Nominate
Any member in good standing can put a Hamilton-area charity forward. Three are drawn at random from that meeting's nominations to present.
Nominate a charityHow it works
Built to respect your time and your hundred dollars.
No galas, auctions, or standing committees. One hour, four times a year, with members directing their gifts to one Hamilton-area organization.
Listen
Each organization gets five minutes to make its case, then takes questions. The complete meeting fits inside an hour.
Vote & give
One ballot per member. Everyone gives $100 to the Members Choice charity by cheque or through Charitable Impact — a group gift of up to $10,000, with anything above that split evenly between the other two charities.
The ground rules
Simple enough to fit on a coaster.
- Organizations must serve the Hamilton area and provide tax receipts directly to contributing members.
- Members who did not vote for the Members Choice charity still give — that shared commitment is what makes the group gift matter.
- The Members Choice charity receives a maximum of $10,000; anything raised above the cap is split evenly between the other two presenting charities.
- A charity can receive the group gift once every two years.
- Every charity must be re-nominated before each meeting — no nomination carries forward to the draw automatically.
- In a tie, the group gift is split evenly between the tied charities.
- Every meeting opens with the previous recipient reporting how the money was used.
- The selected organization never shares member information except when needed for tax receipts.
Nominating a charity
Know an organization that deserves the room?
Any member who has signed a commitment form and is current with his donations can nominate a Hamilton-area organization. Submit an Organization Fact Sheet at least one week before the meeting; three nominees are drawn at random to present.
Nominations apply to that meeting only — to keep a charity in the draw, re-nominate it each quarter.
If your organization is drawn, you get five minutes at the meeting to make your case, then questions from the room.
Start a nominationCommon questions
The fine print, in plain language.
What am I committing to?
The full year: $100 at each of the four quarterly meetings — $400 annually, given whether or not you make every meeting. There are no membership fees or banquet tickets; the chapter exists to direct members' giving to local charities.
What happens if more than $10,000 is raised?
The Members Choice charity receives up to $10,000. Anything above that is split evenly between the other two presenting charities — every dollar given in the room stays in Hamilton.
Do I get a tax receipt?
Yes. The selected charity receipts cheque donations directly. Charitable Impact provides an immediate receipt for gifts made through its platform.
Does the chapter charge any fees?
The chapter charges no membership or administration fee. Payment-processing costs may apply when a Charitable Impact account is funded by credit card; cheque donations go directly to the selected charity.
What if I cannot make a meeting?
Your $100 is still part of the year's commitment. Send your cheque with another member or give through Charitable Impact — the commitment is the donation, not attendance at every meeting.
Can I join as a team?
Yes. Some members split the commitment as a team. Note how you plan to split the $100 donations when you sign up.
How do charities get considered?
A member in good standing submits an Organization Fact Sheet at least one week before the meeting. Three charities are drawn at random from that meeting's nominations to present — nominations do not carry over, so a charity must be re-nominated each time.