You may assign York as beneficiary, co-beneficiary, or a secondary, remainder, or residual beneficiary of your life insurance policy or retirement fund. Annual life insurance dividends also may be assigned to the university. When York is named as owner of a policy, the cash value of the policy may be deducted on your income tax return.

Retirement plan assets may be an especially attractive portion of an estate to give to York University.  As the university is a tax-exempt organization, the gift of retirement plan assets avoids both estate and income taxes.  This preserves more of the asset for the support of the ministry of York University while the donor may pass on other assets to his/her heirs.