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= Supporting Canadian charities through Donate a Car =

Overview:
In 2005, Donate A Car Canada launched its car donation program with its head office based in Calgary, Alberta. The vision to create a unique vehicle donation program came from a desire to see donors not only receive a charitable tax receipt for the monetary return on their vehicle donation, but also to have a say in where the funds are directed. Most options at that time were directed to less than a handful of charities.

The program facilitates charity fundraising by working alongside the automotive re-sale and recycling industry coast to coast. In many provinces they are able to accommodate the donation of boats, RVs, and motorcycles as well.

The end result is to generate funds for charities of the donors’ choosing, via the resale of their vehicle through either an as-is sale at auction process, or through recycling. Auction and recycling agents across the nation partner with Donate a Car Canada to pick up vehicles and process them accordingly. Tow service is free to the donor, providing a stress free experience for them while generating a charitable donation receipt for income tax purposes.

Agents providing towing and resale services have direct input into sale prices, fees, and extent of service, allowing them to determine how their involvement can best serve their own businesses sustainably while most effectively contributing to the Donate a Car Canada program.

Donated vehicles that are scrap or recycle-ready bring a flat-rate donation, with outcomes determined by what regional scrap metal yards are willing to pay. Donors submitting newer/saleable automobiles are directed through an as-is sale at auction process and are not subject to a flat-rate. For example, in 2014 the donation of a 2003 Mercedes Benz would not have fit the usual standard flat fee offered by most vehicle donation programs. Purchased in 2003 for over $200,000, the owner wanted to auction the vehicle and have funds directed to cancer research, due to his own personal experience with cancer. A successful sale at auction resulted in a high return, and the emotional impact of sending the proceeds to a charity he had a deeply personal connection to exactly demonstrates the original vision of the company.

Only registered Canadian charities qualify to participate as donation recipients in the program, and they do so with no financial obligation whatsoever. Once they receive funds from the proceeds of donated vehicle sales, their requirement is to issue tax receipts to the individual donors.

Success:
As a member of the Better Business Bureau, the company consistently reports a Triple A status.

Many charities aren’t able to accommodate this type of fundraising due to the labor intensive administrative process associated with Gift in Kind donations. In 2005 there were a handful of local Alberta charities benefitting from this unique process, but today over 700 Canadian charities are receiving donations as a result of the nationwide expansion of the Donate a Car Canada program.

The fundamental growth and success of Donate a Car Canada is largely based on the freedom for donors to choose the charity that they want their donation to benefit. This allows them to support causes they care about in a way they may not otherwise be able to.

Affiliating with associations like the Automotive Recyclers of Canada to find and use environmentally friendly recycling services where possible allows the program to operate in an environmentally conscious manner. Permanently removing older vehicles from driving on our Canadian roads with potentially dangerous emissions and heavy carbon footprints is a significant contribution, even beyond the donation process.

Charity Response:

Charities are always looking for new and different ways to increase their revenues and this avenue is a way for them to reach donors they may not otherwise.

As the Alzheimer Society expresses, “Each donor is supported and advised throughout the process, ensuring a strong connection between donors, recycling and auction agents.”

Man hours, volunteer coordination and any number of other duties usually associated with charitable fundraising are virtually non-existent for charities that take advantage of this program, relieving them of the stress and cost often experienced in order to gain new donation dollars.

A listing of the more than 700 Canadian registered charities (as of November 2015) currently utilizing and benefiting from this program can be found on the company website, www.donatecar.ca.