About the Canadian Book of Charities
Our Vision
It is our goal to support the fundraising efforts of charities across Canada so that they can continue to focus on the work that truly matters.
We believe that organizations shouldn’t have to choose between prioritizing timely donations or future gifts that are made through legacy giving. This is why we offer access to both. We hope to provide a steady stream of donor traffic to the online donation pages of our partners while also opening them up to potential major gifts that come as a result of planned giving.
We aim to support our charitable partners through the constant shifts in donor behaviour as well as any fluctuations in the economy, and will continue to do so while adapting to the ever-evolving fundraising landscape.
What We Do
The Canadian Book of Charities is a directory of charitable organizations, available both in print and online. Over the past few decades, it has grown into a ‘must have’ cost-efficient resource used by the executives of charitable organizations as a way to increase awareness for their causes.
Our publication is sent free of charge to lawyers, accountants, notaries, funeral homes, top corporations and nonprofit companies as a resource for their clients, allowing them to make an informed planned giving decision in bequests and/or wills.
To further support our charitable partners, our website also serves as a searchable database of organizations, driving traffic directly to donation pages while maximizing visibility among donors.
Our Story
Having been heavily involved with volunteer work for many years, our founders Yvonne Trapman and Frances made a conscious decision in 1979 to create a publication that would provide a way to connect donors with the many different charitable organizations that exist within Canada.
After meeting through their volunteer work at the North Western General Hospital, the pair soon realized that they shared a passion and concern for their community and humanity as a whole. They decided to form The Canadian Book of Charities as a way of spreading the word about various organizations while increasing donor participation. Both of these passionate humanitarians have received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for their fundraising efforts.
In 2003, Yvette Vali, daughter of Yvonne, joined the team as Editor and Chief and combined her wealth of business knowledge and volunteering experience with numerous fundraising campaigns to continue building The Canadian Book of Charities. Together these three women were the backbone and strength behind the continued growth of our network and purpose.
In 2024, Janelle von Kleist-Bernard joined the team, bringing with her a fresh perspective that she acquired through her experience in marketing, fundraising and entrepreneurship. As she carries the torch from the founding team, she does so with a deep respect for the legacy that came before her.
Moving forward, we will persist in contributing to the continued success of our charitable partners and remain committed to doing so with the same vigor and determination as the women who began this heartfelt venture.
