Frequently Asked Questions

Plan International is an independent global organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We support children’s rights from birth until adulthood and enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity.

We aim not only to improve the daily lives of girls but also to advance their position and value in society while actively working with boys and young men to champion equal rights for all. For over 85 years, we have been building powerful partnerships and are now active in more than 80 countries.

Learn more about us.

Plan International Canada is part of Plan International. Funds raised in Canada and worldwide are used to support rights-based, child-centered community development projects through sustainable solutions with measurable impact.

Plan International Canada Inc. (Plan International Canada) is officially registered as a charitable organization with the federal government.

Plan International and Plan International Canada have no political or religious affiliations.

As a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls, Plan International Canada works with communities to help protect children against risks like disease and hunger and ensure every child can access rights like safety and education. A key component of this work is involving men, boys and everyone in helping end injustices that limit and harm all children and most affect girls, like child marriage and targeted violence.

Learn more about the cause.

In choosing where Plan International works, we carefully assess the potential to create lasting, positive change. We analyze poverty statistics and a wide range of human development indicators, such as literacy or infant mortality. We work with communities who have invited us to collaborate with them – an important prerequisite for work to be successful and sustained. Decisions on how to use the funds are based on strategic plans prepared by in-country program staff in consultation with children, communities, local governments and partner organizations.

Learn more about How we work. 

Yes, Plan International is uniquely positioned to respond quickly when disasters strike in the countries where we work. Many of our staff were either born or have deep roots in the areas they serve. This local knowledge as well as Plan International’s long-term presence give us the relationships and infrastructure to ensure that money donated in response to emergency appeals gets to the people it’s intended to help.

In many instances, your contribution to an emergency response through Plan International is matched by the government. Support Plan International’s emergency relief fund.

No, when you sponsor a child, you’re not just helping one child. Your donations are pooled with those from other generous Canadians along with those of our institutional and corporate partners. They are leveraged to maximize benefits based on the needs of the entire community. More than 80 years of experience in evidence-based programming has proven that this is the best way to provide a sustainable future for children.
Learn more about Child Sponsorship.

We are committed to maximizing the amount of funds that go towards helping children. In 2021, 81% of funds raised by Plan International Canada supported programs that help girls, boys, their families and communities. See our full financial reports.

We understand circumstances change, especially during this unprecedented time. We have options available if you need to make changes to your monthly support. Please call us at 1-800-387-1418 and one of our representatives would be happy to help you. To ensure the health and safety of our staff with accordance to all public safety guidelines, our Donor Care team is working at reduced hours from Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM EST.

We regularly share stories about the people we work with on our website and on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram profiles. We also send email updates to donors sharing the progress their donation is supporting.
If you’ve sponsored a child, you will receive an additional annual progress report about your child.

We also publish an Annual Review detailing our impact, which includes audited financial statements showing how funds are spent. These statements are prepared according to International Accounting Standards.

Yes, donations over $25 are tax deductible. Receipts are automatically issued in February of the following year to reduce expenses and facilitate record keeping. Only official receipts – paper and electronic – issued by Plan International Canada and bearing our business number are valid for Canadian income tax purposes.
If you are a member of a group sponsoring a child, project or program, official receipts are available for individuals in the group. If you require a tax receipt prior to February, please contact our Donor Care team by phone at: 1-800-387-1418 or email at: info@plancanada.ca.

All Plan International Canada supporters with an email address on record will receive their tax receipt electronically to help save paper and keep costs low, maximizing funds for Plan International Canada initiatives. If you would like to change your preference, please contact us at info@plancanada.ca or 1-800-387-1418. If you have more questions about tax receipts, please visit the income-tax receipts page.

No, it is not possible for you to leave a gift in your will to your sponsored child. You can, however, leave a gift in your will for Plan International's Child Sponsorship programming.

Since a legacy gift is realized well into the future, and because needs and programs shift over time, your bequest will have the maximum impact for children if Plan International Canada has the flexibility to direct your gift to where the need is greatest at the time. This will allow your gift to support generations of children far into the future. To ensure that Plan International can honour your wishes and distribute your gifts as you intend, the wording of your will is important. To discuss the wording of your will, please don't hesitate to contact Michelle Bernard at (437) 828-8974 or email mbernard@plancanada.ca.

