Donor Care

How can we help you today?

Photo: © UNHCR/Andrew McConnell

At UNHCR Canada, we strive to give our donors the best experience possible. Please watch our FAQ video or read below about donating to UNHCR, our work, our contact information and more.  

Frequently Asked Questions

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I’m a monthly donor—how and when will I get my tax receipt? 

Monthly donors receive one tax receipt in February, which consolidates the amount of monthly gifts in the previous financial yearafter the tax year has closed. Your consolidated tax receipt will be mailed or emailed to you, based on your communications preferences with us. 

If you give online or over the phone, the tax receipt will be emailed to you. If you give through the mail, you will receive your tax receipt in the mail. 

How will I get my tax receipt if I make a one-time donation? 

For one-time donations made online, a tax receipt will be sent to you within 24 hours to the email address you signed up with.

If you haven’t received your receipt for a gift made online, please check your junk mail inbox, it may have landed there. If you cannot locate it, please contact donorcare@unhcr.ca and we can reissue the receipt. 

For donations sent through the mail, please allow 2-3 weeks for your tax receipt to arrive in the mail or via email depending on the option you selected. 

What is UNHCR Canada’s charitable registration number? 

According to Canadian tax law and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), UNHCR Canada is a Qualified Donee. This means UNHCR Canada can issue tax receipts for donations received, despite not being a registered charity with a charitable registration number. 

How do I file taxes for my donations made to UNHCR? 

When it comes time to file your taxes, submit the total amount of eligible donations for the year. You can get more information about claiming donations from the CRA website. 

It is important to keep copies of all donation receipts, in case you are asked to provide proof to the CRA. Check to see if your donation is eligible for credit before you file your claim. 

Is my donation tax deductible? 

Your donation is eligible for a tax credit. 

What is the difference between Tax Credit and Tax Deduction? 

It is important to note the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction before filing your taxes. Donors can claim those gifts on their taxes in exchange for tax credits (both federal and provincial). 

Even though people often use the words interchangeably, a tax credit is different than a tax deduction (or ‘deductible’). A deduction is taken off your total income, lowering the overall amount you would be charged taxes on; a credit is taken off the total taxes you owe. 

Charitable donations can help reduce, or even cancel out, the tax you would otherwise have to pay to the government. 

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website provides a handy online tax credit calculator you can use to predict what your credit could be when you file your taxes. 

What percentage of my donation goes towards helping refugees and displaced people worldwide? 

At UNHCR, our mandate is to make sure that resources are used efficiently, which is why we’re able to allocate 81 cents of each dollar donated directly to the field to support refugees. 

Our cash assistance program achieves an even higher rate with 93 cents of each dollar going directly to a refugee family in need. 

For more information, visit our Where Your Money Goes page.

In which countries does UNHCR work? 

UNHCR supports refugees and displaced people in 135 countries around the world. 

From major capitals to remote, difficult locations, our 16,803 field staff are directly helping the most vulnerable people who have fled war, disaster or persecution. Please visit the Our Work page for more information on specific countries and how you can help. 

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What communications will I receive as a monthly donor? 

Monthly donors receive regular news, reports, emails and mailings on the impact their gifts are making for refugees worldwide. 

Monthly donors also receive our bi-annual magazines twice a year, as well as an exclusive donor report once a year. If you would rather receive an e-version only, then please let our Donor Care team know by sending an email to donorcare@unhcr.ca or by calling our Donor Care line on 1-877-232-0909. 

Can I designate my donation to a specific region or program? 

We can designate one-time donations to a particular country we work in, to a particular theme of work globally, or to the area of greatest need. Please see the current list of emergencies and programs we are raising money for. 

Our regular donors give unrestricted funds on a monthly basis. Unrestricted donations are the best way to support refugees and displaced people, as it allows UNHCR to be flexible and respond to areas of greatest need quickly and efficiently.

Unrestricted gifts also enable UNHCR staff to ensure that all emergencies and ongoing situations receive adequate funding.

If you have questions about the designation of your gifts or would like to designate a gift to a country/situation you do not see on our website, please contact our Donor Care team via email at donorcare@unhcr.ca or call us at 1-877-232-0909. 

I want to upgrade my monthly donation—how can I do that? 

To upgrade or modify the amount of your monthly donation, please contact our Donor Care line on 1-877-232-0909 or email us at donorcare@unhcr.ca

I want to update my personal or banking details—how can I do that? 

To update personal contact information such as address, phone number or email address, please email donorcare@unhcr.ca and one of our Donor Care representatives will confirm that these details have been updated. 

We advise to never send bank or credit card details over email—please call our secure Donor Care line on 1-877-232-0909 and we will securely update those details for you. 

I need to pause or cancel my monthly gift—how can I do this? 

Your ongoing monthly donation is a huge lifeline to refugee families, however we understand that sometimes monthly giving is not a viable option for everyone. To pause your monthly donations for a period of time, or cancel your monthly donations, please call our Donor Care team on 1-877-232-0909 and they will make this change. 

How can I stay in the loop with UNHCR’s work around the world and in Canada? 

You can sign up to receive e-mails from UNHCR. When a crisis occurs, you will be one of the first people to know what is happening on the ground, how UNHCR offers humanitarian aid and how you can help save lives. 

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Medium and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. 

How can I change my communication preferences with UNHCR?

You can change your communication preferences at any time by emailing us at donorcare@unhcr.ca or by calling us toll-free at 1-877-232-0909. 

I never signed up to receive communications from UNHCR. How did you get my mailing information? 

If you have never signed up to UNHCR mailings, it is likely you received a prospect appeal for an emergency. We collect names and mailing information from a variety of like-minded agencies and list-rentals. 

If you’d like to be taken off our mailing list, please email donorcare@unhcr.ca or call 1-877-232-0909 and let us know the name and address you would like taken off the list. 

Please note that we do not trade, rent or sell our mailing lists with other organizations. 

Ways to Give

The easiest way to give is through our secure online donation form. You can give monthly or one-time on behalf of an individual or a corporation. 

If you wish to make a gift of stocks, securities, or mutual funds, you can do so through our partner Link Charity. They will directly provide you with a tax receipt and transfer the donation to UNHCR.  To give through Link Charity or to inquire about other ways of giving, please visit our Stocks and Securities page. 

Donate by December 31 to get a credit for your annual taxes. Monthly donations are a great way to support UNHCR’s work where it’s needed the most (plus you get a single tax receipt for the whole year, so donations are easy to claim). 

Your gifts mean so much. Thank you for your support!

Contact UNHCR Canada Donor Care

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
PO Box 1278 StnK, Toronto, ON M4P 9Z9 

Toll free phone: 1-877-232-0909
M-F: 9:00am-8:00pm EST Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm EST 

Email: donorcare@unhcr.ca 

Donate Today
Please help refugee families in need.

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