Frequently asked questions

• Can I purchase a Gift of Hope if I am not currently a Plan International Canada donor?

  Yes - You can purchase a Gift of Hope for yourself or on behalf of someone special whether or not you have ever donated to Plan International Canada.

• Are Gifts of Hope available year-round?

  Yes - You can purchase a Gift of Hope for yourself or on behalf of someone special whether or not you have ever donated to Plan International Canada.

• Do you guarantee to direct my money to the gift donation I've chosen?

  The money collected towards a particular Gift of Hope is sent to fund the community project it supports. In the event that money raised exceeds what is required, funds will be used to support similar activities for children and communities in need.

• Can match ratios change for gifts?

  Yes - In the event that money raised exceeds project requirements, funds will be used to support similar activities for children and communities in need and match ratios may change.

• How do the gifts of farm animals work?

  The gift animals provided through Plan International Canada's Gifts of Hope are part of larger projects that aim to reduce poverty through livestock productivity. For example, the $80 for a goat is used to buy goats for families, along with training, assistance with breeding, construction of animal shelters and access to veterinary supplies and drugs. Plan International’s works in cooperation with various government departments, as well as with local service providers who have experience in the areas of livestock production and health.

• Will I get a tax receipt for my Gifts of Hope donation?

  Yes – Whether you buy a gift in your own name or on behalf of someone else, you get a tax receipt for any donation above $25, including Gifts of Hope. The amount will be included on your annual income tax receipt mailed in February (CRA charity registration # 11892 8993 RR0001).

• Will my company receive a tax receipt for their Gifts of Hope donation?

  No - Your company will receive a Gift Receipt acknowledging their donation. Plan International Canada issues appropriate gift acknowledgements dependent upon the type and identity of the donor – gift receipts for business/corporations and income tax receipts for individuals. 100% of the cash contribution made by a business/corporation is deductible by that business/corporation as a business expense. Therefore, there will be no impact to the business/corporation for income tax purposes.

Matched Gifts

• How do matched gifts work?

  Plan International Canada works with funding partners, such as governments, foundations or organizational partners to match certain Gifts of Hope. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Plan International Canada is able to dedicate funding to a specific project which is then matched by a funding partner. The match ratio ranges from gift to gift and is based on the financial commitment of the funding partner.

• Who is matching my Gift of Hope?

  Plan International Canada works with a number of different organizational and governmental donors such as The Global Fund and Global Affairs Canada (formerly CIDA or DFATD) in matching Gifts of Hope. The matching donor(s) depends on the gift. When you buy a matched Gift of Hope, your money is matched by these donors’ funds at the ratio indicated on the gift

Placing an order online

• I don't have an online account with Plan International Canada. Do I have to create one in order to purchase a Gift of Hope?

  No – You do not require an account and may checkout as a guest. However, if you create an account, we will keep your address on file for quicker checkout in the future. If you checkout as a guest, your email address will be required to confirm your order.

• Do I have to log in to purchase a Gift of Hope?

  No - You do not require an account to place an order. However, registration is simple and once complete, you can return and log in quickly for all future orders. If you checkout as a guest, your email address will be required to confirm your order.

• I have a sponsor ID already. Is this the same thing as an online account?

  No - The Gifts of Hope online store account is a separate account from your existing sponsor ID or donor ID. You will need to create an account to place an order. Registration is simple and once complete, you can return and log in quickly for all future orders.

• I have forgotten my password. How can I retrieve it?

  If you have registered on the Gifts of Hope online store and have forgotten your password, simply click on the "Forgot password?” link provided on the login screen. You will be asked to provide your email address and last name. Your password will be emailed directly to you. If you are still having problems please contact us at info@plancanada.ca or call 1 800 387-1418.

• How do I remove items in my shopping cart?

  When viewing your shopping cart, simply click on the "garbage/trash can” icon to the far right of the item you would like to delete from your shopping cart.

• I don’t want to send a greeting card with any of my gifts. How do I do that?

  If you do not wish to send a greeting card with your gift, select the “I do not want any greeting cards. Skip this step” or check “No Card” checkbox. Please note, greeting cards are mandatory for gift certificates so we can provide a redemption code to recipients.

• How do I add a general donation to Plan International Canada to my order?

  During the checkout process, simply click the "add a donation to your purchase” button and enter the dollar amount you would like to give. If you would like to edit the amount later, you can either add another donation or remove the donation from your cart and add the correct amount.

