Effective as of September 12, 2022.
How can I donate to The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund?
Donate Online
To donate online by VISA, MasterCard or AMEX, please use our secure form.
Donate by Phone
To make a donation by phone, please call our hotline at 416-869-4847.
Donate by Mail
Please make cheque or money order payable and mail to: The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund, 8 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8.
What is The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund?
The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund, established in 1906 by Joseph E. Atkinson, is an initiative of The Toronto Star Children’s Charities. As a child, Mr. Atkinson knew of poverty first-hand, as he was the youngest of eight children growing up in a single-parent family after his father was killed in a work-related accident. When he became publisher of the Toronto Star, Mr. Atkinson appealed to Star readers to help contribute gifts to underprivileged children, to ensure no child would be without a gift for the holidays. This was the start of The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund. Star readers responded generously at that time and have continued to do so every year for more than a century.
What is the mission of The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund?
The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund provides underprivileged children under the age of 12 with a gift to open during the winter holiday season, consisting of gender neutral, age appropriate items, such as toys, clothing (sweater, hat, mittens, socks), food, and dental hygiene products.
What is the relationship between The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund and The Toronto Star Children’s Charities?
The Toronto Star Children’s Charities is a registered and operating charity that operates two distinct funds: The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund, with the charitable purpose of providing food, clothing, and toys to underprivileged children during the winter holiday season; and The Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund, with the charitable purpose of providing summer recreation opportunities for underprivileged children.
Will I receive a charitable tax receipt for my donation to The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund?
We are able to provide a tax receipt for donations over $10. If you donate online via our secure form receipts are instantly and automatically generated. If you donate over the phone or by mail, receipts are provided at the end of each campaign and may be mailed or emailed.
What is the charitable registration number for the charity?
The Toronto Star Children’s Charities charitable registration number is #11926 7425 RR0001.
What makes The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund different from other charities?
Established in 1906, The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund is one of Toronto’s oldest charitable initiatives. Since the Fund’s inception, the Toronto Star paid for the administrative expenses related to the Fund so that donations have a greater impact. Still today, the Toronto Star continues to pay for key administrative expenses and advertising.
What is the Fund’s annual fundraising target?
Our fundraising target changes from time to time to meet the demand. Currently, our goal is to raise more than $1.5 million per year to purchase merchandise for at least 50,000 gift boxes.
Will my name appear in the newspaper or in any donor lists?
The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund may acknowledge contributions in a donor list within the newspaper and on our website.
When you make a donation, please select one of the following four options for recognition in connection with your donation:
Your First and Last Name;
“Anonymous”; or
“In Memory Of”, with the First and Last Name of someone who has passed on.
“In Honour Of”, with the First and Last Name of someone you would like to recognize.
If your donation is made by mail, please specify your preference in the “Memo” or “Notes” section of the cheque or enclose a note in the envelope indicating which of these four options you prefer.
How do I ensure my name is NOT published in the newspaper or in any donor lists?
Please indicate at the time of your donation if you would prefer for your donation to be anonymous.
How much does the charity spend on administrative costs and advertising?
Key administrative services and advertising for The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund are generously provided by the Toronto Star.
Will I receive phone calls or mail asking for donations?
We do not employ third-party fundraising organizations or telemarketers to solicit money on our behalf. We may reach out to you directly from time to time by email, phone, or mail to provide you with updates on our programs and initiatives and for fundraising purposes. You may opt-out of these communications by following the instructions at the bottom of the email or speaking with us.
I would like to make a donation in lieu of a gift to someone, in memory or in honour of someone. Can I receive an acknowledgement card for my donation?
We are pleased to provide an acknowledgement card for donations of $25 or more. Please contact us directly if you would like an acknowledgement card to be sent or enclose the information with your cheque. We will need the recipient’s name and full mailing address, as well as the wording you wish to appear in the card and who the card is from.
Is it too late to make a donation?
We accept donations throughout the year, and our fundraising campaign timeline is typically from October to December each year.
Can my donation be directed to a particular family?
We strongly believe all children should be treated equally and fairly. Therefore, we do not accommodate donations directed to one particular individual or family.
I have some items that I think the children would enjoy. Can I donate these items to be part of the gift boxes?
Because we strive to be consistent with the items that we gift to the children, we do not accept donated items. We order the gift box items at the beginning of each year, and choose items that we are certain will fit into the gift box, are age appropriate, and gender neutral.
How much does it cost to provide one child with a gift box?
Through partnerships the Santa Claus Fund is able to acquire gift box items at approximately $35 per box. The retail value of these items may range from $50 to $100 per box.
What groups do you focus on?
The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund supports children from all backgrounds, newborn to age 12. Our current focus is on children from underprivileged homes residing in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Ajax and Pickering.
Do you need help from volunteers?
We require the assistance of volunteers to help deliver the gifts directly to children’s homes starting in December. Each volunteer must have a vehicle and travel partner and be available to deliver for 3-4 hours, evenings or weekends.
Do you have any major sponsors or receive government funding?
We do not currently have any major sponsors or receive government funding.
Can I organize a fundraising event for your charity?
Yes! We ask that the event be organized with our prior consent and that any promotion or publicity materials be pre-approved by us. To follow our guidelines and help you organize your event successfully, please download our Community Fundraising Kit.