Yes, donating through a tablet with one of our representatives is a secure and reliable way to support Plan International Canada.

Our dedicated door-to-door fundraising representatives operate in cities across Canada, connecting with potential monthly donors to join our mission for change. Using secure, mobile tablets, they facilitate donations through credit card or bank account details. This method not only ensures efficiency but also reduces administrative costs, allowing more funds to go directly toward our programs.

Key Points About Tablet Donations:

• Secure Technology: Donations made through our tablets are processed securely using encrypted systems.
• No Cash Accepted: Representatives are not authorized to accept cash donations, ensuring financial transparency.
• Official Identification: Look for representatives wearing Plan International Canada-branded apparel and carrying an official ID badge.

By supporting us through this convenient method, you contribute to meaningful change for children and communities worldwide. If you meet one of our representatives, feel free to ask them more about our programs and the secure donation process.

Learn more about our door-to-door fundraising here.

Yes. Plan International Canada works with telemarketing partners to carry out our telephone fundraising program and to gather support for advancing children’s rights and equality for girls.  

Our partners adhere to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and Imagine Canada’s Standards Program along with fundraising best practices.  Our fundraisers receive an hourly wage and receive no commission for the supporters they sign up for or the donations they raise. They are a team of highly trained professionals that are passionate about our work and are happy to answer your questions. 

Current phone fundraisers: 

• Public Outreach

• Inspire Direct Marketing

• Globalfaces Direct

• Stratcom

The phone numbers our partners use may change. If you have any questions about our telemarketing program or a phone call received, you can reach us by calling our dedicated Donor Care team at 1-800-387-1418.  

Yes. Whether you buy a gift in your own name or on behalf of someone else, you will receive a tax receipt for any donation over $25. The amount will be included on your annual income-tax receipt, which is automatically issued in February of the following year. (CRA charity registration # 11892 8993 RR0001)

All Plan International Canada supporters with an email address on record will receive their tax receipt electronically to help save paper and keep costs low, maximizing funds for Plan International Canada initiatives. If you would like to change your preference, please contact us at info@plancanada.ca or 1-800-387-1418. If you have more questions about tax receipts, please visit the income-tax receipts page.

No. Your company will receive a gift receipt acknowledging their donation. Plan International Canada issues appropriate gift acknowledgements depending on the type and identity of the donor: gift receipts for businesses/corporations and income-tax receipts for individuals. All the cash contributions made by a business/corporation are deductible by that business/corporation as business expenses. Therefore, there will be no impact on the business/corporation for income-tax purposes.

You can become a force for change in the lives of children and their communities for less than $1.50 a day. That’s $42 per month.

It’s completely up to you how long you choose to sponsor a child. Many of Plan’s sponsors have continued their support of children across decades.

We understand that circumstances can change; you can end your sponsorship at any time. However, we encourage sponsors to continue their support whenever possible. Seeing a child through to graduation has a profound impact – not only on that child’s future but on their entire community.

Thank you for considering joining our sponsorship program! By sponsoring a child, you’ll help make life-changing improvements for a child and their community, like supplying clean water, building health centres, and keeping children in school. And all for less than $1.50 a day!

It’s easy to sign up on our website here. You can also call us at 1-800-387-1418 and one of our Donor Care representatives will be happy to help you.

When a child is sponsored, it’s the beginning of an amazing journey that creates lasting change spanning generations. We call this the Plan Effect. Children and their communities lead the way by telling us about the positive changes they most want to see. Then we work together to make those transformations happen. This includes things like:  

• Improving health centres 
• Launching school meal programs  
• Building clean water systems  
• Helping families grow their savings so they can buy what they need most 

Through sponsorship, we build deep connections in a child’s community. Those roots then become the foundation for even more positive change: Our existing relationships in communities can attract bigger opportunities, including large-scale education and health projects, funded by partners like the Government of Canada, that can reach thousands more children! 

Children graduate from the sponsorship program when they turn 18. Children may also leave before they turn 18 for various reasons – sometimes their family moves away, or the child decides they no longer want to be sponsored. They may also live in a place experiencing a crisis or conflict that is so dangerous that it’s no longer safe for Plan to continue working there.

Even if a child leaves the sponsorship program, that doesn’t mean they have to stop participating in Plan’s activities. Because our programs benefit entire communities, all children continue to enjoy the positive changes, like access to clean water and improved health centres.

