Frequently Asked Questions
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What is CanadaHelps?
CanadaHelps is a registered charity and public foundation on a mission to make giving simple. Through CanadaHelps.org, anyone can donate to any registered Canadian charity online. For donors, CanadaHelps.org is a one-stop shop for giving. For charities, CanadaHelps is a cost-effective online fundraising solution.
What is CanadaHelps' mission?
CanadaHelps' mission is to provide accessible and affordable online technology to both donors and charities in order to promote – and ultimately increase – charitable giving in Canada.
What is CanadaHelps' Charitable Registration/ Business Number (BN)? What is a BN number?
CanadaHelps is a public foundation, BN: 896568417RR0001. A BN number to a charity is what a SIN number is to an individual; it acts as a means of identification for the Canadian Revenue Agency.
How did CanadaHelps get started?
The idea was first thought of in 1999 by co-founder Aaron Pereira who worked with 2 friends from high school – Matthew Choi and Ryan Little – to build CanadaHelps. With the support of a number of companies, CanadaHelps launched its first official site in 2000, facilitating over $150,000 to charities in its first year. For the full story, click here.
How does CanadaHelps support itself? How is it funded?
CanadaHelps appreciates the financial and in-kind support of the following organizations: CIBC, ethoca, The Ontario Trillium Foundation. Osler, Hoskn & Harcourt LLP and Q9 Networks. We are also generously supported by donations from a number of individuals. Visit the Supporters section for more detail.
What does it cost to use CanadaHelps?
CanadaHelps assesses a 3.9% transaction fee on each donation. This amount is deducted before the donation is sent to the charity. This 3.9% is covers all credit card merchant fees, transaction fees, banking costs, receipting, reconciliation and disbursement. The 3.9% is a modest charge for the service that CanadaHelps provides to Canadian donors and the charities.
Donations to charities that aren’t registered with CanadaHelps for the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) of donations are assessed an additional 1% (for a total of 4.9% per transaction).
Where does CanadaHelps get its list of charities?
All charities listed on CanadaHelps.org are acquired from the Canada Revenue Agency's list of registered charities. Our list is updated monthly to ensure we're adding new charities as they're created and removing those that have had their charitable status revoked.
Does CanadaHelps screen or investigate the charities listed on the site?
CanadaHelps uses the approved list of charities from the Canada Revenue Agency, the charity regulator in Canada. All charities that have valid charitable status are allowed on the website. For guidance with your giving, visit our section on Giving Resources.
I can't find my charity on CanadaHelps. Why?
CanadaHelps lists charities that are recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). However, for various reasons, charities that are recognized by the CRA may not be included on CanadaHelps because:
- The charity may be registered under a different name. Try searching for a keyword.
- The charity is new and has not yet been added to our site. Updates are made monthly so please check back.
- The charity has recently had its charitable status revoked by the CRA.
- The charity has requested that it be removed from CanadaHelps because it either does not accept donations or is not interested in accepting online donations at this time.
How does the money get to the charity?
After securely processing your donation online, CanadaHelps prepares to disburse it to the charity you donated to. Charities that are registered with CanadaHelps to receive donations by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) receive weekly deposits for donation made the previous week. If the charity you donated to isn’t registered to receive EFTs, they will get a cheque by mail in the month following the donation date. If your charity isn’t yet registered with CanadaHelps, visit the For Charities section for more details about why they should.
Can I give to individuals in need through CanadaHelps?
No. CanadaHelps can only facilitate donations for Canadian registered charities.
Can I give to nonprofits that aren't registered charities through CanadaHelps?
No. CanadaHelps can only facilitate donations for Canadian registered charities.
Can I give to non-Canadian charities through CanadaHelps?
No. CanadaHelps can only facilitate donations for Canadian registered charities. There are however, a number of Canadian charities that conduct charitable work around the world. If you wish to give to a charity registered in the US, please visit Network for Good. To give to a charity registered in the UK, please visit the Charities Aid Foundation. Donations made to foreign charities are not usually eligible for tax deductions in Canada.
I work/volunteer for a charity that might want to use the CanadaHelps service. What do I need to do?
Please see the information found in the For Charities section.
Why should I use CanadaHelps?
There are many reasons to use CanadaHelps! Here are just a few:
- Donating online is easier than writing a cheque
- You get your tax receipt instantly
- You can keep track of your giving and receipts all in one place - no more lost tax receipts!
- CanadaHelps offers you unique and innovate ways to give online
- It saves your favourite charities money.
CanadaHelps is awesome! Can I link to your site?
Absolutely! Visit our CanadaHelps Ambassadors page to check out some of the logos, pics and banners who can choose from for your site, and how they can be used.
Why do I need to enable pop-ups?
Pop-ups are used to preview e-cards and Charity Gift Cards. To enable your browser to accept CanadaHelps pop-up windows, please see your browser's Help function.
Is CanadaHelps PCI compliant?
When it comes to handling your credit card information, CanadaHelps adheres to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). Moreover, when necessary to do so (i.e. for monthly donations), we use the facilities of our PCI DSS compliant payment processor to securely store your payment card details.
