Frequently Asked Questions about Donations
Have questions about donating to Mercy Ships Canada? Below you’ll find information about how donations are used, tax receipts, financial accountability, monthly giving and other ways to support Mercy Ships.
About Mercy Ships Canada and Your Donation
Is Mercy Ships Canada a registered Canadian charity?
Yes. Mercy Ships Canada is a registered Canadian charity.
Canadian Charitable Registration #: 89064-8249-RR0001
Eligible donations of $10 or more receive an official Canadian donation receipt.
How is Mercy Ships Canada connected to Mercy Ships International?
Mercy Ships Canada is part of the international Mercy Ships network.
Mercy Ships Canada raises funds in Canada and helps recruit and support Canadian volunteers serving with Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships International operates the Global Mercy and Africa Mercy hospital ships and oversees the international programs they support.
Where does my donation to Mercy Ships Canada go?
A gift made in Canada is received and stewarded by Mercy Ships Canada, where it is prepared for what comes next. Volunteers are equipped for service, and funding is directed toward clearly defined Board priorities.
From there, it becomes part of the global work of Mercy Ships, supporting hospital ship deployments and, in partnership with ministries of health, programs designed to advance national priorities.
By the time a hospital ship arrives in port, that original contribution is already at work in volunteers prepared to serve, equipment ready for use, and partnerships established to support local healthcare goals. Canadian donations help support direct surgical care, medical equipment and infrastructure, healthcare support services, education, and medical capacity building.
And its journey does not end there. Through each surgery, training session, and moment of collaboration, it continues to create impact far beyond the point where it began.
Each year, Mercy Ships Canada reports on the programs and projects it has supported in its Annual Report.
How does Mercy Ships Canada use donations?
More than four out of every five dollars spent by Mercy Ships Canada supported charitable programs. Within those programs, just over three-quarters of spending supported Direct Medical Services, while nearly one-quarter supported Education, Training and Advocacy. The remaining expenditures helped sustain the mission through fundraising and administration, ensuring programs were well supported, responsibly managed, and able to continue bringing hope and healing.
For a detailed breakdown, donors can review Mercy Ships Canada’s audited financial statements and annual reporting.
Are Mercy Ships Canada’s financial statements independently audited?
Where can I review Mercy Ships Canada’s financial and impact information?
Mercy Ships Canada makes several resources available for donors who want to look more closely at the organization, including:
- Annual Reports
- Audited financial statements
- Canada Revenue Agency T3010 filings
- Charity accreditation and accountability information
- Information about independent charity evaluations
Does Mercy Ships charge patients for surgery?
Patients do not pay Mercy Ships for the free surgical care they receive aboard its hospital ships.
Mercy Ships works with host countries and local partners to provide surgical care to people who may otherwise have limited access to safe, affordable treatment.
Making a Donation
How can I make a donation to Mercy Ships Canada?
Donations can be made online, by phone, by e-transfer, by credit card, or by cheque.
To donate by mail, please make cheques or money orders payable to Mercy Ships Canada. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Visa Debit, and Mastercard Debit.
Donors may also support Mercy Ships Canada through volunteer crew fundraising efforts, planned gifts, gifts of securities, donor-advised funds, and corporate partnerships.
For assistance, call 1-866-900-7447 or visit our Victoria office.
Charitable Registration Number: 890648249 RR0001.
Can I donate by e-Transfer?
Can I make monthly donations?
Can I donate publicly traded securities?
Are there other ways to make a larger or planned gift?
Mercy Ships Canada can work with donors interested in giving in ways beyond a one-time online donation.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include gifts through foundations, estate or planned gifts, corporate giving, gifts-in-kind or other arrangements.
Please contact Mercy Ships Canada at msca@mercyships.ca or 1-866-900-7447 to discuss the best way to make your gift.
How do I donate anonymously?
If you would like to give anonymously, you can donate by money order, cheque, or through a donor-advised fund. If donating by cheque, please include a note requesting that your gift remain anonymous.
Online credit card donations cannot be made anonymously because the donor name must match the name on the credit card for payment processing.
Mercy Ships Canada respects the privacy of its donors, including their right to remain anonymous, unless disclosure is required by law.
Money orders and cheques can be mailed or delivered to our Victoria office at:
Mercy Ships Canada
Unit 5, 3318 Oak Street
Victoria, BC V8X 1R1
Donation Receipts
Will I receive an official donation receipt?
Yes. Mercy Ships Canada issues official donation receipts for donations of $10 or more. You can choose to receive your receipt by email or mail. Receipts are normally issued shortly after receiving your donation. If you request an annual consolidated receipt, or if you are a monthly donor, a single receipt for your total annual giving will be issued in February of the following year.
Who is entitled to an official donation receipt?
Official donation receipts are issued to the individual or organization that made the gift. For credit and debit card donations, the receipt will be issued in the name of the cardholder used to make the donation. These requirements are established by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). For more information, please visit the CRA's charities and giving website.
Can I change how or when I receive my donation receipt?
Yes. You can choose to receive your official donation receipts after each donation or as a consolidated annual receipt issued in February. You can also choose whether to receive your receipts by email or by mail.
To update your preferences, please contact our Donor Services at msca@mercyships.ca or call toll-free at 1-866-900-744.
Managing Your Donations
How do I change or cancel a monthly donation?
To change the amount of your monthly donation, update your payment information or cancel your monthly gift, contact the Donor Services Coordinator:
msca@mercyships.ca
1-866-900-7447
How do I update my contact information?
To update your mailing address, email address, phone number or other account information, contact the Mercy Ships Canada office:
msca@mercyships.ca
1-866-900-7447
Still Have a Question?
Get in touch with us
For questions about donations, official donation receipts or Mercy Ships Canada generally, contact us:
Toll-free: 1-866-900-7447
Phone: 250-381-2160
Email: msca@mercyships.ca
Office hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. PST, Monday to Friday
Mailing address:
Mercy Ships Canada
Unit 5-3318 Oak St.
Victoria, BC V8X 1R1
Canada
