Browse the questions below to find out more about making a gift to the CNIB Foundation. If you can't find the information you're looking for here, call us toll-free at 1-800-563-2642 or email Monthly.Giving@cnib.ca. One of our specialists will be happy to assist you.
How do I donate to the CNIB Foundation?
First, decide whether you'd like to sponsor a guide dog, or make a monthly or single gift. A monthly gift is an easy and convenient way of giving that maximizes your support, allowing you to make a greater difference over the long term. A single gift still allows you to make a wonderful impact in the lives of people in your community who are blind or partially sighted. Every dollar makes a difference.
Once you've decided on whether you'd like to make a monthly or single gift you can do so in one of three ways:
- Online: Use our secure online donation form to make a gift using your credit card, banking information or via PayPal.
- By phone: Call us toll-free at 1-800-563-2642 to make your donation safely over the phone.
- By mail: Send a cheque to your local CNIB Foundation office or our national office, here:
CNIB Foundation
1929 Bayview Ave.
Toronto, ON
M4G 3E8
Please make all cheques payable to our legal name: The Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
What does my donation support?
CNIB is deeply committed to providing critical programs, services, and advocacy to people with sight loss wherever and whenever they need us. That means when you donate to our organization, your gift will be focused towards the area that inspired your donation and could also be widely distributed to integral programs that support Canadians who are blind or partially sighted.
This gives CNIB the flexibility to respond swiftly in periods of uncertainty and deploy funds to the areas of greatest need and greatest impact.
How can I leave a gift in my will to the CNIB Foundation?
Making a gift in your will is one of the most powerful ways to support us. In fact, we rely on these types of gifts for a large portion of our funding. Visit our Gift in Your Will page to learn more. You can also visit our Make a Planned Gift page to find out about other kinds of legacy gifts you can leave for us.
How can I donate in memory of a loved one who has died?
You can donate in memory of someone by filling out our online "In Memory" donation form, or by calling us at 1-800-563-2642 and making your gift securely over the phone.
How can I raise money for the CNIB Foundation?
Host a charity dinner party, run a marathon for the CNIB Foundation, or hold a toonie drive at your workplace. Create Your Own Event.
Can I drop off a donation at my local CNIB Foundation office?
Yes. We're always grateful to accept your donations in person, online, by mail or over the phone. It's best to contact your local office before you come in to ensure we’re open when you're planning to visit and that someone is available to accept your donation and thank you. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-563-2642 and ask to be transferred to your local office.
When will I receive a tax receipt for my monthly donations?
Each February we send out a consolidated receipt for your total monthly donations to use for income tax purposes.
How do I make a change to my monthly donation?
If you'd like to make a change to your monthly donation, call 1-800-563-2642 or email Monthly.Giving@cnib.ca. Be sure to provide your full name and mailing address.
Why do you send labels, calendars and other items to donors through the mail?
We send small gifts like labels and calendars to our donors through the mail for several reasons, especially to thank donors for their support.
We've also found they inspire our donors to continue supporting the CNIB Foundation. Because they cost us very little to produce (around 50 cents, on average), they're an economical way for us to raise funds for our programs and services.
If donors aren't interested in these gifts, they can choose to opt out. If you'd like us to stop sending you gifts through the mail, call us at 1-800-563-2642 and let us know.
Why do you do face-to-face fundraising?
Face-to-face fundraising is when representatives from a charity hit the streets or go door-to-door to raise awareness about their cause and ask members of the public to support their organization with a monthly donation.
Like most charities in Canada, the CNIB Foundation has engaged in face-to-face fundraising in select regions across the country. We do this for two reasons: It enables us to raise awareness about the issues facing blind and partially sighted Canadians and also because it's a cost-effective way of getting sustainable monthly donations, enabling us to direct more of your support to those who need it
When operating, our canvassers do not work on commission. The amount of donations they secure does not affect their earnings.
If you have any questions about our fundraising, contact us at 1-800-563-2642.
How can I tell if a face-to-face fundraiser is legitimate?
When operating, canvassers working on behalf of our organization wear CNIB Foundation vests or t-shirts and name tags displaying their photo. They also use electronic tablets, not paper forms, to ensure financial information from our donors is kept safe and secure. The fundraiser should be able to answer questions about the CNIB Foundation and our programs if you ask them to. For their personal safety, face-to-face canvassers cannot accept cash donations. If you have any questions about our fundraising, contact us at 1-800-563-2642 or learn more at this link.
Why are you fundraising via face-to-face right now?
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to interrupt daily life for Canadians, more people with sight loss are turning to us for help than ever before. Many with sight loss are facing unique challenges that mainstream support networks are not equipped to address. The CNIB Foundation is determinedly working to continue being there for every Canadian with sight loss who needs us
Most of the CNIB Foundation’s traditional fundraising methods (events, galas, etc.) are no longer possible due to COVID-19, but that does not mean the need for those funds has gone away. We are relying on Street canvassing and Door-to-door fundraising as a way to help Canadians continue to support the causes they care about, but from the safety and comfort of their home.
We are committed to ensuring no one is left behind, and in order to meet that commitment, we must continue to mobilize Canadians to support our work. We understand that this is a difficult time for many and would only ask for support from those who feel they are able to at this time.
We are taking every precaution while fundraising, adhering to local guidelines and regulations, and the health of the public and our fundraisers is our highest priority. Please rest assured that we are assessing the situation daily and adjusting our work accordingly to protect the health of all involved.
