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The Teasdale-Corti Foundation has a very specific goal: to enable St. Mary's Lacor Hospital to provide adequate care to as many people as possible at the lowest possible cost.
The Foundation's focus and approach are to support the hospital's most pressing and urgent needs, as identified by its on-site management. The hospital's operating budget reflects local priorities, informed by local conditions. This budget is approved by the hospital's board of directors.
Thanks to its founders, who have managed and developed Lacor Hospital for over 30 years, the Foundation has always incorporated several key principles of good development practice. These principles have since been documented by international donors in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005), which was reinforced by the Accra Agenda (2008) and the Busan Partnership (2011).
In particular, respect for local ownership of priorities, local capacity building, predictability of support, and attention to avoiding top-down projects imposed by donors are integral to the Teasdale-Corti Foundation's DNA.
What kind of donations and contributions does the foundation take?
Donation: By definition, a donation is always unconditional. The donee, i.e. the party receiving the donation, can do whatever they want with the donation received. It is always understood that a donation will be used to further the donee's mission.
A donation can be in cash or in kind.
- Cash donation: cash donors can benefit from tax advantages by claiming federal and provincial tax credits based on an official receipt issued by a donee recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
A donee may refuse a cash donation if it believes that the donor's reputation would tarnish its own reputation.
- In-kind donation: Donations in kind may involve goods or services. Since the receipt of goods or services must fit into the donee's inventory, maintenance schedule or daily operations, the donee must ensure that the donation is acceptable and that it can bear the costs associated with accepting it before giving its approval.
A donee may refuse a gift in kind if it does not fit within its operational plans. Gifts of service include, but are not limited to, volunteer work. See further definitions below.
The CRA does not allow charities to issue official receipts for gifts of service. Under certain conditions, it does allow the issuance of official receipts for gifts of property.
Contribution: a contribution is a grant conditional on the performance of certain tasks or the pursuit of certain objectives. It is always documented by a legal agreement. In the international development sector, a contribution is normally paid in advance, sometimes with a small holdback payable at the end of the agreement period upon receipt of a project report.
To have a real impact, a contribution supports existing efforts or priorities of the recipient. Contributions that push the donor's priorities do not work. Any grantee with a minimum of good management will refuse contributions that do not fit sustainably into its operations or strategic plan.
Contributions are cash only. They are generally administered by the recipient. No tax receipts can be issued for grants or contributions.
