Landowners

Land Donation and Sale in Ontario

Ensure that the ecological features of your property are conserved forever

How do land donations and sales work

Donating or selling land to Ducks Unlimited Canada can be flexible. For donations, Ducks Unlimited Canada will work with the donor to learn their goals for the property and ensure future stewardship aligns with their vision. Ducks Unlimited Canada also purchases properties with high conservation value, either alone or with a local partner, or a partial purchase and partial donation.

What you need to know

Depending on the complexity of the property and available funding, land transfers to Ducks Unlimited Canada can take from 6 months to multiple years.

For properties with both a large natural area and a residence, severing the land into two parcels may be an option depending on where you live. Please reach out to your local municipality to discuss your options.

For land donations and partial donations, there may be tax benefits available to the donor. As a charitable organization, DUC can issue tax receipts following Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) gift guidelines. Landowners are strongly encouraged to seek their own legal and financial advice to know how a donation would affect them and their family. There can be also additional capital gains and income tax benefits for gifts of land that qualify as “Ecological Gifts” under the Canadian Income Tax Act.

Before any purchase or donation, DUC commissions an appraisal by a qualified appraiser to determine the current Fair Market Value of the property based on the current highest and best use. As a charitable organization, the Fair Market Value guides what DUC can offer.

Ducks Unlimited Canada looks to secure properties with an existing wetland. DUC will review your property after initial inquiry to determine if it meets the criteria.

If you are interested in leaving your property to Ducks Unlimited Canada in your will, please contact our Planned Giving team.

We’re Here to Help.

Ready to explore how a land donation or sale can work for you?

Let’s talk!