Frequently Asked Questions

On behalf of the youth we serve, thank you for choosing Covenant House Vancouver as the beneficiary of your event. You are providing homeless youth with the tools they need to create independent fulfilling lives, free from the dangers of the street. Covenant House Vancouver is 95% privately funded; your support is crucial in serving over 1,100 youth a year!


It goes without saying that planning and executing an event involves a myriad of details; this FAQ section will address some of the most frequent questions we receive:

What kind of event should I put on?

Check out our Ideas page to get you going. Things to consider include:


Does Covenant House Vancouver say "no" to any fundraisers?

While it is very rare for Covenant House Vancouver to decline a community fundraiser, we do reserve that right if we feel the event is not in good taste.


Can I have Covenant House information on hand at my event?

Absolutely! Covenant House Vancouver is happy to send hard copies of brochures and other information in support of your event.


I’d like to have someone from Covenant House Vancouver attend and/or speak at my event. Is that possible?

Yes! If you’d like someone from our team to attend and/or speak at your event please contact us - the more lead time we have, the better. While we can’t guarantee attendance, we make every effort. We receive many requests throughout the year but requests peak during our busy season (October to December). Please email Allison Briggs at community@covenanthousebc.org to arrange.


If we want to solicit donations of items in support of our event can you provide a letter?

Yes! If you anticipate soliciting items from individuals or companies, Covenant House Vancouver can provide you with a letter of authorization that assists in validating the event to potential supporters.


Is there a minimum donation amount that Covenant House will receipt?

No. We will provide a tax receipt for any amount. Online donations receive an instant tax receipt sent via email.


What can and cannot be receipted?

Covenant House Vancouver can issue a tax receipt to individuals or organizations that make a donation without receiving any product or item in return. We cannot issue tax receipts for the following:


Can you issue tax receipts to individuals/businesses who donate items for a fundraiser’s live/silent auction or raffle?

No. However, as per CRA guidelines, Covenant House Vancouver can acknowledge the donations of goods from businesses/individuals through an acknowledgement letter. These letters then allow businesses/individuals to write off their donations as promotion expenses.


What about sponsorships, like companies who sponsor holes at a golf tournament?

Usually a sponsor receives some kind of advertising/marketing/promotional value in exchange for their sponsorship and therefore, sponsorships are not tax deductible. However, Covenant House Vancouver can provide an acknowledgement letter reflecting the value of their sponsorship. The sponsor can then use the sponsorship as a business expense.


What about companies that donate services to our event?

We cannot issue tax receipts for the costs of a donated service. For example: event entertainers, site setup, catering, etc. However we can issue a gift-in-kind letter acknowledging the donation.


Once the event is over, how do we get our collected money to Covenant House?

Firstly, we encourage all event participants to have their supporters donate online (they receive an instant tax receipt via email). Any offline donations should be remitted within 30 days of the event. We want to ensure prompt acknowledgement of the donors. Visit our contact section to email or call us with questions on remitting your proceeds.


I'm thinking of having a Vegas-style gaming night, do I need permits?

Yes! Gaming/lotteries/bingo, etc. require a gaming permit. Please visit the Province of British Columbia's info page on acquiring gaming licenses for more information.


Note: Ensure that you allow adequate time to acquire the appropriate permits in advance of your event date.


What about serving liquor at my event?

You absolutely need a license. For extensive information on licenses, license categories, costs and other rules pertaining to serving liquor, please visit the Province of British Columbia's Liquor Control & Licensing Branch page.