Frequently Asked Questions

Cheques should be made payable to EducationMatters and mailed to us at the Education Centre: 1221 8 Street SW, Calgary, AB  T2R 0L4 Your school can also send them through inter-office mail.

Yes, and the sky is the limit when you’re creating your own student award. You can support a specific school or a specific area of study. You can reward academics, volunteerism, or athleticism. You can help choose the award recipient or leave it up to our awards committee.

Create an award to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives. Set the criteria, and the EducationMatters Awards Committee will ensure all applicants meeting eligibility requirements. You may choose to participate in selecting the recipient(s), making the award's impact personal.

For more information, please contact us.

There are many options for creating a student award; whether you choose a scholarship, bursary or a prize; want to provide it for a limited time or endow it in perpetuity, we are all winners when students are provided assistance in pursuing their educational dreams.

Many employers offer a gift-match program to employees. If you’re unsure as to your company policy, reach out to your HR or finance team for clarification. Please note that when you use a gift-match portal, your tax receipt will not be issued by EducationMatters – any questions regarding your donation will need to be addressed to the contact listed on your tax receipt.

EducationMatters has partnered with SkipTheDepot to give our supporters a quick and easy way to donate while also keeping recyclables out of landfills. SkipTheDepot allows you to donate directly to EducationMatters with ease while also saving you a trip to the bottle depot. If you donate more than $20 worth of recyclables by the end of the year, EducationMatters will issue you a tax receipt for the amount donated. Just download the app, book a pickup, place your bags outside!

As a charity, EducationMatters has to be 100% transparent on the cost of fundraising and must try to recover costs associated with our operations and services.

EducationMatters sends tax receipts for donations of $20 or more that are made directly through EducationMatters. We do not give receipts for donations that come to us through third-party entities such as giving portals or foundations who issue their own receipts. We do not issue donations that qualify as sponsorships.

As per charitable law, a donation cannot be directed to a specific student – the gift has to benefit a group of students (a whole school, or a specific student demographic such as ‘special needs’, ‘Indigenous’, ‘financial need’, group of students in a club or program, etc) or through an application process, a student award. Charitable receipts for any fee payment are not eligible.

Funds can be raised for anything considered to be an enhancement, and not a core educational responsibility of the government. So while funding can’t pay for teacher salaries, transportation for daily attendance or building expenses, we can fundraise for things like reading books, math manipulatives, extra technology, play equipment, field trips, residencies, basic needs, and much more.

No! Any donor can donate to any school. A separate campaign page is useful when you have a larger project or initiative to share with your community or if you want funds directed to a specific area.

No, we can process and disburse donations on behalf of your school society without setting up a separate campaign.

No. Any funds raised through EducationMatters must directly benefit students. We cannot use donor funds to pay for food during parent/teacher conferences or staff meetings.

If your council/society is set up to issue its own tax receipts and wish to continue to do that then you absolutely can! EducationMatters can help your group avoid the administration (and CRA reporting requirements) if you are interested.

There are three ways to fundraise for schools through us. You can request direct donations to a school, create a fundraising campaign,or use Gift Matching through your employer. Learn more here.

EducationMatters deposits funds directly into your school’s account. When we set up your fundraising page or accept donations via gift-matching entities, we always ensure that the donor’s wishes are followed. For example, if you run a campaign to buy reading books, your principal will sign an agreement to only spend that money on those books. We can hold onto funds until a fundraising threshold is hit, disburse funds quarterly, or disburse funds monthly depending on the needs of the school.

EducationMatters always deposits funds raised directly into your school’s account. Prior to depositing, we send your principal a Gift Agreement which outlines exactly what the funds raised should be spent on based on direction from your school society/council.

Student awards provide critical support for students by putting post-secondary education within reach. When you establish a student award, you can help alleviate the burden of debt that so many students face.

Most EducationMatters student awards open on March 1. Some may open earlier, typically in November or January.

While a few awards close on May 1, the majority have a deadline of May 30. Always review each award’s details to confirm the correct deadline.

Yes. Students should apply in Grade 12, even if they plan to take a gap year. Once you leave high school, you are no longer eligible to apply.

Not necessarily. Some awards are institution or location-specific, while others can be used at any eligible post-secondary institution, including those outside Canada. Review each award’s Terms of Reference carefully.

Yes, but ensure the letter meets each award’s specific requirements. Some awards may request references from particular individuals or include certain criteria.

No. While applicants must provide proof of family income, EducationMatters considers a range of factors including family size, living arrangements, medical situations, unemployment, and other circumstances.

You may still apply. Submit alternate proof of income with your application and send the Notice of Assessment once it becomes available. Failure to submit the required documentation may result in disqualification.

Successful applicants will be notified at various times between May-September, depending on when recipients are selected for particular awards. Due to high application volumes, only successful recipients are contacted.

No. Awards administered by EducationMatters are not recorded on high school transcripts.

Once you are enrolled full-time in an eligible post-secondary program, send a proof of enrollment to EducationMatters via the online portal. For 'renewable' awards, proof of enrollment will be required for every semester that you are receiving funding. Current transcripts will also often be required to confirm you are maintaining the required academic standing in your program. Detailed instructions will be provided to you in the correspondence you receive upon receiving an award.

While we make every attempt to process payments as soon as possible, it can take up to 4–6 weeks from the time your paperwork is submitted to when payment is processed by EducationMatters, received by your school, and deposited into your student account. Submit documents early to avoid delays.

Yes. Since processing may take time, your award could be deposited after tuition deadlines. Let your school know funds are on the way, as EducationMatters does not send advance notice to post-secondary institutions.

Most awards are tenable at institutions offering degree, diploma, certificate, or apprenticeship programs. Specific eligibility is outlined in each award’s Terms of Reference.

If you withdraw, your award is terminated as of your withdrawal date. If you plan to transfer, contact EducationMatters to confirm that your award will still apply.

Most awards allow at least one year to claim. Refer to the Terms of Reference or contact the Grants and Student Awards Officer for details.

For renewable awards, you must provide updated proof of enrolment each term, and starting in year two, a copy of your most recent transcript. Some awards require maintaining a specific GPA. It is the student’s responsibility to reapply each term and submit all required documents.

EducationMatters does not deduct tax. Awards are typically not taxable if you are enrolled in a qualifying educational program. Consult the Canada Revenue Agency for full details.

Yes, though some awards have restrictions on students holding multiple high-value awards at once. This does not apply to the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship or most university entrance awards. Notify EducationMatters if you receive additional awards.

EducationMatters encourages recipients to thank donors in a meaningful way. You can send a letter, video, photo message, or card. Send your thank-you to EducationMatters and we’ll ensure it reaches the donor.

Some awards for junior or senior high students are paid by cheque either to the student or to the school, depending on the award’s Terms of Reference.