Can you tell me a bit more about thruYou?

Questions and Answers About thruYou

Sure! Go to About Us.

Can you tell me about how the whole Donation Credit and My Foundation thing works, and what charities I can donate to?

Questions and Answers About Donation Credits, the Foundation Structure and Eligible Charities

What is a Donation Credit?

A Donation Credit is a form of social currency, which we use on thruyou.com. It is really just a placeholder for currency, in that each Donation Credit converts into one cent (Canadian). Using Donation Credits enables us to be flexible in the approach that commercial partners, such as MBNA Canada Bank, and sponsors might take to enabling people to earn, redeem and donate to causes. We hope Donation Credits become as frequently talked about as carbon credits and other things that can change the world for the better.

How do I earn Donation Credits?

Ultimately, thruYou will provide lots of ways that you can earn Donation Credits. For starters, you can earn Donation Credits through your everyday spending by using your thruYou MasterCard® credit card.

How do the Donation Credits turn into donations?

The Donation Credits that you earn (and any that you purchase or are transferred to you) will be posted to your member secured account at www.thruyou.com. All Donation Credits that are in your account beyond any applicable hold period are held in trust to be advised by you as to what non-profit or charity you would like the funds to be directed and donated to.

Do I get tax receipts for my donations?

Yes. Through a “donor advised fund” called The Candian Online Giving Foundation, which is a registered charity, so your donations are made to it and are immediately receiptable. Upon receipt of donor advice, the Foundation will, in accordance with the Member Agreement, direct payment of the funds representing your Donation Credits to your chosen cause(s) (provided that they are in good standing as registered and eligible charities with Canada Revenue Agency). All donations are eligible for tax receipts. You generate your own receipts and once generated they are always accessible in your online thruYou account.

Which charities can I donate to, and do you screen them?

We don't want to be telling people where they can make a difference, although we will have a list of featured causes to assist in your decisions. Through your Personal Foundation, you can select any of the over 83,000 charities that are registered and in good standing with Canada Revenue Agency.

When do the charities get the money?

Part of the impact of thruYou is the power of grassroots aggregation and “microdonations”. On the 15th of every month, the Donation Credits are “swept” from all Personal Foundations that have given donation advice (ie. selected causes to donate to). So long as the funds to be donated aggregate at least $100, a cheque or electronic funds transfer (where we have the banking information for the chosen cause) will be sent to the chosen charity. Charities are free to choose a higher threshold to receive funds.

My donation receipt is from the Canadian Online Giving Foundation. How do I know where my donations have gone?

In addition to being able to access and print your official tax receipt from your thruyou.com My Account area, you can access an ongoing report of your donation history in your thruyou.com My Foundation area.

Do Donation Credits expire?

Nope. Even if you don't provide donation advice (ie. allocate or select a cause) you have still made a donation to the Canadian Online Giving Foundation. Where your Donation Credits are more than 18 months old, you will be deemed to have chosen to donate the funds to the charities selected by the Foundation or the thruYou community.

Can you explain how the tax stuff works?

Questions and Answers About Taxation Issues

Our federal and provincial governments encourage charitable giving by providing a number of tax incentives for individuals. Depending upon your province of residence, the tax savings can be as much as 50% of your donation, so while you're helping make the world a better place, you can also help your own financial situation.

We've provided a bit of summary information here, but this is for your convenience only and the only definitive tax or legal advice you should rely on should come from your professional advisors.

What is the tax benefit of giving?

The actual tax credit will vary depending on the province in which you live. Although tax stuff is complicated, generally speaking for the amount of annual donations you make exceeding $200, you will receive a tax credit of 45-50% (depending on where you live; the saving is highest in Alberta), which provides you with a tax saving of 45-50 cents for every dollar donated. A smaller credit applies to the first $200 of donations made in the year. Your annual donation limit is normally 75% of your net income, although donations exceeding your annual donation limit can be carried forward and claimed in any of the five subsequent years.

How do I get the tax credit for a donation?

To claim a donation tax credit, you must submit an official donation receipt with your personal income tax return (or retain the receipt if you file electronically). The receipt is available in your secure thruyou.com My Account area.

Why doesn't my tax receipt equal the sum of my donation transactions?

The amount of your tax receipt can be more than the sum of your donation transactions in the case where your Foundation ("My Foundation") isn't fully allocated. For example you may have allocated 25% of the credits you earn or purchase to each of three causes for a total allocation to your Foundation of 75%. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the credits you earn or purchase will accumulate under "Unallocated" but the Foundation can provide you a tax receipt for the entire amount as you are deemed to have made a donation to the Foundation and are providing "donor advice" to the causes selected in your personal portfolio.

How do I know that my transactions and personal information are secure and private?

Questions and Answers About Security and Privacy

Are my transactions secure?

Yes, thruYou uses industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for encrypted communication during transactions. This means that when you apply for a thruYou MasterCard® credit card or when you purchase Donation Credits your browser will display a "closed lock" icon to inform you that SSL has been enabled and the website address should start with "https://" instead of "http://". When SSL is enabled your personally identifiable information or credit card details are transmitted securely.

I want to give back, but I am concerned about getting harassed. Who will be getting my personal information?

thruYou is built around its members, and we know you value your privacy. You should review the details of our Privacy Policy, which should give you comfort that we are not distributing your information, and that you won't be receiving communications from anyone that you haven't asked to contact you.

If I use the Tell A Friend functionality, will you be using the addresses I give you?

Nope. Except to send the one-time communication that you have requested.

Can you tell me more about becoming a thruYou member and the thruYou Mastercard® credit card?

Questions and Answers About Becoming a thruYou Member

Can I get the thruYou MasterCard® credit card and not be a thruYou member?

In order to apply for the thruYou Mastercard® credit card you must first become a thruYou member. This will allow you to review and manage the Donation Credits in your account, similar to online banking.

Can I be a thruYou member but not apply for the thruYou MasterCard® credit card?

Yes, thruYou has or will have all the functionality you need to manage all of your charitable giving online through our user-friendly interface, regardless of what credit card or payment method you use. The benefits of earning Donation Credits by using a thruYou MasterCard® credit card can be significant to your cause(s), but if you choose not to apply we're still thrilled to have you as a thruYou member.

Is thruYou really free?

Absolutely. There are no hidden costs to becoming a member.

What does thruYou have planned for the future?

We're always looking for innovative products that embed giving into everyday consumer activities, there will be opportunities to access information about volunteering possibilities, events, and projects through future online social community link.