On April 25, 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake centred 80 kilometres from the capital, Kathmandu, struck Nepal. Thousands of lives have been lost, with a large number of injuries and destruction of property and infrastructure. Although needs assessments are ongoing, it is clear humanitarian needs will be substantial.
Donation criteria for individual Canadians
For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities in response to the Nepal earthquake, the government will set aside one dollar for the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund. The government will use the money set aside for the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund to provide financing to international and Canadian humanitarian and development organizations responding to the disaster, through established Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) channels and procedures.
To be counted toward the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund, donations must be made by individual Canadians, may not exceed $100,000 per individual and must be:
- monetary in nature;
- made to a registered Canadian charity that is receiving donations in response to the Nepal earthquake (please note, donations cannot be made directly to the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund or to DFATD);
- specifically earmarked for response to the Nepal earthquake;
- made between April 25 and May 25, 2015.
For more information about making an individual donation to the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund, visit the How to make a donation page.
Donation criteria for individuals fundraising on behalf of organizations
Donations from a fundraising event undertaken to raise money from individuals in response to the Nepal earthquake are eligible to be matched. This fundraising may be undertaken by schools, faith-based organizations, clubs, social groups, businesses, incorporated entities or charitable organizations.
Any donations made by corporations, governments, businesses, partnerships, schools, incorporated or non-incorporated entities, and unions from their existing resources that were not raised from individuals specifically in response to the Nepal earthquake are not eligible to be matched. In addition, donations to augment the amount originally raised from individuals through a fundraising activity or event are not eligible to be matched.
For more information about making a donation to the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund on behalf of corporations, organizations and groups, visit the How to make a donation page.
Donation criteria for registered charities
Registered charities declaring eligible donations must complete the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund Declaration Form (this will be made available soon on the DFATD website). Forms must be received by DFATD on or before June 12, 2015, for donations to be counted toward the Relief Fund.
To ensure that donations are eligible for the matching program, you should ensure that:
- the donation complies with the conditions outlined above;
- the registered charity receiving the donation will be using the funds to respond to the needs resulting from the Nepal earthquake; and
- the registered charity receiving the donation will be declaring it to DFATD.
Declaration form
It is up to the registered Canadian charity to certify, through the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund Declaration Form (this will be made available soon on the DFATD website), that the donations declared are eligible. Registered Canadian charities are under no obligation to declare donations to DFATD if they are not satisfied that they meet the eligibility requirements. Registered charities declaring eligible donations must complete the declaration form. Forms must be received by DFATD on or before June 12, 2015, for donations to be counted toward the relief fund.
The Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund is separate from the funds raised by charities and will be administered separately by the Government of Canada. This means that a charity declaring the amount of eligible donations raised does not receive a matching dollar from the Government of Canada. For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities, the government will set aside one dollar for the Relief Fund. The government will use the money set aside in the Relief Fund to support experienced Canadian and international humanitarian and development organizations to meet needs resulting from the earthquake in Nepal.
Guidelines for submitting proposals to the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund
The Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund will support experienced Canadian and international humanitarian and development organizations with significant in-country capacity to deliver humanitarian, early recovery and reconstruction assistance in Nepal.
Allocation of funds
Charitable organizations fundraising for the relief efforts in Nepal will not have privileged access to financing from the Relief Fund. Allocation decisions will be based on DFATD’s humanitarian assistance guidelines and the ability of Canadian and international humanitarian and development organizations to access the affected populations and deliver timely, effective and appropriate assistance.
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