How long has 100 Women Who Care St. John’s been in existence?
Christy Haggerty and Carole Ann Ryan were immediately drawn to the idea after hearing about other chapters of 100 Women Who Care. The planning for the St. John’s chapter started in February 2013. The existing chapters in Ontario and Nova Scotia have been well received and very successful, and we hope the idea expands to other Canadian cities! The first meeting of the St. John’s chapter took place May 29, 2013 and we have been going strong ever since.
Which charitable organizations are eligible for consideration by the group?
In order to be considered at a meeting, the organization must be based in St. John’s Metropolitan Area, which consists of St. John’s and the surrounding 12 communities – Mount Pearl, Paradise, Conception Bay South, Torbay, Flatrock, Pouch Cove, Portugal Cove-St. Philips, Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove, Bay Bulls, Witless Bay, Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, and Bauline. It must be a registered not for profit or charitable organization eligible to provide tax receipts for donations. It must be previously established for at least 1 year (no start-ups). Only local chapters of national or international charities will be considered as the current focus is on contributing to our local community. An organization that is selected for the group donation may not be nominated again for 2 calendar years. The exception is a specific program within a large organization (for example a specific department or program within a hospital), which may be considered again after one year for a different program or department. Members nominate a charitable organization for consideration upon registering to join our St. John’s Chapter. Any member wishing to submit a charitable organization for consideration must email their nomination at least one day prior to the scheduled meeting. The organization with the greatest amount of votes is the recipient of the funds and is removed from the selection process for 2 years.
How do charities, and grass root non-profit organizations in the St. John’s Metropolitan Area get involved?
Charities must be nominated by a member of 100 Women Who Care St. John’s to be considered. We invite organizations to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook. Here organizations can educate 100 Women Who Care St. John’s members and those following us about their projects. Many members are looking for a charitable cause to nominate and find info within our social media discussions and posts.
Is my donations tax deductible?
Yes, as only registered not for profit and charitable organizations will be sponsored by the group. Cheques are written directly to the charitable organization and not to 100 Women Who Care St. John’s. Tax receipts will be issued directly by the charitable organization.
How is the organization that receives the group donation chosen?
A member who has signed the Commitment Form can put the name of a local organization into the hat for a random drawing at the meeting. The organizers of the meeting will collect the names of the organizations from the members, the nominated organizations will be deposited into a hat and 3 organizations will be selected. The nominating members will be asked to come up and give a short 5 minute presentation as to why the organization they are nominating should receive the donation and then spend 5 minutes for Q & A. We encourage members to participate by submitting the names of local, needy charitable organizations.
What if I cannot attend a meeting?
If a member cannot attend a meeting she can do one of two things.
1. She can send in a blank, signed cheque with a trusted friend to the meeting (preferred). The friend will write in the name of the charity that is chosen on the check and give it to the organizers on her behalf. The friend may vote on behalf of the absent member if she has the check, it cannot be sent in at a later time or the member can not pay online.
2. The member can get the cheque to one of the organizers before the meeting.
Can I just send the donation to the charity myself?
Because the goal of 100 Women Who Care St. John’s is to make a large donation on behalf of the whole group, the answer is no. We want to be able to support this endeavour and give $10,000 + dollars at a time to make a large impact in our community with each members donation being part of the larger donation. This is the power of joining forces! We also need to be able to track your donations so that you get credit for the donation and remain eligible for submitting charities and voting at meetings.
How long do the meetings last?
Meetings are intended to be very short and no longer than 60 minutes. That being said, these is the opportunity to socialize before and after the meeting.
Can I bring a friend to the meeting?
Of course you can! We are always seeking women who care! However, in order to vote she will need to sign a Commitment form and become a member. Otherwise she is free to observe and contribute a donation if she likes.
Does any part of my donation go to administration costs of 100 Women Who Care St. John’s?
Absolutely not! 100 Women Who Care St. John’s is organized and operated entirely by volunteers. Our meeting spaces have been generously donated by local venues. 100% of the money raised at our meetings goes directly to the selected organizations!
What do you do with my personal information?
100 Women Who Care St. John’s collects your personal information (including name, address, email address,phone number) strictly for the purpose of maintaining our membership list. 100 Women Who Care St. John’s will not sell, give or otherwise share your personal information without your express consent, unless required by law. We do like to recognize our members via social media and other venues. If a member would like to remain anonymous they must let us know at the time of joining.