Sooner or later, your nonprofit will consider approaching a bank for support, sponsorship or a donation. To help you save time, CharityVillage® has compiled a list of Canada’s five major banks, how they focus their funding, what they don’t fund, how to apply and how long you should expect to wait for a response.
But before you start clicking on links, there are four points to consider:
1. Know who they are before you introduce yourself
The biggest gaffe is “submitting a proposal for a project that is so far off the organization’s giving strategy that it has wasted the fundraiser and development officer’s time,” says Megan Hooper, manager, corporate communications, at TD Canada Trust. Do your homework: read the application information thoroughly and scour the bank’s website for information. Also, read their press releases about past and current charitable involvement and make sure you’re a good match.
2. If you’re going to ask, ask
Another mistake seen by development officers is applications that “simply [do] not [come] to the point with an “ask” — brevity, a budget, and a dollar request are all needed,” says Hooper. “A balance between providing the organization’s story and making the ask and how support for same benefits the funder should be provided in a succinct, legible manner.”
3. The application is your nonprofit’s resume
The application, whether it’s a form you fill out and mail, a document you put together or an automated process on the bank’s website, could be the only contact with the bank that you will have. You have limited time to make an impression, so be articulate but not verbose when it comes to describing your nonprofit.
“Treat each request like you are writing a resume for a job,” suggests Jackie Braden, senior manager, brand communications, at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). “Focus on impact, rather than emotion.”
4. Yes, this means you
Banks receive tens of thousands of funding and sponsorship requests each year; the application process that dictates and codifies your communications with them is done, in part, to give each applicant the same starting block and to manage the volume of requests; the average wait-time for a response is two to three months.
Are you tempted to send your annual report, DVD or a glossy brochure with your application? Unless it’s specifically asked for, don’t. It clutters the application and demonstrates a lack of attention to detail.
And even if you’ve pushed your nonprofit forward by never taking no for an answer, be prepared to modify that approach when dealing with a bank.Yes, you will have to apply in the manner the bank dictates and yes, you will probably have to wait for a few months before they reply.
“Don’t project a feeling of entitlement,” says Braden. “And don’t think guidelines are for ‘the other charity’.”
Bank of Montreal (BMO)
CIBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
Scotiabank
TD Canada Trust
Bank of Montreal (BMO)
What are the bank’s areas of support?
Education; hospitals, health and research; civic and community services; arts and culture. Applicants must have a CRA charitable registration number.
What types of causes/organizations does the bank not support?
- Projects/programs outside Canada
- Funding for an entity’s ongoing operational costs
- Organizations or lobby/advocacy/partisan groups that promote a particular social, political or economic ideology
- Political parties/organizations
- Religious organizations (except for secular activities/services offered on a non-denominational basis)
- Organizations that discriminate against race, gender or religion
- Institutions/programs that are the responsibility of government through taxation (e.g., public parks)
- Elementary and secondary public schools, including student organizations
- Private/independent schools
- Tuition, membership/registration fees, sabbatical or academic leaves
- Amateur or elite sports teams or events
- Individuals (e.g. sponsoring an athlete, artist, student)
- Organizations funded through the United Way / Centraide
- Local, regional, or provincial campaigns or agencies of, or those affiliated with a national organization, which is already receiving a donation
- Service/fraternal clubs or third-party organizations raising funds for a charity
- Private foundations
- Private clubs
- Professional and technical associations
- Golf tournaments and other sports activities such as runs and races
- Conferences, conventions, seminars, symposiums or workshops
- Trips and tours including subsidized travel, accommodation and entertainment expenses
- Purchase of tables or tickets for fundraising events
- Courtesy/goodwill advertising
- Low-interest or no-interest loans
- Direct mail solicitations
- Freelance films, videotapes, or audio productions
- In-kind contributions, such as meeting space and materials, and promotional items
What is the application process — In-person? Online? Mail?
By mail and email.
For detailed description of what to include in your application package, plus a list of contact information for national, regional and local applications, click here.
For sponsorship information, click here.
Are applications accepted year-round?
Yes.
How long until applicants hear a response?
Applications are considered each quarter.
Does the bank provide operational funding?
No.
Can nonprofits approach their local branch manager for support?
Apply in writing to the appropriate office for local or regional support. Click here and scroll down to the list entitled “Local and Regional Requests”.
CIBC
What are the bank’s areas of support?
There are three main areas:
- Youth in need, ages 14 to 21
- Education: Skills development and mentoring; bursary and scholarship support
- Health: Primarily focused on breast cancer, pediatric cancer, cancer and other health/disease-related charities. Capital funding for hospitals, regional health authorities or clinics.
Applicants must have CRA charitable registration number.
What types of causes/organizations does the bank not support?
- Multiple contributions to the same organization during one fiscal year (November 1 to October 31)
- Organizations currently funded by the CIBC Children’s Foundation
- Initiatives outside Canada
- Religious organizations, unless supporting broadly-based outreach community needs for the disadvantaged
- Public, private or religious schools, including costs associated with student travel, playgrounds, etc.
- Day cares, pre-kindergartens, pre-schools
- Individuals or teams in fundraising initiatives or events
- Third-party flow-through or umbrella organizations such as private or family foundations
- Boards of Trade, Chamber of Commerce or service clubs such as Rotary
- Business, industry or member-based associations
- Golf tournaments
- Conferences
- Registration fees
- Matching contributions
- Endowments
- Heritage organizations
- Political organizations
- Advocacy and lobbying activities
- Think tanks
- For-profit organizations or other corporations’ community outreach initiatives
- Advertising or promotional initiatives
- Publication of books or movie productions
What is the application process — In-person? Online? Mail?
