100+ Women Who Care NOTL

Welcome to Our FAQ!

We’re so glad you’re here. This page is designed to answer the most common questions about how 100+ Women Who Care NOTL works. Our goal is simple: bring together caring women to make a big impact in our local community. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to reach out—we’re always happy to help!

Which charities can be nominated?

To be eligible, a charity must:

Be based in Niagara-on-the-Lake or the Niagara East region. (Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Thorold, Welland, Port Colborne, Fort Erie).
Be a registered not-for-profit or charitable organization that can issue tax receipts.
Must be operating for a minimum of one year; start-ups are not eligible.
Focus on local impact—national or international charities aren’t eligible at this time.

Charities are ineligible if they have received funding from 100+ Women Who Care NOTL, or a donation of $10,000 or more from any other 100+ Women Who Care chapter, within the past three years.
If a charity presents but doesn’t win, it’s ineligible for one year.
Nomination periods are announced 3-4 weeks before each meeting, and members must complete our Charity Nomination Form.
Multiple nominations will receive one ballot in the random draw.
The nomination process starts fresh each quarter.

What is the Membership Commitment?

Members commit to donating $100 at each quarterly meeting ($400 annually) to the majority-selected charity, and to ensuring their donation is delivered even if they cannot attend. We ask for a minimum of one year commitment. At the end of that year, we continue to list you as a member until you inform us otherwise. If at any time you wish to withdraw from 100+ Women Who Care NOTL, just email us and we will remove you from our contact list.

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes! Your cheque is written directly to the charity (not to 100+ Women Who Care NOTL), and the charity will issue your tax receipt within 30 days.

How do you choose the charity that gets the donation?

Three charities are randomly drawn from member nominations. Each one gives a short 5-minute presentation at the meeting, and then members vote. We encourage everyone to nominate local charities that need our help!

Can I nominate more than one charity?

With 100+ Women Who Care NOTL, we ask that you limit your nomination to one charity per meeting.

What if I can’t attend a meeting?

No problem! You can:

Give your donation to a trusted friend to bring to the meeting, or
Contact one of the coordinators to arrange drop-off.

Please note: only members present at the meeting can vote.

Can I just donate directly to the charity?

We ask that you don’t. The power of 100+ Women Who Care NOTL is in pooling donations to make a big impact—often $10,000+ at once! Plus, we need to track donations so you get credit and stay eligible to nominate charities and vote.

How long are the meetings?

We keep things short—about 60 minutes. But, before and afterward, there’s time to mingle if you’d like!

Can I bring a friend?

Due to space limits, meetings are for members only. Encourage them to join us using the Membership Commitment Form.

Does any of my donation go to admin costs?

Absolutely not! We’re 100% volunteer-run. Every dollar you donate goes directly to the chosen charity.

What happens to my personal information?

We collect your name, address, email, and phone number only to maintain our membership list. We never sell or share your information without your consent (unless required by law). Charities agree that member information will be used only for issuing tax receipts and will not be added to mailing lists or used for any other purpose.

What happens if there’s a tie vote?

The donation will be split equally between the tied charities.

Frequently Asked Questions