Host a Community Fundraiser

• Where does your money go?

  Our programs and services support the well-being of military and Veteran families throughout every stage of their journey. Key areas include personal development, deployment support, counselling, health and wellness, and programming for children and youth.
   

  Child and Youth Programs

  The Calgary MFRC offers welcoming activities that support the physical, emotional, and social well-being of children and youth. Programs bring military-connected young people together to build friendships, have fun, and connect through shared experiences.

  Activities may include excursions, special events, workshops, spring and summer camps, and child care for emergency, respite, and casual needs.

  Our Strengthening Families program also provides affordable social and recreational activities that help Canadian Armed Forces families connect and enjoy meaningful time together.

   

  Family Separation, Deployment, and Reunion

  Military life can include extended separations due to deployments, training, courses, and other service-related absences. The Calgary MFRC supports families throughout every stage, from preparing for time apart to reunion and reintegration.

  Support may include deployment information, Keep in Touch (KIT) calls, care package activities, family gatherings, and respite child care.

   

  Prevention, Support, and Intervention

  The Calgary MFRC helps individuals and families strengthen their well-being, build resilience, and navigate life’s challenges.

  Our Family Liaison Officer (FLO), a registered social worker, provides confidential support, short-term intervention, crisis assistance, assessments, and referrals to community resources. Additional services may include counselling, workshops, bereavement support, peer and self-help groups, help accessing financial resources, and health and wellness programming.

  Canadian Armed Forces members and their families may also access helpful information and materials through our in-office resource library.

   

  Personal Development and Community Integration

  Frequent relocations can make settling into a new community challenging. The Calgary MFRC helps military families feel welcomed, build meaningful connections, and access the resources they need.

  Services may include welcome and relocation assistance, second-language training, employment and career support, community referrals, discounted attraction tickets, day trips, social activities, and annual celebrations such as Stampede breakfasts and holiday parties.

   

  Veteran Family Program (VFP)

  The Veteran Family Program supports medically releasing Canadian Armed Forces members, medically released Veterans, and their families as they transition from military to civilian life.

  The program helps families navigate change, connect with community supports, and access helpful information and resources throughout the transition process.

• How Calgary MFRC can help with your event? 

  Please submit your request at least four weeks in advance to allow our team enough time to coordinate the necessary support. With sufficient notice, we may be able to:

  • Post your Community Fundraiser on our website. 
  • Help set-up online registration and donations (if required) 
  • Provide select Calgary MFRC promotional items and brochures (pending availability)  
  • Approve the use of the Calgary MFRC name / logo. Note: use of Calgary MFRC name or logo must be approved in advance prior to printing or publishing event materials  
  • Provide a letter of endorsement to share with potential sponsors, contributors and partners  
  • Provide samples, templates and ideas to help make your event a success  
  • Provide tax receipts for donations made to your event (please check in advance for any terms and conditions that may apply). 

  The Calgary MFRC will not:  

  • Provide staff or volunteers to participate in the organization and running of your event  
  • Apply for, obtain or provide raffle and lottery licenses, permits or liability insurance 
  • Provide lists of our donors, sponsors, media partners, vendors or volunteers  
  • Manage or assist with your event finances, ticket sales, raffles or auctions  
  • Provide debit / credit card machines on the day of your event  
• Get organized checklist
  • Brainstorm ideas with friends, neighbors and colleagues and develop an idea for a fundraising event that excites you.  
  • Create a clear plan for your event and use the Community Fundraiser Proposal Form as a guide. If your event is weather-dependent, be sure to have a backup plan. Consider whether you will need raffle or lottery licences, a liquor licence, liability insurance, or tax receipts. Look for ways to minimize expenses and maximize your donation, such as asking local businesses to contribute goods, services, or supplies.
  • Complete and submit the Community Fundraiser Proposal Form. 
  • Review and agree to the Terms and Conditions. 
  • Build a team of like-minded volunteers who are excited to support your event and raise funds for military and Veteran families. Consider who is most likely to participate, then plan your promotions to reach and engage that audience. 
  • ​Recruit volunteers who have different skills and make their experience fun! 
  • Collect the funds. Have procedures in place and be accountable for the money.  
• Fundraising ideas

  There are many creative ways to bring people together through your event. Here are a few ideas to help you get started!

  • Birthdays and anniversaries: Invite guests to make a donation to the Calgary MFRC in place of gifts.

  • Sporting challenge: Choose a personal goal, from climbing a mountain to hosting a 30-hour hockey tournament, and ask friends, family, and colleagues to sponsor your efforts.

  • Red Shirt Fridays: Encourage employees to wear red on Fridays in support of military families and contribute a toonie each week.