Click here to download CanadaHelps’ compliance certificate.
CanadaHelps' statement in compliance with the Alberta Charitable Fundraising Act
CanadaHelps' statement in compliance with the Alberta Charitable Fundraising Act
CanadaHelps has estimated that $12 million will be raised from Albertans for charitable purposes through the CanadaHelps web portal in the current calendar year (2013), at an estimated cost of $100,000. The money raised is disbursed as per donor instructions to donor-designated charities. For more information, contact Patrick Banville, Chief Operating Officer at 416-628-6948.
I received an email about a grant from CanadaHelps, is this real or a phishing email?
Unfortunately, there a currently at least twos phishing email circulating using the CanadaHelps name. Please note that CanadaHelps doesn’t issue grants to individuals, doesn't pay volunteers and is currently not engaged in any programs with the EU, United Nations; nor do we have any operations outside of Canada. If you receive an email that you believe to be phishing, do not respond to it and delete it immediately.
Below is a sample text of current phishing emails. These emails did NOT originate with CanadaHelps.
Phishing Email #1:
CANADA HELPS
www.canadahelps.org
215 Spadina Avenue
Suite 330
Toronto, ON M5T 2C7
CANADA HELPS would like to inform you that you have been selected by the Steering Committee as one of the recipients of a cash (Grant / donation) for your personal training, education, and development of your business.
This is not surprising to be able to do his charitable donations online. Since the year 2010 by the groups multi-million and now supported by the Economic Community for West African States (christian aids), the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) has been designed for human development, growth, education, and community.
At the same time as the christian aids, the UN and the EU, we offer an annual donation of $ 2.000.000.00 (two million U.S. dollars) each to 50 (percent) lucky recipients.
These donations / special concessions will be granted in the world for 50 (percent) recipients, in various categories for the development of their business and personal development of their educational plans. It is an annual program, which is one measure of universal development strategy.
The goal is to make a significant change in the living standards of people around the world (from America to Europe, Asia to Africa and vice versa), probably for the 20 (twenty ) next années. Cette donation you will improve your quality of life by using it to create either micro-enterprises that will help you reduce the level of poverty around you, that you will help thousands families in need of adequate infrastructure for their education and many others. Take time and thought in spending the donation wisely on something that will earn you long term. This donation is attributed both to recipients and they are no longer eligible for future editions.
Based on the random selection exercise of internet websites and millions of supermarket cash invoices worldwide, you were chosen from thousands to receive the aid of $ 2.000.000.00 (two million U.S. dollars) . From the charity donations / aid from CANADA HELPS, christian aids, EU and UN to by law.
NB: Note that all beneficiaries email addresses were selected randomly from over 100,000 Internet websites and from purchase invoices for different stores in your area where you conduct races).
You are requested to contact the Executive Secretary below for qualification documentation and processing of your claims. Having contacted our office, you'll be given your limited number of gift that you will use in collecting the funds. Please try to quote your Qualification numbers (CH-777-8564-3216) in all discussions.
Executive Secretary. Mr Mike Robinson
Email: robinson.mike25@yahoo.ca
V lez euil note that these donations / grants are strictly administered by the EU, christian aids, the United Nations. You are well advised to keep this whole information confidential until you have come into possession of your donation, as there have been many cases of double claims due to beneficiaries informing third parties about his donation.
In conclusion, all funds should be claimed by their respective beneficiaries, no later than 20 days after notice. The lack of response beyond that date, we will take and to give such aid to other beneficiaries next year.
On behalf of the Board kindly accept our warmest congratulations.
Respect.
Mrs. Mary John
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Phishing Email #2:
Dearest Prospective Volunteer,
You are hereby presented with a chance to be a representative of CANADAHELPS.ORG and earn a SUBSTANTIAL RENUMERATION PACKAGE plus a yearly upfront allowance paid at the end of each fiscal year in late September. This endeavour would unarguably earn you between $800 - $2000 weekly (TAX FREE) and also WILL NOT affect your current job earning or disability money.
The high point of your involvement would be that private donations will be made in your name from our esteemed donors in your region, Donations will be coming in form of cash, Cashiers check, Money Orders and so on. You would be required to deduct a certain percentage which is 10% of the total amount of the donations which come to us through you. This serves as your renumeration for the great service you would be rendering in support of saving lives in the third-world countries. Balances shall be required to be forwarded to the company through our Regional Coordinators.
If you are interested in taking up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a positive impact on someone else's life, while also earning handsomely, forward the following information about yourself, to our Recruitments Department at the under-listed email address for further instructions.
YOUR FULL NAME :
FULL ADDRESS (NO P.O.BOX):
CITY :
STATE:
ZIP CODE/POSTCODE:
CELL PHONE NUMBER :
HOME PHONE NUMBER :
GENDER :
AGE :
COUNTRY :
Your prompt response is extremely solicited.
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE : Mr Patrick Snell
http://www.canadahelps.org/
Registered No. 896568417RR0001
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