• Why can’t I add sponsor a child to my cart?

  In order to sponsor a child, you are required to complete a simple form. You can continue shopping for other Gifts of Hope once you have completed the Child Sponsorship process.

Greeting cards

• How do I get my greeting cards?

  When placing an order online, you can request one greeting card for each gift ordered by clicking on the "select a greeting card” link under the greeting card section beside each item in your cart during the checkout process. You will have the option of mailing or emailing a greeting card to your recipient, have the greeting card mailed to you or print a pdf version of your greeting card once you have completed your purchase. You can opt to select no card if one is not required.

• What do the greeting cards look like?

  The print version of the greeting cards are 5x7 paper cards with a brief description inside about the gift and the impact it will have in the lives of children and communities in the developing world. If you order online, you will have the option of five different card covers. If you order by phone or using a catalogue order form, you will receive a card with the image of the gift on the front. You can preview what your card will look like on each gift page.

• How much does it cost to send a greeting card?

  Greeting cards are free with the purchase of any gift!

• How will the cards work if I order several items?

  Upon checkout, for every gift purchased, you will be given the choice to mail a greeting card, send an eCard, print a PDF version or no card. You can select the best option for each gift. If you donate multiple gifts on behalf of the same person, you can choose to send a greeting card for only one of the gifts, or to send one card for each gift you have chosen in their honour.

• Do I have to send a greeting card with my gift?

  No – Whether you send a greeting card or not is completely up to you! If you do not wish to send any greeting cards, simply check “No card” or select “I do not want a card. Skip this step" and you will not have to select a card option with your gift. Please note you are required to send a greeting card with gift certificates so we can provide a redemption code to recipients.

• I have selected that I would like a greeting card. Why can’t I check out?

  After you have decided that you would like a free greeting card, you must select what kind of greeting card you would like to send and what kind of message you would like to include before you can check out.

• Can I schedule when I would like my card sent?

  Yes - You can choose when you would like your e-card sent. Unfortunately, at this time, we do not allow for scheduling for print cards. You can also choose to print and download a PDF card at any time.

• How long can my personal message be in my card?

  Your personal message can be up to 240 characters long. When composing your message, remember that every card comes with a detailed description of the generous gift you have purchased so the person you are honouring knows the impact you will be having.

• Can I send a card in memory of a loved one?

  Yes - After placing the item in your cart, you will have the option to select the greeting card cover of your choice and customize your card with a personal message to honour the memory of a loved one in the way you choose.

• How long will it take for my greeting cards to arrive?

  If you wish to mail your greeting card, please allow up to two weeks for delivery. If you choose to send your greeting card through email, you have the option to send your card that day, or schedule delivery for a future date. Please allow Canada Post up to two weeks for delivery.

• I would like multiple gifts to appear on one card. Can I do this?

  At this time, we don’t have that ability. We do, however, offer bundled gifts so that you can give your recipient something extra.

• Can I send Gifts of Hope to my sponsored child?

  At this time you cannot send a Gift of Hope to your sponsored child.

  If you would like to purchase your own gift to send to your sponsored child, we ask that you limit your gifts to educational items that can fit into a 9” x 12” envelope. To help keep our mailing costs low, your package should not weigh more than 150 grams or be thicker than 5 centimetres. A deck of cards is an example of an item that would weigh 150 grams. Please do not send money.

  Gifts you might consider sending are items that belong to the following groups:

  Signals of friendship, e.g., photos, postcards, stickers, balloons
  Writing and drawing, e.g., pens, paper, pencil case, crayons
  Learning and exploring, e.g., maps, booklets, small puzzles, colouring books
  Sporting and outdoor activities, playing with friends, e.g., inflatable beach balls, skipping rope
  Remember to keep your package light to help ensure our mailing costs are kept low!

Order History

• How does order history work?

  Order history allows you to look up the status of your Gift of Hope orders. You can see a history of your Gifts of Hope transactions and you can check what the status is on the delivery of merchandise and greeting cards.

• How do I log in to view my order history?

  You can log in using your Gifts of Hope ID that you created when you made your purchase.

• What does status mean on the order history screen?

  The status field provides the delivery stage of your greeting card. It can show one of the following (if applicable):

  Opened = Your recipient received and opened your eCard
  To be sent = Your eCard will be sent on the date indicated.
  Pending = Your greeting card is in the process of being sent.
  Sent = Your greeting card has left our fulfillment centre