  • Cook-off: Charge participants an entry fee to showcase their favourite dishes. Invite a panel of judges to select a winner and award a prize.

  • Hot lunch: Bring chili or another homemade meal to work and invite colleagues to purchase a plate for $5.

  • Executive auction: Ask company leaders to donate one hour of their time. Employees can bid, and the winning bidder has the executive take over their job for the hour.

  • Potluck dinner: Host a potluck and add a licensed 50/50 draw, with proceeds supporting your fundraising goal.

  • Neighbourhood garage or bake sale: Ask friends and neighbours to donate items or baked goods. Display signs explaining where the proceeds will go and place a donation jar in a visible location.

  • Karaoke competition: Invite friends to compete for fun prizes such as best dressed, most creative song choice, or most entertaining performance. Charge an entry fee to participate.

  • Wine and cheese night: Invite guests to contribute a bottle, provide refreshments, and request an entry donation. Any liquor-related draw must follow applicable licensing requirements.

  • Benefit night: Partner with a local restaurant, ice cream shop, or other business to host a fundraising event. Collect donations at the door and ask the business to contribute a percentage of the evening’s sales.

  • More ideas: Auctions, battle of the bands, benefit dinners, barbecues, book sales, car washes, festivals, concerts, plays, concession stands, craft sales, dart tournaments, dinner parties, donations in place of gifts, face painting, golf tournaments, grand openings, raffles, scavenger hunts, and proceeds from sales. The possibilities are endless!

• Get noticed - Promoting your event 

  Once you have submitted the Community Fundraiser Proposal Form, received approval, and begun planning, it is time to spread the word! Use your personal and professional networks, social media, and community connections to build excitement and encourage participation.

  Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

  • Traditional word-of-mouth: Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways to build awareness. Share your event details with friends, family, colleagues, and community members, and encourage them to spread the word through their own networks.

  • Posters and flyers: Simple posters and flyers can be an effective way to promote your event. You can create your own using programs such as Microsoft Word or ask a creative friend to help with the design. Before sharing or printing any promotional materials, please send them to the Calgary MFRC for approval. Our team will review the content for accuracy and ensure it follows our branding guidelines.

  • Media: If you are planning a large event, consider sending a press release to local newspapers, radio stations, and television outlets. This may encourage local media to promote your event in advance or attend on the day. If a reporter contacts you, share the event details, what you have planned, and why you are supporting the Calgary MFRC. Please direct any questions about the Calgary MFRC to our team at 403-410-2320, extension 3590. If media coverage is not available, consider submitting your event to local community calendars. A media advisory should be sent at least one week before your event.

  • Online promotion: Many free tools and community platforms are available to help promote your event. Explore local online event calendars, municipal websites, and community centre pages to see whether they accept event submissions. The Calgary MFRC may also be able to share your approved fundraiser through our social media channels. Please contact our team to discuss available promotional support.

  • Social media promotion: Social media is one of the quickest ways to promote your fundraiser. Use our ready-to-share sample posts, add your company or group details, and include photos, videos, or your approved event poster. Remember to share updates during and after your event too. Supporters love seeing your fundraiser in action and the impact their support makes!
    • Creating your own posts? Here are some of the hashtags we commonly use: #CalgaryMFRC #MilitaryCommunity. Don’t forget to tag us in your posts:  
      • Twitter: @Calgary MFRC   
      • Facebook: facebook.com/Calgary MFRC  
      • Social media content ideas: 
      • We’re proud to host a fundraiser in support of @CalgaryMFRC! Join us and help make a difference for local military and Veteran families..
      • (YOUR COMPANY/GROUP NAME) cares about our local military and Veteran community. Join us in raising funds for @CalgaryMFRC!
      • We’re collecting donations in support of @CalgaryMFRC! Visit us at (INSERT LOCATION) or see our event poster for details. 
      • We raised (INSERT DOLLAR AMOUNT) for @CalgaryMFRC today! Thank you to everyone who supported our fundraiser and helped make a difference for local military and Veteran families.
      • We’re hosting a (EVENT TYPE) in support of @CalgaryMFRC this weekend! Stop by, join the fun, and make a donation to help support our local military and Veteran community.
• Wrap-up your event

  Your work is not quite finished when the event ends. Completing the final administrative steps promptly will help ensure everything is properly wrapped up while your team is still available.

  Remember to:

  • Pay any vendors or service providers.

  • Complete the required steps for issuing eligible tax receipts.

  • Schedule a committee debrief for the following week.

  • Transfer all funds raised to the Calgary MFRC within 14 days of your event.
     

