Costs and Finances
FinACE: Canada
Your Adventure Begins
Congratulations on taking your first steps towards a possible new adventure with God in Mercy Ships. The Mercy Ships Canada staff members are ready to help you with the details of your grand adventure that are uniquely Canadian.
While the HR department at the International Operations Center processes all applications and has the final say about acceptance, one of our roles as a national Mercy Ships office is to facilitate Canadian applicants like you who dare to step out of the ordinary. Once you receive notice of acceptance, we urge you to contact us so we can help with the following:
• Fundraising & receipting questions
• Assistance establishing an on-line Donor Page for your project
• Travel and flight information
• Assistance with preparing presentations for speaking in churches, to friends, etc.
• Materials and resources to help promote your work with Mercy Ships
Please contact:
Renée Heinrich
Administrative Assistant
Mercy Ships Canada
Toll-free 1-866-900-7447
renee.heinrich@mercyships.ca
Other Particularly Useful Information for Canadians
Financial/Receipting
Canadians need to be aware that while serving with an International charity, they must comply with Canadian charity law.
If you are planning for your time With Mercy Ships, raise funds towards expenses, a project number associated with these funds can be set up in our data base and tax receipts will be issued through Mercy Ships Canada.
Canadian Donations
Please note that Canadian law states that funds cannot be designated to individuals or families – donors can suggest in a separate note identifying the project which they would like their funds to be distributed. Mercy Ships will honour to the best of their ability these requests but reserve all rights to use the monies in projects approved by the board.
Mercy Ships Canada is able to accept donations for project funds by cheque, money order, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or monthly Direct Debit.
Cheques must be made payable to Mercy Ships, with a separate note suggesting where funds are to go, indicating project number if possible. No personal name should appear anywhere on the cheque.
Our Mailing Address:
Mercy Ships Canada
#5 - 3318 Oak St.
Victoria, BC V8X 1R1
Toll-free telephone: 1-866-900-7447
Donations may also be made online at http://www.mercyships.ca
Call for assistance to set up a Donor Page for your project.
Mercy Ships Canada can only issue annual tax receipts to Canadian donors at February for the prior years donations. We are unable to issue a valid tax receipt for a gift from international donors. (International donors should send their gifts through their respective national offices).
International Donations
The Mercy Ships national offices can accept donations according to the ways of means of each country. Please check online (https://connect.mercyships.org/page/contribute/one-time) for country-specific information on donating through international Mercy Ships offices, including the International Operations Center in Garden Valley, Texas.
Reporting Income & Expenses
A Canadian T4 will not be prepared at year-end, as Canadian Mercy Ships crew are self-employed missionaries within the projects they have been assigned to. For tax reporting purposes, you will receive a letter providing a summary of the amount you received and spent for your project, provided the total exceeds $500. Please note that you are responsible to report these funds to Canada Revenue Agency and calculate any taxes or CPP on your behalf. As a self-employed missionary, some of your operating expenses are tax deductible. You should consult with your tax accountant for specifics.
Flights/Travel
Please do not book your ticket until you have received your official acceptance letter from your Placement Facilitator at the International Operations Center in Texas.
To help you get the best rates, terms and overall benefits for your flights, we have made an agreement with Menno Travel as our official travel agent for Canadians. They offer exclusively negotiated humanitarian airfares with refundable tickets, reduced charges on changed tickets, extended purchase windows, greater baggage allowance, and familiarity with the best routings to “strange” places. Menno Travel’s parent company, Raptim, works with Mercy Ships in the US.
Menno Travel
www.mennotvl.com
32112 South Fraser Way
Abbotsford, BC, V2T 1W4
Toll Free: 1-800-667-5559
Fax: 604- 853-4931
Menno Travel’s Consultants for Mercy Ships:
Rikki Malli – rikki@mennotvl.com
Marianne Hutchison – marianne@mennotvl.com
• Step One: Contact Menno Travel to make your travel arrangements.
• Step Two: Contact Karen Thompson(1-866-900-7447) or karen.thompson@mercyships.ca to give details and discuss donation payment options. Donation is cost of flight plus $50 admin fee, and if paying by credit card, an additional 5% merchant fee. Donation must be made by you if you wish to receive the tax receipt.*
• Step Three: Send appropriate donation to Mercy Ships Canada (mail or phone)
• Step Four: Once the donation is received, Mercy Ships Canada pays the Menno Travel invoice.
*If travel plans change once you’ve made your donation, these funds cannot be refunded.
Hidden Travel Costs:
Remember to consider the following “hidden costs” when budgeting for your trip.
• Flight delay or layover expenses
• Passport/passport photos/visas
Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions,
Karen Thompson
Donor Services Manager
Phone: 1-866-900-7447
E-mail: karen.thompson@mercyships.org
Resources That Can Help You
Following is a list of materials you can request from Mercy Ships Canada. These can assist you in your fund-raising efforts and boosting awareness for Mercy Ships.
Free Materials:
• Brochures
• Facts Sheets
• PowerPoint Presentations
• DVD
Bringing Hope & Healing Anthology 2010 with several videos - overviews & interviews
Merchandise to Purchase:
• Small Bear with Mercy Ships logo $10
• LED Key ring with logo $2
If you require more than 50 brochures, we ask that you please assist covering the extra costs for Mercy Ships.
You may also wish to order Don Stephens' (founder) book called Ships of Mercy or the award-winning book Through Fire & Sea (www.fireandsea.com) by alumnus Marilyn Meyer. Many have used these as thank-you gifts for donors and/or prayer partners.
Meet Your Mercy Ships Canada Staff
Mercy Ships Canada Office:
#5 – 3318 Oak Street
Victoria, BC V8X 1R1
Toll-free 1-866-900-7447
Local 250-381-2160
Tim Maloney
National Director
tim.maloney@mercyships.ca
Cell: 250-882-7771
Karen Thompson
Donor Services Coordinator
karen.thompson@mercyships.ca
Lorraine McDonald
Webmaster & Speaker Coordinator
lorraine.mcdonald@mercyships.ca
Patty Todd
Accounts Administrator
patty.todd@mercyships.ca
Renée Heinrich
Administrative Assistant
renee.heinrich@mercyships.ca
Pen Hauge
Staff Chaplain
