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Financial Assistance Program

A. INTRODUCTION

Sail Canada, a registered Athletic Amateur association, has the right to issue tax receipts to individuals and companies who make donations to support it’s program.

The ability to issue tax receipts is of great value in the solicitation of funds to direct the association’s programs. With the right to issue tax receipts comes the responsibility to ensure that the donations meet the criteria set out by Revenue Canada.

It is important to emphasize that according to the Revenue Canada guidelines, the official tax receipts for donations can not be issued if the donor directs the charity to issue funds to a specific person or family. In reality, such a gift is given to a person or family, and the charity. However, the donations are subject to the general direction of the donor in that the gift shall be used in a particular program operated by the charity is acceptable, with the condition that the benefits do not accrue to the donor, the gift issued does not benefit any person within arm’s length of the donor, and decisions regarding the utilization of the donations within the charity’s program.
While the donors may ask for the support of a particular program with their donations, Sail Canada is not obligated to follow them. Sail Canada shall always maintain the exclusive rights to decide the disposition of all donations, however shall put forth their best effort to honor the requests made.

The financial assistance program was created by Sail Canada to satisfy the sector of Canadian public who wish to contribute financially towards the programs in the Sail Canada mandate that promote the sport of sailing. Ninety five percent of donations go directly towards programs. The donor will receive a receipt of donation for the full value of their gift.

Athletes, volunteers, clubs and Provincial Sailing Associations who wish to embark on fundraising campaigns for Sail Canada must have their projects and promotional literature reviewed and approved prior to starting any fund raising campaign. If the campaign is not pre approved no tax receipts will be issued. This approval is requested by submitting a completed Form 1 (available in downloadable format at the end of this file) a minimum of 60 days in advance. Sail Canada will review the request and will confirm to the applicant in writing at least 30 days before the campaign whether or not tax receipting will be permitted. It is essential that Sail Canada knows how the funds are to be raised in order to ensure they will be acceptable to Revenue Canada for tax receipting purposes.

Donations are to be made payable to Sail Canada and must be accompanied by a completed Sail Canada donation letter (see Form 2, available in downloadable format at the end of this file) noting, if desired, a specific program the donor would prefer to support. Tax receipts for donations of $25.00 or more will be issued if the Sail Canada determines the existence of a genuine gift. In the event that Sail Canada determines that the amount is not a gift as defined by CCRA the payment will be returned.

Sail Canada reserves the right to return payment and not issue a donation receipt under the following but not exhaustive list of circumstances:

• Supporting documents are missing (Form 2)
• Contributions which have the characteristics of a fee.
• Contributions which appear to be cross donations.
• Contributions of repetitive amounts by different persons.

Donations in-kind may be accepted on an exception basis. For details on the procedures please contact Sail Canada. Approved in-kind items must be appraised by a minimum of three bona-fide professional appraisers, in writing, in order to establish the market value.

Decisions on financial assistance for programs will be based on:

1) Sail Canada's financial capabilities,
2) a group/individual's own fundraising efforts,
3) the priority of the program relative to other funding applications.
4) Sail Canada must agree with the use of the funds.

B. ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS

The following section outlines the programs for which applications for financial assistance will be considered.

1. Sail Canada name programs or projects

a) Hosting Sail Canada title regattas, such as:
- Canadian Youth Sailing Championships
- Sail East
- Sail West
- Eastern Intermediate Sailing Championships
- Western Intermediate Sailing Championships
- Canadian Women's Match Racing Championships
- Canadian Team Racing Championships
- Canadian Match Racing Championships
- Canadian "23 and Under" Sailing Championships

b) Sail Canada activities authorized by the Board of Directors.

c) Canadian Sailing Team

Canadian Sailing Team members may request assistance for the following events. The event must be more than 200 kilometres from the athlete's home. Personal coach travel expenses may be reimubursed if the coach has, at minimum, a NCCP Level III Sail Canada Racing Coach certification or is a recognized expert.
- Olympic Games
- Paralympic Games
- Sail Canada Title Events
- Pan-Am Games
- Canada Games
- World Championships
- Olympic & PanAm Class Canadian Championships
- International Regattas Located Outside of Canada
- Major Canadian Regatta (ie ARK, CORK, LSSA, Mother's Day Regatta, Waves, Canadian Olympic Class Regatta)
- Canadian Sailing Team National Qualifying Regattas
- Training camps

d) Canadian Offshore Sailing Team

Athletes who are members of the Canadian Offshore Sailing Team may request financial assistance from Sail Canada to support their approved training programs. Members of the Canadian Offshore Sailing Team represent Canada at the following events:
- Admiral's Cup
- Canada's Cup
- Kenwood Cup
- Onion Patch
- Around the World - Singlehanded

e) Sail Canada Officials

Currently certified Sail Canada judges and umpires can apply for financial assistance if they are certified to the following levels:
- Judges - International, Gold, Silver
- Umpires - International, Umpire
- Measurers - International
- Race Officials - International, Level IV