Online only. Click here for more information.
Are applications accepted year-round?
Yes.
How long until applicants hear a response?
Depending on the type of request, allow eight weeks or more. Some applications may be processed within four weeks.
Does the bank provide operational funding?
CIBC may consider funding operations for nonprofits on a case-by-case basis. According to Joan Peters, director, community development, at CIBC, “Factors to be weighed include a review of the mandate and size of the organization, audited financial statements, details if the cost of operations is to support a program, as well as the requested funding level.”
Can nonprofits approach their local branch manager for support?
Applications must be submitted online. “That said, we value local relationships and welcome interaction at the branch level,” says Peters. “Most often, it is through the local branch that employees become involved in volunteer activities for charitable causes.”
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
What are the bank’s areas of support?
Environment, diversity, education, health and wellness, arts and culture, amateur sport, employee contributions, civic causes.
Donations focus on four key areas: the environment, health and wellness, education, and arts and culture. RBC has four Priority Projects relating to each:
RBC Blue Water Project
A 10-year, $50-million commitment to support charitable organizations dedicated to finding solutions to watershed protection and access to safe drinking water.
RBC Children’s Mental Health Project
A project focused on: early intervention and public education.
RBC After-School Grants Project
RBC Emerging Artist Project
The Emerging Artist Project offers two types of grants: Apprentice Program grants and Award Grants.
What types of causes/organizations does the bank not support?
- Duplication of direct or indirect donations to the same organization (i.e. organizations already funded by the United Way / Centraide)
- Political or fraternal organizations, service clubs, third parties raising funds for charity
- Individual pursuits
- Private (fee-based) elementary or secondary schools
- Direct funding to public schools
- Religious organizations, unless they are engaged in a significant project benefiting the entire community
- Endowment or memorial campaigns
- Conferences, events or golf tournaments
- Advertising or promotional campaigns
- Travel-related events, including student trips or tours
- The creation or repair of statues, monuments, art work or beautification projects
- The publication of books or movie productions
In Canada, donations may only be made to applicants with a CRA charitable number.
What is the application process — In-person? Online? Mail?
RBC’s preference is to receive a formal request for support by mail. Exceptions: the RBC Blue Water, the RBC Blue Water Community Action Grant application is online; the RBC Blue Water Leadership Grant Request for Proposal is accepted by mail or electronically. Details can be found here.
Are applications accepted year-round?
Yes, with the exception of the RBC Blue Water Leadership Grant application and the RBC After-School Grant application, which both have an assigned window of opportunity to apply.
How long until applicants hear a response?
Within 90 days of receipt of a complete proposal.
Does the bank provide operational funding?
General operating support may be given for smaller donations, but the preference is to support programs and projects.
Can nonprofits approach their local branch manager for support?
Donation requests should be directed to Head Office or the local regional donations officer.
Scotiabank
What are the bank’s areas of support?
Education, health, arts and culture, social services, sports, and environment.
What types of causes/organizations does the bank not support?
- Religious groups, unless providing a secular service open to all
- Advocacy groups
- Individuals and/or individual pursuits
- Fraternities, lodges
- 12-step support programs
- Toastmaster societies and other recreational or self-improvement organizations where participation is intended primarily for the personal advancement or benefit of the participant
- Direct mail solicitations
What is the application process — In-person? Online? Mail?
Requests for funding for less than $10,000 can be brought to a local Scotiabank branch where they will be sent to the appropriate regional office.
Requests over $10,000 can be sent to the address on the applications guideline PDF.
Are applications accepted year-round?
Yes. The application form is found here.
How long until applicants hear a response?
Allow 90 days for a response.
Does the bank provide operational funding?
Sometimes Scotiabank will provide funding to support the costs of a charitable event in order that the maximum dollars raised may support the charitable organization and its programs.
Can nonprofits approach their local branch manager for support?
Yes.
TD Canada Trust
What are the bank’s areas of support?
The environment; education and financial literacy; creating opportunities for young people.
TD also supports a number of other charitable organizations and initiatives for arts and culture, health care, and social services along with a dedication to diversity with investments in Aboriginal, visible minority, persons with disabilities, women in leadership and LBGTA communities.
What types of causes/organizations does the bank not support?
- Elementary and secondary public/separate schools
- Private schools
- Religious organizations
- Pageants
- Sports teams and sporting events
- Individuals or individual pursuits/fundraising initiatives
- Recreational groups (lodges, fraternal clubs, self-improvement organizations, etc)
- Conferences, trade shows, fairs
- Golf tournaments
- Production of videos, DVDs and television shows
- Organizations already supported by the United Way / Centraide
What is the application process — In-person? Online? Mail?
Though applications are received through multiple channels, the website provides access to an online application process which is the preferred approach.
Are applications accepted year-round?
Yes.
How long until applicants hear a response?
Within six weeks, although depending on the request and amount, there may be a longer turn-around time.
Does the bank provide operational funding?
TD has provided core funding on occasion “if the deliverables of the primary program of the charitable organization that we associate ourselves with lends itself to providing operation dollars,” says Megan Hooper.
Can nonprofits approach their local branch manager for support?
Yes. There are regional offices (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Central Ontario, London, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax) that review local community-giving initiatives. Local branch managers do not have a budget but they forward all requests for review to their regional office’s community relations manager.
Benita Aalto is a writer and communications consultant with extensive experience in corporate communications as well as in print and broadcast journalism. She has been a featured guest on TVO, CTV, CBC Newsworld, and CBC Radio, among others.
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