Do you have permission to be fundraising?
Our fundraising partners are operating in accordance with the rules laid out by the provincial and federal governments. In addition, our fundraising partners have implemented thorough and detailed health and safety trainings and protocols four our representatives across Canada. Staff are required to stay home and isolate if experiencing illness of any kind, and to follow COVID-19 exposure protocols as mandated by each province. We are tracking and monitoring the situation daily through information provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada and local provincial health authorities, and we adjust our activity accordingly; reducing, pausing or stopping activity where necessary.
What precautions are you taking to keep donors and fundraisers safe?
All fundraising activity is fully contactless and takes place outdoors.
In accordance with public health guidelines across the country, representatives are not required to wear masks while fundraising outdoors. They must always have a mask with them and will wear it upon request. The mask must be well-fitting and worn properly (covering the nose, mouth and chin without gaps).
Fundraisers are disallowed from shaking hands with or otherwise making physical contact with donors. Our representatives are required to adhere to all social physical distancing and pandemic protocols during while fundraising, always maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet.
Donors are instructed to not make any physical contact with the fundraisers. This includes fundraising tablet devices and mobile phones.
If you do not feel safe or comfortable speaking with one of our fundraisers, please feel free to not to approach or engage with them on the street or at your door.
What is the sign-up process with a face-to-face canvasser?
We are partnered with four face-to-face fundraising organizations across Canada: Globalfaces Direct, Public Outreach, Up Fundraising and TNI The Network Inc.
If signing up on the spot with a door-to-door Globalfaces Direct fundraiser, donor information will be captured securely on a tablet device and then confirmed via phone by their call centre. Your fundraiser will use one of the following numbers to reach their call centre, as it relates to your CNIB monthly donation: (888-539-6913, 1-833-471-1137 or 647-943-0840).
If signing up with a Public Outreach fundraiser at the door, in the mall, or on the street, fundraisers will capture donation details via their secure tablet device. You can expect to receive a phone call from one of the following numbers to verify that the information collected is accurate: (289-401-1593, 778-508-9750, 438-801-3028, or 581-705-6997)
If signing up with an Up Fundraising canvasser on the street, contact details are captured by the fundraiser on a tablet device. To complete the process, you will then use your smartphone to scan the fundraiser’s QR code and enter your donation details into the secure form on your mobile phone.
If signing up with a TNI canvasser at the door, contact details are captured by the fundraiser on a tablet device. To complete the process, you will then receive a text message with a link that will take you to a secure online form on your mobile phone, where you will enter your donation details. Once the form is complete and submitted, you will be instructed to call the secure verification centre at 1-855-567-0971 to confirm your details.
With all methods of sign-up, you will receive an email confirmation afterwards, and you may receive a welcome text and/or call within one week.
What are your face-to-face and tele-fundraising hours?
Our canvass times vary by province, and we fundraise 5-7 days per week depending on the time of year:
Our Street and Park fundraisers canvass between the hours of 10:00am – 7pm.
Our Mall fundraisers canvass during mall hours, from open until close.
Our Door-to-Door fundraisers canvass between the hours of 1:00pm – 9:00pm, depending on where they are located.
Our Telefundraisers call between the hours of 9:30am – 9:00pm Monday to Friday, and between 10:00am – 5:30pm on Saturdays.
If you have any questions about our fundraising, contact us at 1-800-563-2642
Why do you do tele-fundraising?
Like many charities, the CNIB Foundation engages in tele-fundraising campaigns at select times throughout the year. We do this not only because it allows us to raise awareness about our work, but it's a very cost-effective way of securing sustainable monthly donations, enabling us to direct more of your support to those who need it.
With the pandemic impacting charities' ability to do more in-person fundraising events, you may find that there are a few more telecommunications than there have been in the past. We understand this might not always be to everyone's liking, however, many of our supporters appreciate the convenience of being able to donate over the phone.
Our tele-fundraisers do not work on commission. The amount of donations they secure does not affect their earnings.
To update your contact preferences, please reach us at Monthly.Giving@cnib.ca or 1-800-563-2642.
How can I tell if a tele-fundraiser is legitimate?
Telephone fundraisers are working on behalf of our organization to contact people who have supported us in the past, people we serve in the blind or partially sighted community, or people who have expressed interest in our work. The caller should know your first and last name. As with our face-to-face fundraisers, they should be able to answer your questions about the CNIB Foundation and our programs.
One of the following numbers may appear on your call display on behalf of an authorized CNIB tele-fundraising campaign:
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888-539-6913
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647-943-0840
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1-833-471-1137
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1-833-926-2799
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1-833-672-0760
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587-885-1416
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647-479-0386
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778-819-0981
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587-328-1148
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289-401-1593
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778-508-9750
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581-705-6997
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438-801-3028
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647-805-7601
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604-424-4315
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306-271-1833
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613-903-7546
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902-417-0709
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1-866-258-4257
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1-855-567-0971
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604-200-8098
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647-260-9958
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1-866-767-6464
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437-780-3561
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581-221-6708
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778-721-5833
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437-837-6895
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778-244-8517
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438-239-9857
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647-258-0148
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514-908-0047
If you have any questions about our fundraising or want to verify the legitimacy of the call you received, contact us at 1-800-563-2642.