Financial assistance may be provided for the above officials to attend the following events only:
- Sail Canada title events
- Qualifying events for the Canadian Sailing Team (NQRs) and for Major Games Teams
- Major Games (Olympics, Pan Am, Canada Games, Paralympics, and Goodwill)
- Continental and World Championships in ISAF internationally recognized classes
- Match racing events which are categorized Grade 1,2, and in the
ISAF criteria for match races

2. Provincial Sailing Association Programs

a) Programs which support Sail Canada and the PSA's mandate to promote the sport of sailing. This includes Provincial Sailing Team athletes sailing Olympic, Pan American, and/or Sail Canada Youth Development class boats - Byte, Europe, Finn, 470, 49er, Hobie 16, Laser Radial, Laser, Laser II, Lightning, Mistral One-Design, Optimist, Snipe, 22.4 Meter, Sonar, 29er, club 420, Star, Yngling, and Tornado class boats only.

The event must be more than 200 kilometres from the athlete's home. Personal coach travel expenses may be reimubursed if the coach has, at minimum, a NCCP Level III Sail Canada Racing Coach certification (or the equivelant if from another country). Travel to the following events qualify.

- Sail Canada Title Events
- Pan-Am Games
- Canada Games
- World Championships
- North American Regattas
- European Regattas
- Canadian Sailing Team National Qualifying Regattas

3. Other affiliated groups and events

a) Annual national regattas and special events, such as:
- CORK
- WAVES
- ARK

b) Non-funded national or international regattas held in Canada which are not part of the Canadian Sailing Team program, such as:
- 505 Worlds
- Dragon Worlds

c) Current Canadian champion, in a class or event which is not part of the Canadian Sailing Team program, attending that class' World Championship.

4. Special club programs

a) Member Yacht Club Corinthian funds whose purpose is to support national and international level sailors sailing Olympic, Pan American, and/or Sail Canada Youth Development class boats - Byte, Europe, Finn, 470, 49er, Hobie 16, Laser Radial, Laser, Laser II, Lightning, Mistral One-Design, Optimist, 29er, club 420, Soling, Snipe and Tornado class boats only. The event must be more than 200 kilometres from the athlete's home. Travel to following events qualify.

- Sail Canada Title Events
- Pan-Am Games
- Canada Games
- World Championships
- North American Regattas
- Canadian Sailing Team National Qualifying Regattas

b) Assistance with the purchase of sailboats and sails to be used to instruct youth and disabled sailors at member clubs. In order to be considered for assistance the club must meet all the following conditions:

-the sailboats and sails are the property of the club (not any individuals) and are not permitted to be sold for five years without written permission of Sail Canada.

-the sailboats must be suitable for the safe instruction of youth and/or disabled sailors

-the sailing program must be youth (18 years and under) and/or disabled sailor focused and be open to the general public

-the sailing program must be based on Sail Canada training standards and use official Sail Canada certification and instruction materials

For member clubs to apply for support, please complete the "Request for Junior Training and/or Disabled Sailor Boat Assistance" Form 5 (available in downloadable format at the end of this file).

C. PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION

Before expenses are incurred, an Application for Financial Assistance must be completed (see Form 3 available from Sail Canada). For Provincial Sailing Associations or clubs this application (Form 3 available in downloadable format at the end of this file) must be signed by the President or Commodore and clearly outline the use of the requested funds (ie. a budget and, when applicable, a training program). In the case of a club making an application, the completed form must be sent to your Provincial Sailing Association for approval. Sail Canada will review the request and will confirm to the applicants in writing whether or not the request has been approved within 30 days of the application being received.

After expenses are incurred, an individual athlete must complete a Travel Assistance Claim (see Form 4 available in downloadable format at the end of this file). Expenses must only be submitted for events or programs which conform with the athlete's approved training and regatta schedule and Sail Canada approved budget. For a Provincial Sailing Association or club to claim regatta travel expenses it must send an invoice on its letterhead outlining the costs incurred and confirming that Sail Canada Financial Assistance travel guidelines (Appendix 1) were followed.

Claims should be sent within 30 days after the event. Upon receipt of the claims at the Sail Canada office and upon the availability of funds, the athlete, PSA, or club will be reimbursed. Receipts must be original. A receipt should contain the following information: date paid, amount, athlete's name, description of what is being paid for, and name, address and signature of supplier. Details of travel expenses that may be claimed are outlined in Appendix 1.

APPENDIX I

Sail Canada Expense Reimbursement Guidelines

Expenses may be claimed for the following items:

Note:
1. Regatta or Training Report must be submitted with all expense claims.
2. Charge card receipts are only accepted as proof of purchase for gasoline.
3. Photocopies of receipts are not accepted.
4. Receipts must show athlete's name, date and amount paid, description of what was paid for, and name, address and telephone number of supplier.

Forms (Downloadable Acrobat PDF):

Form 1:  Application Requesting Approval of Specific Fundraising
Form 2:  Donation Form
Form 3:  Application for Financial Assistance
Form 4:  Athlete Expense Report
Form 5:  Request for Junior Training and/or Disabled Sailor Boat Assistance