A vibrant community is defined by its diverse voices, stories, and people. As a Roulanter, you consistently show up for the well-being of the Montreal community in various ways, and donations can be one of those means. Each contribution is not the same, but holds the same weight. Here are 6 types of donations that can allow you to continue showing up for your community in ways that feel right to you.
1. AMPLIFY YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYER
Does your employer have a charitable matching program or a charitable payroll giving program? It’s one of the easiest ways to double the distance of your donation. Through such a program, your employer will match donations made by employees to non-profit organizations, dollar-for-dollar and sometimes more! In some cases, employers even match volunteer hours with a donation, or offer simple, automated contributions directly through their payroll system.
Contact your human resources department directly to see if they have a matching program or charitable payroll giving program, help circulate the information to your employees or colleagues, or encourage your company to start such a program.
2. MAKE A GIFT OF SECURITIES
When you donate securities directly to a charity (as opposed to selling them and donating the proceeds), you don’t pay any capital gains tax. This, in turn, can allow you to donate more!
Easily donate securities through the CanadaHelps website in 3 steps and watch your contribution make a meaningful difference. Your contribution is key at any time of the year, but don’t wait too long — the deadline to complete the first two steps is generally the second week of December to be eligible for a tax receipt in the same year. Here are the steps to follow:
- Fill out the online securities donation form. Upon completion, you will receive an email confirming all the details of your pledge.
- Complete the provided Letter of Direction form and send it to your financial advisor or investment firm. This authorizes the transfer of shares to CanadaHelps.
- Once shares are sold, CanadaHelps sends you a confirmation email with your charitable tax receipt and disburses the proceeds to Santropol Roulant.
3. SIMPLIFY YOUR GIVING WITH AUTOMATIC DONATIONS
Say goodbye to the December giving rush and sign up for an effortless way to contribute. Become a monthly donor directly through Santropol Roulant’s website or by contacting Anne-Leslie at anne@santropolroulant.org
Monthly donations allow you to focus on your impact rather than your cash flow. This approach also ensures that Santropol Roulant has a predictable source of funding for long-term organizational sustainability and stability.
4. GIVE THE GIFT OF GENEROSITY
Coming up on a special occassion like a birthday, wedding or Christmas? Why not turn traditional gifts into a gesture of solidarity? You can invite your loved ones to support a cause that is important to you instead of giving you a gift, make a gift in honour of someone special, or challenge your friends or family to give alongside you by starting a seasonal giving tradition instead of a gift exchange.
5. INSPIRE GENEROSITY IN OTHERS
Engage your friends, family, and personal network in the spirit of giving!
Informally, you can share your commitment to Santropol Roulant on social media and in personal conversations, explaining why the Roulant community is important to you.
To make it more official, you can plan your own peer-to-peer or matching fundraiser linked to a particular objective like running a marathon, a virtual challenge like inktober, personal celebrations or memorials for loved ones, and more. You can also challenge your community to reach a particular fundraising goal by pledging to match it with your own contribution. Reach out to us today to discuss the possibilities for your custom peer-to-peer fundraising.
6. CONSIDER PLANNED GIVING
Your donations have always contributed to today’s community and tomorrow’s. However, who knows what tomorrow may bring? You can continue to impact your community beyond your time by leaving a gift to Santropol Roulant in your will. Read more about planned giving in these blog posts, which offer clear information and helpful tools for exploring your options.
Your dedication to Santropol Roulant is sincerely appreciated. We acknowledge each gesture of time and energy that you make to support your community. Thank you for all that you do!
Melanie and the fundraising team