Frequently Asked Questions

How do I donate? What do you do with the money? Why should I donate? Will I get a tax receipt? I made a donation but lost or never received my receipt. What should I do? Are there available job or volunteer opportunities? I keep hearing about CDF leveraging money to make my donation worth more. How does this work? Does CDF have staff managing projects around the world? How do you choose the programs you fund? How can I find out about the projects my donation is going to? I want my donation to go to a specific country or project. How can I do this? Does CDF fund co-operative development in Canada? Does CDF sell, rent or trade donor information (eg. mailing and email addresses) to other agencies? How much of my donation will go directly to those who need it? My co-op is buying new computers/promotional items/supplies and we’d like to donate our used ones to a group overseas. How do I send them? Can I adopt/sponsor a credit union or co-op? Why should I donate to the Co-operative Development Foundation when there are so many other charities doing similar work? I would like a CDF representative to come in and speak to my group, co-op or credit union. How can I do arrange this?

How do I donate?

The single most important thing you can do to support the work that we do is make a donation. Thanks to an extraordinary gift matching program that we have with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) every dollar that you donate grows to at least three dollars.

You can donate to CDF by:

Clicking on the donate now button
Download the donation form and mail it in
400-275 Bank Street
Ottawa ON
K2P 2L6

Call us at: 613-23-6711 x 215 or toll-free 866-266-7677

If you want to do more than write a cheque, please look at the Get Involved section of the website.

What do you do with the money?

CDF is a foundation that exists solely to raise money for CCA’s Co-operative Development programs. CCA’s international focus is to use co-operatives and credit unions to help people work their way out of poverty. In an average year, CCA works in 20 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and its work touches the lives of some 2 million people.

Why should I donate?

• Your contribution will immediately be put to work as we continue to help fight global poverty through our growing co-operative network of caring friends.
• Your gift allows us to work with people around the world as they seek to improve their OWN lives.
• Your gift empowers those left out to participate in their community development.
• Your gift helps women and children in developing countries to provide for themselves.
• Your gift builds a better future. Your gift makes a difference

Will I get a tax receipt?

Yes, for every donation over $10, we will issue a tax receipt.

I made a donation but lost or never received my receipt. What should I do?

The best thing to do is give us a call or send us an email. We’ll track your donation, ensure that we have your correct contact information and resend your receipt.

Are there available job or volunteer opportunities?

We are always looking for support from great people who are interested in co-operatives and credit unions. Please visit the Get Involved section of our website to see how you can best put your skills to work.

I keep hearing about CDF leveraging money to make my donation worth more. How does this work?

Some international funding agencies, including the Canadian International Development Agency, will match funds raised by Canadian charities – often at three or four dollars for every dollar raised. CDF’s strategy is to take advantage of these opportunities whenever possible. It is one way that CDF maximizes the good that can be done with your donation.

Does CDF have staff managing projects around the world?

CDF is a charitable organization, dedicated to raising money for poverty reduction in Canada and around the world. Funds raised by CDF are managed by the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) which has development staff in Canada and in various locations in the developing world.

How do you choose the programs you fund?

CDF and CCA consider every project thoroughly. We select community projects within our mandate – in poor countries where we have contacts on the ground who can evaluate the projects, where we can make lasting, measurable results and most importantly where there is a willing community. We ensure that the projects we fund are where co-ops and credit unions can make a real difference in the lives of the worlds poor.

How can I find out about the projects my donation is going to?

Visit our section on Our Work.

I want my donation to go to a specific country or project. How can I do this?

Designated donations cost more for CDF to administer. Undesignated donations ensure that all projects receive the necessary funding in a timely manner. While we prefer that funds are undesignated so that they can be used where the need is greatest, if a donor does choose to designate their gift, it is best if it is to a region such as Africa, or a theme such as microfinance or women.
Contact CDF staff and we will work with you to help you designate your donation.

Does CDF fund co-operative development in Canada?

CDF has $250,000 earmarked for domestic development. CCA is working on developing a co-operative development initiative with a First Nations group. The project is in its infancy but once it’s up and running we’ll use this website to update you on its progress.

Does CDF sell, rent or trade donor information (eg. mailing and email addresses) to other agencies?

Absolutely not. We know that some charities share and sell donor information, and we have no intention of buying, selling, or trading donor information. Please look at our privacy policy at the bottom of this, and every web page.

How much of my donation will go directly to those who need it?

We work very hard to keep our administrative costs as low as humanly possible. The national average of administrative costs is 32 cents per dollar raised and CDF is proud to say that our administrative costs are considerably lower at 22 cents per dollar raised.

This 22 cents goes towards things like the administration of your donation, reporting on donated money spent, public awareness initiatives (like this website) and staff salaries.

Even better, when we include all of the CDF leveraged money – money that could not go to projects without CDF funds – then the cost per dollar raised drops to just under 3 cents

My co-op is buying new computers/promotional items/supplies and we’d like to donate our used ones to a group overseas. How do I send them?

Shipping goods overseas is expensive and fraught with difficulties of various kinds: it often costs more than the value of what you're donating. For these reasons, most NGOs recommend that you donate money, and let local organizations do the purchasing of goods.
Please contact CDF staff for more information.

Can I adopt/sponsor a credit union or co-op?

At one time, CDF/CCA did have a sponsorship program of this sort. However, co-operatives and credit unions are about fairness and equity. We learned that by providing special attention to just one co-op or credit union in a region, we were creating inequity and sometimes hard feelings among the other organizations in the area. We would prefer to provide our assistance as equally and fairly as possible so at this time we do not offer and adoption/sponsorship program.

Why should I donate to the Co-operative Development Foundation when there are so many other charities doing similar work?

We do not make any argument that you should fund CDF over and above other organizations. Many NGOs are doing excellent International Development work around the world and we support them.
If you look at our mandate, we believe strongly that co-ops and credit unions are the best way to end the cycle of poverty.  We empower communities worldwide. 

If that appeals to you as an imperative, then you might want to support us. There is so much to be done, and so many other organizations doing good work, that making any donation in support of alleviating worldwide poverty is what counts.

I would like a CDF representative to come in and speak to my group, co-op or credit union.  How can I do arrange this?

CDF advocates are always willing to speak with you about the work that we do.  We believe in individualizing each presentation for the audience’s needs.  As such, we do our best to find the right person and the right topic for each request.  Please contact a CDF staff member to arrange for the right speaker for you.