Charities in Toronto and York region looking for volunteers: Introduction
You work hard for your money. If you’re like many Canadians, you generously share your good fortune with those in need. Charities in Toronto and York Region looking for volunteers need your help also. Volunteering is an excellent way to give back to your community. For those with high debt levels, volunteering will reduce the tension between wanting to contribute to your favourite charity, but not being able to afford it.
Corporations also support the volunteer efforts of their employees. At Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc., part of our firm values is that each staff member must volunteer some of their time to the community, not just make donations.
Charities in Toronto and York region looking for volunteers: Canadians are generous
According to Statistics Canada, a large majority of Canadians make monetary donations to charitable or non-profit organizations. In fact, the most recent statistics shows that just over 24 million Canadians aged 15 years and older donated. This means 82% of the population, had made a monetary donation.
Charities in Toronto and York region looking for volunteers: How much goes to charitable good works vs. administration
It’s important that you know how much of your money is used for charitable good works. How much is going to administration? It may change your mind about which charities ultimately benefit from your donations, time, or how much you decide to give.
Charities in Toronto and York region looking for volunteers: The Charity 100
MoneySense has produced something they call the Charity 100 for the last eight years. This list, composed of the leading charities in Canada, measures them by the following four criteria:
- Charity Efficiency – how much of your money actually goes towards supporting the organization’s mission
- Fundraising Costs – how much money it takes to raise the money
- Governance & Transparency – whether the charity adheres to standard non-profit governance models and whether it lets donors know exactly how their money is being used
- Cash Reserves – does the organization have an adequate reserve fund
You can also find great information on charities in Canada on the Government of Canada website.
Charities in Toronto and York region looking for volunteers: How to fix your debt level so that you can give to one day
Some of you reading this blog would love to concern yourselves with researching organizations deserving of your donations, but right now you’re struggling to pay the bills and are looking for a way out of debt. You may feel like you’re in a dark tunnel but The Ira Smith Team is here to shine a light on your financial situation.
We have a cumulative 50+ years helping people just like you get back on track financially. Give us a call today and take your first step towards debt free living Starting Over, Starting Now.
