries or the students we serve, please contact the Dean to discuss your ideas.