As part of our website migration, you may need to create a new MyPlan account. If you had a MyPlan account prior to May 2022, you’ll need to register again.

It’s quick and easy to register or re-register for a MyPlan account. Just click the Register for a MyPlan account button and input your donor ID number, full name and email address.

The next time you visit MyPlan, you can just hit the Login button.

You can update your personal and account information online in the Account info on MyPlan or contact us at 1-800-387-1418. Here you can change your phone number, address, username, password and more.

In the Account info, scroll down to the “Change password” section, click Change and follow the steps.

If you would like to update your credit card information, we ask that you call our Donor Care team. We look forward to providing you with the ability to update your credit card in the near future.

We understand circumstances change, especially during this unprecedented time. We have options available if you need to make changes to your monthly support. Please call us at 1-800-387-1418 and one of our representatives would be happy to help you. To ensure the health and safety of our staff with accordance to all public safety guidelines, our Donor Care team is working at reduced hours from Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM EST.

One-time and recurring donations of more than $25 are eligible for tax receipts. Receipts for one-time donations made online are emailed at the time of the donation*. Please refer to your email records or contact us if you can’t find it. Tax receipts for one-time donations made by phone or mail and all recurring gifts will be issued in February of the following year in the name of the “true donor” per CRA guidelines. More details on CRA guidelines  can be found here.

*If your preference for receiving instant tax receipts is set to mail, you will not automatically receive the instant tax receipt for any one-time donations made online. Please contact Donor Care at 1-800-387-1418 to change your preference to email.

All donations made by December 31 at 11:59 p.m. ET (regardless of your time zone) will be accounted for as a donation for that calendar year. For example, someone in British Columbia must donate by 8:59 p.m. their time to fit within our deadline.

Your donation is eligible for a tax receipt if the group organizer provides us with your necessary contact information: Your full name, including your middle initial, address, and donation amount. Please review the income tax receipt information document (pdf) or contact Donor Care at 1-800-387-1418 or info@plancanada.ca if you require further information about group eligibility for tax receipts.

When an individual provides a cheque but insists the donation is from someone else (i.e. cash collected from another individual), you must provide a written declaration as proof of identity or say no to issuing a tax receipt. If the name on the credit card, direct debit, or cheque doesn’t match the name on the declaration, an income tax receipt cannot be issued. Please note that a name change is not required if you’d like your spouse/common-law partner to claim the receipt for income tax purposes.

Only a true donor can claim the tax receipt. As per CRA guidelines, a true donor is an individual or organization donating cash or through cheque, credit, or direct debit to the charity. For tax purposes, if you have a spouse or common-law partner, your donations can be combined and claimed on one tax return.

After signing up, you'll receive a confirmation email within 24-48 hours detailing your donation. Tax receipts are generated annually and mailed every February to the address you provided.

If you have questions or concerns about our door-to-door fundraising programs, you can reach us Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm ET, through:

• Phone: 1-800-387-1418
• Live Chat on our website
• Email: info@plancanada.ca

Yes, it is safe. Our fundraisers use secure tablets to enter your information, followed by a verification call which confirms contact information and collects payment method details. This process ensures your information is handled securely.

This method of fundraising allows charities to have meaningful conversations with the public. Canvassers are able to show people the impact and benefits of their programs. It’s also the first step in building a lasting relationship with people in Canada who care about their cause.

Face-to-face fundraising represents one of largest channels for acquiring new monthly donations. This monthly funding is critical because it helps strengthen long-term relationships with donors, set more predictable budgets, forecast cash flow more effectively, keep administrative costs down and reduce the volume of fundraising requests.

Plan International Canada, established in 1968, is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to advancing children's rights and promoting equality for girls worldwide. Plan International Canada is a member of the global Plan International organization, which operates in over 85 countries.

The organization adheres to strict governance and financial accountability standards, ensuring effective utilization of donations. Independent evaluations provide insights into its financial transparency and program effectiveness.

Plan International Canada is also a member of the Humanitarian Coalition, a collective of Canadian non-governmental organizations collaborating to respond to international humanitarian crises.

In summary, Plan International Canada is a credible and trustworthy organization, recognized for its dedication to improving the lives of children and promoting gender equality globally.