AEBC Fundraising Programs

AEBC Fundraising Activities and Initiatives

The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians is a national, registered charitab le organization which receives virtually all of its operating funding through donations from members and the general public. We often receive inquiries from donors unsure of our legitimacy, or who are wondering whether the person standing on their doorstep is really raising money for AEBC. Please see below for details on all of our current fundraising initiatives. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Anthony Tibbs (National Treasurer) at tibbs@blindcanadians.ca, or call us at 1-800-561-4774 to discuss the matter.

We collect funds through a number of avenues, including:

• Direct-mail solicitations (sent primarily to donors who have contributed to AEBC in the past);
• Door-to-door solicitations in select locations;
• Telephone fundraising in select locations (Ontario);
• Our web site;
• Sponsorship of several children's publications; and
• Advertising in the Canadian Blind Monitor.

Children's Publications

The AEBC is proud to sponsor the following children.s publications, which are distributed to hospitals and health care facilities across Canada several times per year:

• Children's Hallowe.en Book
• Children's "Playing Safely" Magazine
• Children's Christmas Carol Book
• Children's Easter Story Book
• Children's Circus Book

These publications allow us to offer a valuable experience for children that contributes to their overall health and well-being, while also drawing attention (for parents) to the existence of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians.

Direct Mail Solicitations

Donors who have previously made a contribution to AEBC are, by default, included on our in-house mailing list, and may receive one or two letters from us each year highlighting our recent accomplishments, new and upcoming projects, and noteworthy developments in the community.

If you have received a letter in the mail from AEBC regarding our activities, it is because you have made a donation to AEBC in the past. (Note that our name changed from the National Federation of the Blind: Advocates for Equality in 2004, and you might have made a donation under the old name.)

If you do not wish to receive further letters from us, you can indicate this on the enclosed pledge form and return that to us in the mail, or call 1-800-561-4774 and let us know.

Door-to-Door Solicitations

We do have several door-to-door canvassing operations underway in British Columbia at present, particularly in the Okanogan Valley and on Vancouver Island (though not in Victoria itself).

There are door-to-door solicitations underway in Southwestern Ontario. These fundraising efforts are managed by Shawn Houweling, canadiancharitynetwork@live.com.

If you are approached by one of our canvassers and make a donation, you will be issued a temporary donation receipt, which you can submit to our national office to receive a tax-deductible charitable receipt.

Each temporary receipt will be numbered, and will be a two-part form (with one part of the receipt remaining in the receipt book). If a canvasser approaches you with photocopied temporary receipts, or temporary receipts which are not in a receipt book, please mail your donation directly to the national office and call us for assistance.

Why do we use temporary receipts? Official charitable donation receipts must be completed accurately and completely or the donation deduction may be disallowed by the Canada Revenue Agency. By issuing all receipts from our national office, we can ensure that this will not be a problem, and that any official deductible receipts issued will be legitimate.

Telephone Fundraising (Ontario)

Residents in the Toronto area may receive a telephone call from the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians informing them of our programs, services, and current projects. Cheques and money orders for pledges made through this campaign will be directed to a post office box in Chatham, Ontario, and when these have been processed and delivered to our Kelowna, BC office, donors will automatically receive an official charitable receipt. Receipts are processed on a monthly basis, so donors can expect a 6-8 week turnaround time on these receipts.

Ontario telephone fundraising efforts are managed by Shawn Houweling, canadiancharitynetwork@live.com.

Online Giving

You may donate to the AEBC online, through our CanadaHelps donation form. When you donate online with your credit card, an electronic, tax-deductible receipt will automatically be generated and e-mailed to you when your transaction is completed. This is the quickest, safest, easiest way to give to the AEBC, either as a one-time donation or on a recurring (monthly) basis!

Advertising in the Canadian Blind Monitor

The Canadian Blind Monitor, our flagship magazine published on a bi-annual basis, highlights major developments in the blindness community, showcases the accomplishments and achievements of blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted individuals (both in Canada and abroad), and offers a critical perspective on the place of the blind and partially sighted in wider society. More than 4,000 print copies of the magazine are distributed to doctors offices, retirement homes, schools, libraries, disability and general health care organizations, and individuals across Canada, and countless more are sent out on CD, in Braille, in large print, and, of course, via e-mail.

The CBM is funded in part by advertisements from businesses and organizations across the country, and we are always on the lookout for new partners and contributors. If you would like to advertise your product or service in the Canadian Blind Monitor, or if you would like to receive a copy via e-mail, please contact us. All past issues of the CBM are posted on this web site.

For More Information

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Anthony Tibbs (National Treasurer) at tibbs@blindcanadians.ca, or call us at 1-800-561-4774 to discuss the matter.