Waterloo Region Nature is a registered Canadian charity. Our charitable registration number is 119240752RR0001.
Memberships and donations are tax deductible. Tax receipts for members are issued once a year. Receipts will be available at the January meeting. Unclaimed receipts are mailed following the February meeting. Tax receipts for non-members are issued following receipt of their donations. Donations through Canada Helps can receive an instant tax receipt.
Donors have the option of assigning their donation to one or more of the following three funds. If no assignment is made, the donation will go to the Operating Fund.
Operating Fund
Membership fees and donations to the Operating Fund are used to support the day to day operation of Waterloo Region Nature. Past special projects from this fund were the purchase of a nest box for Peregrine Falcons on the Kitchener CTV tower, rental of a theatre for a Sierra Club Canada information session on pollinators and the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides, and helping the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory to update their septic system. We helped fund trail improvements at the FWR Dickson Wilderness Area, and helped the Canadian Peregrine Foundation to buy bands for keeping track of falcons.
Sanctuary Fund
The Sanctuary Fund is used:
- to acquire land in need of protection
- to maintain our existing conservation properties
- to pay taxes on our conservation properties
- to help other conservation groups acquire property
Past donations from this fund have helped The Bruce Trail Conservancy to acquire three more properties, Ontario Nature to add land to the Lost Bay and Gananoque Lake Nature Reserves and to acquire the Sydenham River Nature Reserve, the Thames Talbot Land Trust to acquire the Hawk Cliff Woods property and raresites to acquire two properties in the Eramosa River Valley.
Youth Fund
The Youth Fund is used to support the activities of the WRN Kids club (7 - 12 years), WRN Teens (high school), and other youth projects. Each September we sponsor teens to attend the Ontario Nature Youth Summit. We supported UofW Ecology Lab in their hosting of the Grand River Region Envirothon, a team-based competition for high school students. The Youth Fund helped pay for the trees that WRN Kids families planted at Laurel Creek Nature Centre. This was along the border of "the hole in the donut" where the recent loss of ash trees to pests had left the forest rather thin, and where the proposed development will stress it more.
Canada Helps
You can donate to us through Canada Helps:
Online Store
You can donate to us directly through our online store.
Cheque/Cash
Please make your cheque payable to Waterloo Region Nature, and note the intended fund in the memo section of your cheque. You may mail your cheque to:
Waterloo Region Nature
5-420 Erb Street West, #353
Waterloo ON N2L 6K6
or bring your cash or cheque to the next Meeting