It is extremely tax-smart to give a gift of appreciated shares and titles. To a registered charity, such gifts exempt you from capital gain taxation, while providing a tax receipt for the full amount of the value. You can claim charitable donations for up to 75 per cent of your net income and there is a 5-year carry forward on any unused amount. You can transfer securities - stocks, bonds, bills, warrants and futures - directly to the Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation rather than make a direct gift of cash. Conversely, if you were to sell your securities and donate the proceeds, 50% of the gain would be taxable. In other words, it is more advantageous to transfer stock directly to the Foundation than to cash it and make a donation.

To see a comparison of the tax treatment for both cases, click here.