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IEEE Canadian Foundation  Fondation Canadienne de l'IEEE
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Frequently Asked Questions about Making Donations
The Questions
  1. Are donations tax-deductible?
  2. Are tax-receipts issues in a timely manner?
  3. Where does the Foundation get its current funding?
  4. Where did the Foundation get its initial funding?
  5. Who decides how the funds are spent?
  6. Why are donations needed?
  7. Is there any conflict with the IEEE Foundation?
The Answers

1 Are donations tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax deductible in Canada. You will be issued a receipt for Canadian tax purposes. We ask you to consider making a tax-deductible donation to help support the education of our next generation.

Tax deductability is one of the major reasons that IEEE has a distinct Canadian foundation (incorporated in Canada) so that Canadian donors can get a tax break - as do U.S. residents who donate to the IEEE Foundation which is incorporated in the United States.

2 Are tax-receipts issues in a timely manner?
Yes, much faster than before. We met with IEEE staff who process donations made using the IEEE membership renewal process, and speeded up this process in response to the concerns of some members.

3 Where does the Foundation get its current funding?
From Canadian IEEE members: You can easily make a one-time tax-deductible donation - simply enter the amount of your gift on the IEEE Canadian Foundation line at the bottom of your IEEE membership renewal form (printed or web version). These donations are transferred from the IEEE membership office every month to our treasurer - who issues tax-receipts within a week or so.

From Canadian companies and individuals: Donations can be sent directly to the foundation by Canadian IEEE members, individual Canadians and Canadian companies. Cheques can be mailed to the IEEE Canadian Foundation, 456 Rogers Street, Peterborough, ON K9H 1W9, or credit card donationd phoned in to 705-743-7712. Tax deductible receipts are mailed upon receipt of the donation.

4 Where did the IEEE Canadian Foundation get its initial funding?
The startup funds came from the reserve funds of a conference held every one or two years in Toronto since 1956. It was originally called the Canadian IRE Convention and Exposition. Later it was called the International Electrical and Electronics Conference and Exposition. The last one was called Electronicom'85. These funds are invested and the investment income is available for funding foundation programs.

5 Who decides how the funds are spent?
The IEEE Canadian Foundation directors - who must be Senior Members or Fellows of IEEE. These directors are elected for three-year terms. Their election and activities are governed by the foundation bylaws.

6 Why are donations needed?
Our existing programs are limited by our investment income. For example, we can not fund scholarships at all the schools where we have IEEE McNaughton Learning Resource Centres, and the number of such Centres is growing. The student interest in these Centres is tremendous but poses future funding challenges.

We would like to respond to requests for new programs to encourage more hands-on experience in engineering education.

7 Is there any conflict with the IEEE Foundation?
Quite the contrary. The two foundations work together to better serve the aspirations of IEEE and its members. We maintain liaison between the two boards of directors, transfer requests for grants where appropriate, hold joint meetings whenever this is economically viable, and learn from each other's experiences.

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