FAQ

Centraide is a major actor in the fight against poverty and exclusion in Greater Montreal. It supports a network of 350 community agencies and projects, as well as collective actions in communities in Laval, the Island of Montreal, and part of the South Shore that help people living in poverty and social exclusion.

Centraide's expertise is based on an in-depth understanding of communities and their needs, established through strong connections with neighbourhood roundtables, community agencies, and public health, education, and municipal institutions.

This approach allows Centraide to establish priorities for action and identify the agencies that are best placed to implement them, with the consistent aim of attaining maximum impact with people facing difficulty.

Beyond the calibre and sustainability of their actions and solutions, all agencies supported by Centraide are leaders in their respective milieus. These agencies exercise sound management and effective governance, and are equipped with the means to evaluate and report their results.

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Yes, Centraide of Greater Montreal is registered as a charity with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Our registration number is 118842517RR0001.

The territory served by Centraide of Greater Montreal includes Laval, the Island of Montreal, and part of the South Shore. To find out more about the agencies supported near you, consult our interactive map.

If we do not serve your area and you wish to find the Centraide that does, visit centraide.ca and enter your postal code.

The face of poverty has changed even more with the Covid-19 pandemic. There are now people everywhere living below the low-income cut-off. The number of people living below this threshold continues to grow, even in sectors that were previously considered privileged.

Centraide supports a network of agencies that helps vulnerable people cope. Together, we can succeed in making Greater Montreal an inclusive city, where all people can live with dignity.

Every donation to Centraide is important. When added to the thousands of other donations, it becomes a powerful lever for communities. Every dollar donated to Centraide has a local impact on people in need.

To find out more, visit our investments and benefits page.

There are more than 80 local United Way Centraide across Canada, including 18 Centraide in Quebec, that are autonomous and managed by a volunteer Board of Directors in the communities they serve. While Centraide of Greater Montreal is part of a global network that allows us to maximize efficiency and cost benefits, each United Way Centraide works locally to raise funds and invest in their own local community.

Our presence on the ground and our vast collaborative network allows us to capture the pulse of a community and make investment decisions based on their needs and our financial strategy.

Accompanied by a team of seasoned professionals, some 40 investment volunteers share their knowledge and expertise in social and community development in order to make judicious investment choices. They analyze and evaluate requests for financial assistance submitted by community agencies, enrich discussions, and make recommendations to the Board of Directors on the allocation of funds.

Discover here our investment strategy.

There are several ways to donate to Centraide of Greater Montreal. Visit our Ways to Give page to learn more.

If you wish to make a donation from our website, you can do so using your Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit card, or via your PayPal account. If you wish to make the payment by cheque, you can make it payable to Centraide of Greater Montreal and send it to the following mail address:

Centraide of Greater Montreal
493 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, Québec H3A 1B6

85% of donations made to Centraide are invested directly in the community. The costs of the annual campaign and other operational expenses amount to 15%, a proportion that we have maintained for several years.

Our administrative costs are among the lowest in Canada. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) considers up to 35% an acceptable standard for fees, and rates fees of less than 20% as excellent. As a result, any rating below 20% is considered excellent in the philanthropic sector.

Centraide is one of the 100 highest scoring charities out of 750 charities evaluated by Charity Intelligence Canada.

Learn more about our investments and benefits.

The tax credit granted for a charitable donation depends on a number of factors. To understand and calculate your tax credit, we invite you to consult the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Revenu Québec websites.