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1 - What is Centraide's role in the community?
- To improve the living conditions of thousands of needy people in
the Greater Montreal area by supporting community-based agencies and
projects which meet the social needs expressed by the community.
- To ensure that people in need can acquire the necessary means to
regain control over their lives and become active members of the
community once again.
- To canvass the people of Greater Montreal for donations by means of
a vast fundraising campaign in order to finance community-based
agencies and projects.
2 - Why give to Centraide?
- Because there are immense social needs in our community. Our
society may be rich, but the gap between the haves and the have-nots is
widening. Very poor neighbourhoods exist right beside very rich
neighbourhoods, and pockets of poverty are appearing in affluent
districts. Poverty is evolving, and its new faces are those of youth
and families.
- Because poverty leads to isolation, distress and other problems.
Poverty affects every aspect of social life by contributing to family
breakup, increased violence, health deterioration, child development
problems, parental distress, substance abuse, etc.
- There are still many families, youth, children and seniors who are
needy, isolated and in distress.
Some statistics:
- 27% of the population of Greater Montreal is poor (lives under the
low-income threshold).
- In Greater Montreal, one in three children under 15 years of age is
poor.
- On the Island of Montreal alone, one in three children under 5
years of age is poor.
- In the past two years, the number of cases of child abuse reported
to the director of youth protection in Montreal has increased by 20%.
Two-thirds of these cases concerned children 11 years of age or under,
and the most frequent cause was neglect.
- Teen violence in and around the school has become a fact of life in
Montreal. In 1997-1998, 7,000 young people involved in violent
situations turned to youth centres for assistance.
- For 11% of the young people who arrive in Montreal by bus, their
first human contact is with a pimp or a drug pusher who often attempts
to recruit them. By the end of their first week in Montreal, up to 50%
of these young arrivals have been approached by a pimp or drug pusher.
3 - Why give more?
- Because community needs are growing significantly and becoming more
complex.
- Because the agencies are confronted with ever growing needs at a
time when their resources are already stretched to the limit. So
they're asking for more in order to consolidate their programs and
develop new solutions.
4 - Why go through Centraide when I can make a donation
directly to an agency?
- Because every dollar you give to Centraide has an eightfold impact
thanks to the added value contributed by all the volunteers who work
for free at Centraide's agencies. (In Centraide's network, there are
186 volunteers for every 24 employees.)
- Because Centraide provides the agencies with core funding, thereby
enabling them to devote their time and energies to helping people
instead of constantly searching for financing.
- Because a donation to Centraide is a value-added donation:
- A single donation to Centraide can be used to respond to many
different needs. Every day, the agencies supported by Centraide help to
build a network committed to mutual aid, to people, to communities.
These agencies have a profound understanding of their particular sector
of activity and a great deal of practical experience. They also
increase their own effectiveness by working closely with other agencies
in their neighbourhood and by pooling resources.
- Centraide puts your donations to effective use. With the help of a
team of professionals, skilled volunteers conduct research to determine
community needs and formulate the most effective response. Just imagine
if you had to repeat the whole process for each one of the 300
different agencies and projects.
- Centraide makes sure that its agencies don't offer programs and
services that are already being provided by the government or by other
organizations.
- Thanks to its vast network, Centraide can get a lot done: with a
single campaign it can mobilize a large number of donors and
volunteers. This collective effort helps many different agencies. If
agencies were required to organize their own campaigns, more effort and
more resources would be required, and they would have less time to
devote to the people they help. Centraide's network allows the
community to benefit from economies of scale.
- Centraide's expenses are closely monitored by a board of directors
made up of 30 volunteers who ensure that the maximum amount of money is
put back into the community.
- Centraide of Greater Montreal is our most effective instrument for
identifying the best solutions for the future of our community.
Centraide's choices are those of the community itself, because
volunteers from the community participate in making these choices.
5 - How much money goes to the agencies?
- Of every dollar raised during the campaign, 87.3 cents goes to the
agencies in the form of direct allocations, investments in social
research and analysis, and support and follow-up services.
6 - Does Centraide ensure that its funded agencies operate
properly?
- In order to be eligible for funding by Centraide, an agency must
meet rigorous selection criteria. The administration and operations of
each funded agency are monitored and evaluated by Centraide consultants
and volunteers, who visit the agency regularly. They ensure that the
agency is managed properly, that it submits audited financial
statements, that it meets Centraide's evaluation criteria, and that its
programs and services address the real needs of the community.
7 - Not all community agencies receive Centraide funding. Why
not?
- Any agency can apply to Centraide for support. However, the number
of agencies and projects that Centraide can afford to support depends
on the amount of money it raises. Some agencies don't apply for
Centraide funding.
8 - Why should I give? I never turn to the community agencies
for help.
- By giving, you ensure that you and your loved ones, as well as your
neighbours, can obtain appropriate services if you ever need them. Your
donation in an investment which improves the quality of life of the
community in which you live or work.
9 - If the campaign raises more money, will campaign expenses
go up?
- Campaign and administration expenses remain stable over the years
and are kept as low as possible. This is achievable thanks to the
various contributions made to Centraide's campaign (loaned
representatives, volunteers, the collection of donations through
payroll deduction, the donation of advertising space, etc.). Last year,
administration expenses accounted for only 12% of Centraide's campaign
revenues.
10 - Why is it that Centraide raises more and more money but
poverty persists?
- Eradicating poverty is beyond Centraide's capabilities. However,
Centraide can lessen the effects of poverty for a great number of
people, and help to make their neighbourhoods and communities better
places to live.
11 - How much money do you distribute in my
municipality?
- The funds collected during the campaign are reinvested across
Greater Montreal as a whole, and not on a municipal basis. However,
several of the agencies supported by Centraide, such as Suicide-Action
Montréal, Grossesse-Secours (which helps pregnant teens and young
mothers), Montreal Harvest, and the Information and Referral Centre of
Greater Montreal, provide services throughout Greater Montreal. Of
Centraide's 300 agencies and projects, 17 serve its territory as a
whole, and 80 serve a complete area, such as the North Shore, the South
Shore or the Island of Montreal.
12 - Why do some companies pay representatives to work at
Centraide instead of making a donation?
- Assigning a representative to Centraide doesn't take away from
corporate donations, and it's a highly appreciated contribution. There
are many ways a company can support Centraide: it can make a corporate
donation, it can hold a fundraising campaign among its employees, it
can donate advertising space, it can sponsor the campaign kickoff, and
so on. Most companies support Centraide by doing all of these.
13 - Is it possible to volunteer at Centraide?
- Yes, it is. Centraide of Greater Montreal exists to serve the
community. It operates on the basis of volunteer participation.
Voluntary action is what drives Centraide's board of directors, its
fundraising campaign, its allocations process, and its network of
community-based agencies.
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