Episode 97
Episode 97 of Tales From the Trenches Tuesdays again features Malcolm Burrows, a philanthropic advisor and gift planner with 34 years of experience. He leads Scotia Wealth Management’s 100-year-old private foundation services practice. Before joining Scotia he worked for three major Toronto charities from 1990 to 2004 and started his career in the arts.
The Canadian Tax Advantage
The conversation gets really interesting for Canadian fundraisers. Malcolm highlighted a stark difference between Canadian and American charitable tax systems that most of us don’t fully appreciate.
Malcolm emphasized that only one in a thousand Americans receive tax benefits from charitable bequests, while virtually any Canadian with income can receive tax savings from charitable giving at death. This creates a radically different system with unprecedented opportunities.
In Canada, with fairly simple planning, donors can essentially eliminate all taxes at death through charitable giving. This isn’t about letting tax considerations drive decisions, but about helping donors make informed choices about using their social capital for public benefit.
Lessons from a Lifetime of Giving
Malcolm’s philanthropic journey began in Ottawa with parents who sponsored five refugee families and were deeply engaged in community service. His father served as president of a struggling nonprofit sailing and tennis club, while his mother worked with seniors housing and disability services.
Malcolm reflects that the participation was constant and the giving was just an outgrowth of that involvement. This “participation first” approach shaped his understanding that authentic philanthropy grows from genuine engagement rather than transactional relationships. His mother even admitted she learned giving from his father, showing how philanthropic values can be cultivated through example and involvement.
It’s not a matter of letting the tax tail wag the dog but looking at opportunities to make choices about using this social capital for public benefit.
Just click on the picture of Malcolm below to hear our conversation.
L’chaim,
jack
