Charitable Contributions - Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
Do we have to be a tax-exempt organization to apply?
Yes. We only consider registered Canadian charitable organizations.
Are your donations/grants limited to any one geographical area?
Costco focuses on supporting charitable programs and community activities in the markets where we do business. All registered Canadian charitable organizations focusing on children, education, and/or health and human services are eligible to apply for consideration, regardless of their distance from our locations.
How do I know if my organization or program is eligible?
Organizations must meet the following general requirements to apply for Costco support:
- Must be a registered Canadian charitable organizations
- Focus on supporting children, education, and/or health and human services
- Monetary requests only
Costco accepts and reviews funding requests throughout the year on a rolling basis, and organizations are eligible to submit one application per fiscal year (September to August).
When does Costco Wholesale accept donation requests?
Costco accepts and reviews funding requests throughout the year on a rolling basis.
Applying for Support
How do I apply for a Costco donation?
The first step is to determine that your organization fits within Costco Wholesale's Charitable Contributions guidelines (see eligibility). Once you have read all of our stated guidelines as well as our frequently asked questions and believe your organization falls within these parameters, you are welcome to review our three giving options to determine the appropriate level for your organization’s request.
What if my request is time-sensitive?
For planned fundraising events or programs with specific dates and timelines, a lead time of at least three (3) months prior to your program or event will allow us to give timely consideration to your request.
What level of giving should I choose?
Based on the size and scope of your organization/program, please see our two giving options below to determine the appropriate level for your request:
- Warehouse Donations are for local organizations and local causes
- Grant Applications are for larger, broad-based organizations and causes
Where do I send my donation request?
- Warehouse Donations - submit to the Costco location nearest you
- Grant Applications - submit the application form electronically
Is all the requested information required for the initial request?
All requested information is required to evaluate an application. Incomplete applications will not be considered or will be returned.
What is Costco Wholesale’s review process?
Once a donation request is submitted, it is initially determined whether the organization falls within Costco Wholesale’s charitable guidelines. For submissions that qualify, review times vary depending on the application level chosen:
Warehouse Donations
Warehouse donations are handled at the warehouse level. Please consult your local warehouse for up-to-date information regarding their review process.
Grant Applications
If the request is under consideration, you may be contacted by staff for any additional information needed. Applications are reviewed within 6-10 weeks, and decisions are based on several factors, including: type of program; identified community need not otherwise available; indication that evidenced-based data will establish measurable results of intended outcomes; community collaboration; broad base of financial support; project budget and operating expenses.
Note: While we would like to respond favourably to all requests, the needs are understandably far greater than our allocated resources, and we are unable to accommodate all of them. Therefore, Costco Wholesale can only contact the selected organizations.
How will I be contacted regarding the status of my request?
If selected, your organization will receive a cheque and a letter within 8-10 weeks from the submission of your request.
Due to the high volume of requests received, Costco will only contact the selected organizations.
General Questions
Is there a dollar limit for approved grants?
Typical award sizes vary, but organizations should not submit proposals for more than 10% of their program’s overall budget. For new applicants, we suggest submitting conservative requests.
Can my organization apply for more than one donation request per year?
We typically do not consider more than one donation request per fiscal year (September to August) for each organization. Please review our two giving options to determine the most appropriate level for your organization’s request, and submit accordingly.
What does Costco consider “overhead”?
Please see Overhead Calculation Document for how to calculate the organization's overhead percentage.
Can we acknowledge our Costco Wholesale sponsored donation?
Because Costco Wholesale does not seek recognition for our contributions to our communities, we ask for your cooperation in partnering with us prior to any public statements, whether in print or otherwise, that recognize our contribution. We ask that organizations contact us with any questions regarding proposed Costco recognition.