Everything you need to know about our 4% operations allocation

When you give through Rethink Charity, 96% of your gift goes directly to your selected funds or charities (minus standard card or bank processing fees). In most cases, the remaining 4% supports our operations, helping us maintain our platform and reach more Canadians with our shared mission of effective giving.

Select “Cover the fees” at checkout. We will calculate the exact top-up needed so that even after payment processing and our 4% operating cut, your chosen charities receive every cent of your target amount.

The allocation applies to gifts we send to charities outside Canada, which covers most of our partners and our Funds.

It doesn’t apply to gifts to partner charities that are registered in Canada or can otherwise receive gifts here. As of writing this, that’s Against Malaria Foundation, Unlimit Health and Iodine Global Network.

The allocation contributes to every facet of our operations:

• Staff
• Technology
• Accounting
• Legal
• Our outside partners who provide services essential to running the platform

For every gift to a charity outside Canada, Canadian rules require due diligence, written agreements and follow-up reporting on how the money is used. Tax receipting and cross-border transfers also require resources. The allocation funds the team and systems that do this work. In 2025, the allocation covered roughly 43% of our operating costs.

It’s how we keep serving thousands of donors and directing millions of dollars a year to high-impact charities.

Giving through Rethink Charity gets you an official Canadian tax receipt for gifts to charities that can’t issue one themselves, which is why many of our partner charities direct their Canadian donors to us. In 2026, the federal credit is 14% on the first $200 you give in a year and 29% above that, with provincial credits on top. On a $1,000 gift the combined credit works out to:

For comparison, the 4% allocation on a $1,000 gift is $40.

These figures assume you owe enough tax to use the credit and sit below the top federal bracket. The first $200 earns a lower rate, roughly 18% to 32% in most of Canada and 74% in Alberta. Your own number depends on your province and income, so try our Tax Credit Calculator.

For anything else, write to us at [email protected]