If your questions are specific to our Text to Donate campaign in 2020 and 2021, you can skip to that section.
1. What does the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) do?
The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) is a registered Canadian charity (registration # 10765 9427 RR 0001). We want to change the world by removing barriers and enabling the potential of people with disabilities. We do this through innovative solutions that improve accessibility and inclusion such as:
- Bringing together leaders from business, government and the disability community, along with the public, to grow a social movement to influence policy change and create a cultural shift toward real inclusion;
- Identifying barriers to accessibility in the places we live, work, learn and play, and developing and providing tools and resources to remove them;
- Inspiring children and youth to understand diversity and inclusion and to sow the seeds early about the power of inclusive communities; and
- Accelerating Spinal Cord Injury research which is on the cusp of major breakthroughs.
Learn more about our programs.
2. Where does funding for the Rick Hansen Foundation come from?
RHF generates revenue from government grants, as well as donations from a wide range of individuals and organizations that support our mission and vision. The Foundation also earns income on endowments and investments.
Our Annual Reports are available on our website to ensure we provide the highest level of accountability and transparency to our donors and other stakeholders.
3. Where do funds raised by RHF go, and how will my donation make an impact?
When you donate to RHF your funds go to programs and initiatives that support people with disabilities who continue to face barriers to accessibility and inclusion every single day. These include:
- Ongoing sector leadership demonstrated by RHF to mobilize the disability community, rally government and industry and build awareness across the country about the urgency of making Canada accessible for everyone, everywhere.
- RHF Accessibility Certification which changes design culture and makes your community more welcoming for diverse visitors, employees and customers. It also means more people with disabilities can become meaningfully employed.
- The RHF School Program and Ambassador presentations which empower youth to become accessibility and inclusion champions, influencing society to embrace the needs of everyone, everywhere.
- A world-class hub of researchers and clinicians who advance innovative solutions to transform the lives of people living with Spinal Cord Injury.
It’s time that everyone, everywhere has the opportunity to fully participate in society by breaking down barriers in their way. Learn more about our programs.
4. There are a lot of people with disabilities who are having a hard time because of Covid-19. How is my donation going to help them?
The Covid-19 pandemic has exasperated many of the physical, financial and health barriers that face people with disabilities every single day. Throughout the pandemic RHF has pivoted our focus to meet our new reality by:
- Adapting our School Program toolkits into easy to use lessons and activities that teachers, parents and youth from grades K-12 can use remotely to learn about disability, accessibility and inclusion. This includes new interactive lessons available through the GHM Academy learning platform.
- Facilitating remote RHF Ambassador presentations to bring the unique stories of persons with disabilities to Canadians.
- Advocating to government through the Disability Leadership Coalition for financial support for persons with disabilities who are more susceptible and have increased health and financial complications caused by the virus.
- Providing resources and support through our digital channels, and updates specifically related to COVID-19. Our COVID-19 Resources for People with Disabilities is one of the highest viewed blogs on our website.
- Conducting a survey on the impact that COVID-19 safety precautions and regulations have on accessibility in the built environment and how this impacts persons with disabilities. The objective of this research is to create tips and guidelines on how organizations can re-open for business with the utmost safety, health and accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in mind.
In addition to the important initiatives above, it’s critical that we continue to educate and inspire business owners, employers, educators and all Canadians to take action and truly embrace inclusion.
5. Does RHF provide individual funding for people with disabilities?
A: Unfortunately, the Foundation does not currently have a grants program for individuals with disabilities.
7. How can I make a donation to RHF?
There are four ways you can donate:
Online - You can make a secured single online or monthly donation. You can make a secured gift in honour or in memory.
Mail - Please print off and fill out our monthly donation form then mail to:
Rick Hansen Foundation
ATTN: Fundraising
300 – 3820 Cessna Drive Richmond,
BC V7B 0A2
Phone - Please call our toll-free number 1-800-213-2131 ext. 1550 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm PST.
Text the word “FIVE” to 45678 to donate $5, $10 or $25 dollars to the Rick Hansen Foundation between Nov. 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021.
8. How can I get a duplicate tax receipt for my donation?
If you misplace your tax receipt, please email donations@rickhansen.com or call 1-800-213-2131 ext. 1550 to request a duplicate tax receipt.
All tax receipts for text message donations to RHF are provided by the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada to text donors that visit their web site to collect their tax receipt at https://www.mobilegiving.ca/tax-receipt/
9. How can I help raise funds for RHF?
Thank you for your interest in raising money for RHF! You can get information about fundraising by visiting our Fundraising page
10. Where can I find detailed financial information about RHF?
You can find detailed financial information in our most recent Annual Report.
11. How do I update my mailing preferences?
To update your contact information or to be removed from any of our email and/or mailing lists, please contact info@rickhansen.com with your request and include your name and email and/or mailing address.
12. How does RHF respect my privacy?
The Rick Hansen Foundation is aware of the trust you place in us and of our responsibility to protect your privacy. As part of this responsibility, we are transparent in how we collect and use your information. Please read our full privacy policy for more information.
FAQs Regarding RHF’s Text To Donate Initiative
13. Do I get a charitable tax receipt for my text donation and if so when?
- All donations through text message are made to the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada for the benefit of the Rick Hansen Foundation.
- All receipts for text message donations are provided by MGFC to text donors that visit their web site to collect their tax receipt at https://www.mobilegiving.ca/tax-receipt/
- Text donors are anonymous until they are able to validate that they are the user of the phone, which is validated through a handset verification process upon visiting the receipt page and inputting the mobile number from which donations were pledged. Donors must input their full name and all address information to receive an official receipt.
14. How do donations reach RHF? Does the texting platform and credit card company take a percentage of my donation?
- Donating via text costs little to administer, and is a fast and easy way to support the Foundation.
- After completing the necessary steps required to confirm a donation through text message, the charge(s) will appear on your next wireless bill/invoice statement.
- All donations made via text message are charged to your wireless bill. The wireless operators remit 100% of all donations that have been collected, on a monthly basis, to the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada, which in turn remits 100% these funds directly to RHF.
15. Are there any text messaging fees incurred from making a text message donation to RHF?
No. All text messages that are required to initiate and confirm the donation are free. There are no standard rate text message fees associated with text messages sent to or received from the mobile giving short codes throughout the donation process. The only fee incurred by the mobile user is the dollar amount of the donation itself ($5, $10, or $25). A mobile user may donate up to $100 per 30 consecutive days.
16. Can I designate my text donation to a specific RHF program or initiative?
Text donations to RHF will go to the area of greatest need as determined by the Foundation and will not be designated to specific programs or initiatives.
17. Is texting to donate safe? How do I know if I can trust the message and link?
Yes texting to donate is completely safe. The cooperative effort between the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, and wireless operators create a trusted, predictable and effective system for mobile giving.
18. Which wireless operators are currently supporting Mobile Giving Foundation Canada programs?
Currently, this service is available through the following wireless operators: Bell, Eastlink, Fido, Koodo Mobile, MTS, Rogers, Solo Mobile, TELUS, Videotron, Virgin Mobile, and WIND Mobile.