  Cheques and cash may be delivered or sent to:

  Calgary Military Family Resource Centre
  Attn: Fund Development
  General Waters Building
  4225 Crowchild Trail SW
  Calgary, AB T3E 1T8

• Terms and conditions

  Before planning or promoting your event, please review and agree to the Calgary MFRC’s Community Fundraiser Terms and Conditions. You may also be required to sign a printed copy before moving forward with your fundraiser.

  1. Community Fundraising Events must align with the Calgary MFRC’s mission, vision and values. 
  2. All events in support of Calgary MFRC or any of its affiliated sites, projects and/or programs must be approved in advance, and event organizers must agree to the terms and conditions as laid out in this document. 
  3. The Event will be conducted in a safe manner and adhere to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and standards and fulfilling all legal authorizations(s), permit(s), license(s), precaution(s) and/or general liability insurance required to organize the event. 
  4. Calgary MFRC accepts no legal responsibility and cannot be held liable for any risk or injury or other damages in conjunction with the Event and related fundraising activities. 
  5. The event organizers will handle all monetary transactions and other record keeping for the event and provide net proceeds to Calgary MFRC within 14 days of the Event. NOTE: It is best practice to achieve net proceeds of at least 50% of the gross proceeds. The Calgary MFRC strongly advises event organizers to work toward this goal as a minimum. 
  6. Calgary MFRC is not responsible for any financial losses incurred as a result of the event.
  7. Calgary MFRC may provide tax receipts for some event proceeds, strictly adhering to Canada Revenue Agency guidelines in all cases. Receipting for Event donations MUST be confirmed with Calgary MFRC in advance. 
  8. Personal donations are eligible for a tax receipt when the following criteria are met. For more information about the criteria, visit our website at https://cfmws.ca/Calgary/
  9. Event Organizers must provide the name, address and phone number for each individual or corporation to be tax receipted as well as funds totaling exact amount to be receipted. 
  10. Calgary MFRC must pre-approve all promotional materials featuring our name and logo.
  11. The Calgary MFRC name and logo are the sole property of the MFRC and can be used only with the Foundation’s express written permission. All materials featuring the name and/or logo must be approved before publication. 
  12. Event organizers must adhere to Calgary MFRC’s Confidentiality Agreement as it pertains to sensitive information that may be obtained in the use of donor and event participant information. Calgary MFRC respects the privacy of our members, donors and supporters. We do not rent, sell or trade our mailing lists. The information provided will be used to acknowledge and process donations, ticket purchase and sponsorship. 
  13. Illegal activities and those which do not align to serving the military community and charitable aspects of the brand will be grounds for termination by Calgary MFRC of the agreement. 
  14. Calgary MFRC allocates 5% to a maximum of 10% of Event net revenue to Calgary MFRC’s operational fund to support coverage of costs associated with processing, receipting, investment management, stewardship and granting of event donations and proceeds. 

  CALGARY MFRC RETAINS THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW ITS APPROVAL AND PARTICIPATION IN A COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING EVENT IF IT DEEMS THAT THE ABOVE GUIDELINES HAVE NOT BEEN ADHERED TO.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will the Calgary MFRC help organize events?

  Our team is here to answer your questions and support you throughout the planning process. We have created helpful resources to guide you and may be able to provide additional assistance along the way.

• Is the Calgary MFRC able to support any third-party event expenses?

  Event organizers are responsible for creating and managing a budget that accounts for all expenses. Keep your budget clear, realistic, and as simple as possible.

• Can the Calgary MFRC provide volunteers for a community fundraiser event?

  Event organizers are responsible for recruiting, training, coordinating, and supporting all volunteers involved in the event.

• Do you have flyers and brochures we can hand out?

  We do! Printed materials may be available, depending on our current office supply. You can request these materials through the Community Fundraiser Application Form.

• Do you have a banner we can use for our event?

  The Calgary MFRC may provide Coroplast signs to help identify your event as an approved fundraiser in support of our organization. Pop-up banners may also be available to borrow.

  All signage must be signed out before the event and returned afterward. A fee will apply if borrowed materials are damaged or not returned.

• Who is responsible for all liability and legal risks associated with my event?

  Event organizers are responsible for ensuring appropriate insurance coverage is in place. The Calgary MFRC does not assume legal or financial responsibility for injury, accidents, loss, or damage involving any person or property before, during, or after the event.

  Any required insurance must be obtained by the individual, organization, or business coordinating the event and issued in their name. Organizers are encouraged to consult their insurance provider to confirm that adequate coverage is in place.

• Will the Calgary MFRC help promote third party events?

  Absolutely! The Calgary MFRC will promote your approved fundraiser through the events section of our website and on our Facebook and X channels. Event organizers are responsible for arranging any additional promotion.