If you don’t yet have an idea about the type of fundraiser you would like to host, we can help you plan! There are many ways that you can raise funds for Green Haven Shelter for Women in your community.

We request that all fundraisers be registered with us in advance. This helps to keep us in the loop, advertise (if applicable), ensure all charity details are accurate, and give the proper thanks to you and anyone involved in the fundraiser.

Please download the GHSW Fundraiser Application and submit it to fundraiser@ghsw.ca at your earliest convenience.

How will your fundraiser raise money?

• Pledge-Based: Each participants gathers pledges from their inner circles
• Donations: Each participant makes a donation themselves
• Event Registration Fee: Ticket costs
• Sale of Items: Set prices, auctions, raffle tickets

We recommend setting a fundraising goal and communicating this goal to all of your participants and volunteers. This can motivate your participants and help you ensure your fundraiser is a success!

We also recommend considering what expenses will you have. Can these be minimized with community donations or sponsorships? Will some of the money raised be going towards these expenses?

Enlist the help of others to help plan and organize your event. If you have a committee, give each person a specific task to be in charge of, such as:

• Promotion of your event
• Event day logistics and set up
• Ticket sales, pledges and/ or registration collection

With help of your committee, determine the basics of your fundraiser:

• Date of the fundraiser
• Location of the fundraiser (Will you need to rent a space? Do they have a not-for-profit rate?)
• Will you require a permit? (ex. Special Occasion Permit, City or Town Permit, Raffle License, Proof of Insurance, review guidelines from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
• Check out online fundraising platforms such as CanadaHelps for an easy way to set up a personal fundraising page or Echo Age to set up your fundraising campaign
• Do they offer seating, tables, microphones, speakers, lighting?
• Will you need additional volunteers and support?

Spreading the word about your event is critical to its success. Upon approval of your event, we will forward a copy of our logo for you to use for promotional purposes.

Here are some tips on promoting your fundraiser:

• Posters and Flyers: Create posters ensuring you include all relevant event details to promote your event. Please send your poster to fundraiser@ghws.ca for approval before distributing it.
  • Potential Locations: Local restaurants, grocery stores, community centres, libraries, cafes
• Online Promotions: Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram are all great ways to spread the word about your event. Also, check out online event boards and calendars serving your community such as online newspapers, magazine boards, community centre websites, etc.
• Media: If you are planning a large event, you might consider sending a press release to local newspapers, radio and TV stations to get editors interested in doing an advance story or covering your event. If a reporter does contact you, tell them about your event, what you have planned, and why you are running it.
  • If the reporter has any specific questions about Green Haven Shelter for Women – please refer them directly to us at fundraiser@ghws.ca.

Please review the Fundraising Guidelines below at your earliest convenience.

All funds are to be submitted to Green Haven Shelter for Women within 20 days of the event. Funds can be submitted via a cheque, cash, or online. With prior notification, a cheque presentation and photo opportunity may be arranged. We greatly appreciate your gift!

Tax Receipts

Green Haven Shelter for Women will provide a tax receipt for the following:

• Direct personal or corporate donations of $20.00 or over (unless otherwise requested by donor)
• In-Kind donations where the value documentation is provided by the original donor/business
• Tickets (sports events, theatre, ballet, etc.) where the value is either noted on the ticket or a payment receipt is provided

Green Haven Shelter for Women CANNOT provide a tax receipt for the following:

• Gifts of promises or pledges (gift certificates donated by the issuer, hotel accommodation)
• Payment of basic fee for an event
• Gifts where the value or benefit of the donation cannot be determined
• Lottery or raffle tickets
• Name of true donor(s) cannot be determined – one person cannot benefit from gifts made by multiple donors
• Sponsorship(s)

1. Prior approval to hold a third party event is required. Approval is based on the type, theme andfinancial viability of the event. Green Haven Shelter for Women reserves the right to withhold the useof its name and logo from any event, initiative, promotion, performance or presentation it feels isinappropriate.2. All promotional materials must state that your event is “in support” of Green Haven Shelter forWomen.3. Taking commission, for any purpose, on funds raised as part of a third party event is prohibited.4. The third–party organizer is responsible for meeting all municipal/ provincial or federal standards andfulfill all legal authorization(s), permits(s), License(s), precaution(s) and / or general liability insurancerequired to organize the event. Green Haven Shelter for Women accepts no legal responsibility andcannot be held liable for any risk, injury, or otherwise.5. The third–party event organizer will be responsible for all costs related to the event and will handle allmonies until the official donation is submitted to Green Haven Shelter for Women. Event expenses areto be deducted before sending proceeds to Green Haven Shelter for Women. Green Haven Shelter forWomen shall incur no costs unless otherwise agrees in writing prior to the event or promotion.6. Green Haven Shelter for Women will not solicit or approach donors, sponsors, supporters orcorporations on behalf of the Third–Party Event nor will we provide contact, donor email lists.7. When tax receipts are requested, the third party event organizer is responsible for collecting thenames, addresses, and contact information of all donors, and is required to send the appropriatematerial to Green Haven Shelter for Women within 30 days of the event. Green Haven shelter forWomen will issue official income tax receipts in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency guidelines.Refer to tax Receipting section for details.8. While Green Haven Shelter for Women will always try to accommodate requests for a representativeor speaker to attend an event or cheque presentation, we cannot guarantee availability.9. The third–party event organizer agrees to ensure that all materials borrowed are returned promptlyand in the same condition they were received. The organizer agrees to accept responsibility for damageor loss of materials borrowed from Green Haven Shelter for Women.10. Green Haven Shelter for Women will not be responsible for mailing materials to attendees/participants or volunteers, other than the mailing of applicable tax receipts11. The third–party event organizer agrees to handle all monetary transactions for the event and topresent the proceeds to Green Haven Shelter for Women within 20 days of the event.Green Haven Shelter for WomenPO Box 612 Stn Main Orillia ON L3V 6K5