Donations
The Battle River Community Foundation allows you to choose what fund, purpose, or project you would like your gift applied. Please contact us if you need assistance.
As the Battle River Community Foundation is a Registered Charity with the Canada Revenue Agency and issues charitable tax receipts for tax credits for eligible gifts of cash, cheques and securities. Please click here for more information about tax benefits.
Donate Online
CanadaHelps is a non-profit organization. When using the service, fee information is provided on the donation page and ranges between 2% and 4% depending on the donation and payment type. The fees are disclosed here.
Other Ways to Give
Donors may direct contributions to create a new fund now or over time; to an existing fund of their choice; to an initiative (such as Reading University); or may request a donation flow through directly to a charity.
Cheque
One of the easiest ways to make a gift to the Foundation is by cheque (or cash). These donations can be dropped by the office during operational hours at 4906 46 St in Camrose or mailed to Box 1122, Camrose, AB T4V 4E7.
* Please do not mail cash or leave donations the mailbox outside the office door as we cannot guarantee security of this mailbox while the office is closed.
YEAR END DONATIONS: Mailed donations are considered given on the date they are post-marked. If you require a tax receipt for December, please ensure your donation is physically received by Foundation staff on or before December 31st or your mailed donations receives a December post-mark.
Credit Cards
Donations made by credit card can currently be made through any Canadian online donor portal. Most common for our donors are CanadaHelps or ATB Cares. When these donation portals are used, the tax receipts are automatically generated by the respective service for the full donation amount and sent via email. The Foundation will send a non tax cash receipt when the donation arrives to confirm that any fund, tribute, or other instructions have been followed.
* Please agree to “share your information” with the Foundation so we may see your name and any donation instructions as well as contact you should we require additional details to ensure your intentions for your gift are followed.
E-Transfer
Donations can be made to the Foundation via E-Transfer as a one-time transfer or as part of an ongoing commitment. Please contact the office prior to sending a transfer. We will ask for your information which we require to produce a tax receipt as well as donation instructions which may include a tribute, fund, initiative (like Reading University), or other specific direction.
* We cannot can accept an E-Transfer until we receive the necessary information.
Payroll Deductions
The Battle River Community Foundation can be selected as the recipient of an established giving program offered by many employers. Donations are typically deducted bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually. Donations through payroll deductions help donors to easily budget their support as part of their monthly household expenses and annual tax planning.
If you are looking to initiate a giving program as an employer for your business and employees, there are some resources for you here.
Gift of Publicly Listed Securities
Making a gift of securities is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a gift to your community. It works at all levels of giving and whether you give your securities now, or in the future through your will, there are tax benefits available.
When publicly listed securities are donated to the Community Foundation, the tax on the capital gain is eliminated. To take advantage of the tax savings benefit, the donor must transfer the securities “as is” – either through an electronic transfer or in the form of a share certificate in the donor’s name delivered to the Foundation.
* The foundation encourages donors to consult with their professional advisors before making any large charitable donations for annual tax and estate planning purposes. We will work with you and your advisor to ensure the transfer is smooth and your donation receipt is delivered directly to you.
Gift through Will
Donors can designate a specific gift or a portion of their estate to the Foundation.
Charitable gifts in a will result in a donation receipt which can be used to offset the taxes payable on up to 100 per cent of the income in the year of the donor’s death. Any unused credit may be carried back one year.
* The foundation encourages donors to consult with their professional advisors before making any large charitable donations for annual tax and estate planning purposes.
Gift of Life Insurance
Life insurance allows donors to make extraordinary gifts at a lower cost. There are several options:
- Donors may purchase a new policy naming the Foundation as the owner and irrevocable beneficiary of the policy. The donor will receive a tax receipt for the annual premiums payable on behalf of the Foundation.
- Donors may transfer an existing policy to the Foundation. The donor will receive a tax receipt for the cash surrender value and for any subsequent premiums paid by the donor after the transfer.
- Donors can name the Foundation as the beneficiary only of the policy. The policy proceeds are paid directly to the Foundation at the end of the donor’s lifetime. The tax receipt may be used to offset taxes in the donor’s final tax return with a one year carry-over for any unused credits.
Gift of Charitable Remainder Trusts
A charitable remainder trust is a gift that allows the donor to give an asset during his or her lifetime (with immediate tax savings) and yet retain the right to the income from the asset for a certain number of years or until the end of his or her lifetime. The donor irrevocably sets aside a certain sum of money. A trust agreement provides that the donor (or a nominee) will control the management of the fund as trustee and that the donor (or a nominee) will receive the income from the fund while he or she is still alive.
Upon the donor’s death, the capital of the fund will be payable to the Foundation for the purposes which the donor requested. The ultimate gift of the capital of the trust passes to the Foundation outside of the donor’s estate and is not subject to probate fees.
* The foundation encourages donors consult with their professional advisors before making any large charitable donations for annual tax and estate planning purposes.
Gift of RRSP or RRIF
Donor can designate the Community Foundation as a beneficiary of your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF). These assets are highly taxed after a spouse’s death. By donating a RRSP or RRIF, you may offset the tax that would otherwise be payable on these assets by your estate.
* The foundation encourages donors consult with their professional advisors before making any large charitable donations for annual tax and estate planning purposes.
Any donation to the Foundation may be made in memory of a loved one or in honour of a special occasion such as an anniversary, birthday, retirement, graduation, or any other event or occasion you would like to mark. The Foundation can send a notification of the memorial or honourary gift. Tributes are listed in the Annual Report for the year given.
* The foundation encourages donors to consult with their professional advisors before making any large charitable donations for annual tax and estate planning purposes.