BMO Financial Group’s support focuses on social responsibility in the communities it serves. As an active participant in Canadian communities, it believes in the possibilities of personal growth and achievement through continuous learning and access to education. Traditionally, it focuses on specific projects or programmes that add value to the scope of services offered by an organization in the following areas:
Education
Hospitals, Health and Research
Civic and Community Services
Arts and Culture
However, as funds are limited in relation to the number of worthwhile proposals received, BMO directs its community investment towards activities that are consistent with its priorities and that are likely to have a broad impact.
Requests for funding are reviewed by BMO’s Corporate Donations Committee, which meets on a quarterly basis. Donations will be made to organizations that are designated as registered charities by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.
In agreeing to fund a proposal, BMO may stipulate the terms of a donation and the proposed payment schedule for a multi-year commitment. For eligible campaigns, the maximum contribution will not exceed .5% of the private sector fundraising objective. In the case of campaign requests with a private sector fundraising goal of $10 million or less, a donation of up to 1% of the private sector fundraising goal may be considered.
A hiatus of two to five years will usually follow a multi-year pledge to any one organization or institution to allow BMO to divide its support amongst other organizations, which are equally deserving.
Financial/activity reports may be requested by BMO at the completion of the project, or at the conclusion of the charitable organization’s calendar year.
Charitable and non-profit organizations should be aware that applications for funding must be submitted on an annual basis for consideration.
BMO reserves the right, on an ongoing basis, to evaluate or audit the activities of organizations receiving support, and to terminate payment if the terms of a donation/pledge are not being satisfactorily met.
BMO maintains discretion on responding to requests for emergency disaster relief in Canada or elsewhere. Donations for these purposes will be channelled through a recognized organization such as the Red Cross, which is officially designated to collect and acknowledge receipt of funds.
Exclusions
The following will not be supported by the Corporate Donations budget:
Projects/programmes outside Canada
Funding for an entity’s ongoing operational costs
Organizations or lobby/advocacy/partisan groups that promote a particular social, political or economic ideology
Political parties/organizations
Religious organizations (except for secular activities/services offered on a nondenominational basis)
Organizations that discriminate against race, gender or religion
Institutions/programmes that are the responsibility of government through taxation (e.g. public parks)
Elementary and secondary public schools, including student organizations
Private/independent schools
Tuition, membership/registration fees, sabbatical or academic leaves
Amateur or elite sports teams or events
Individuals (e.g. sponsoring an athlete, artist, student)
Organizations funded through the United Way/Centraide
Local, regional, or provincial campaigns or agencies of, or those affiliated with a national organization, which is already receiving a donation
Service/fraternal clubs or third party organizations raising funds for a charity
Private foundations
Private clubs
Professional and technical associations
Golf tournaments and other sports activities such as runs and races
Conferences, conventions, seminars, symposiums or workshops
Trips and tours including subsidized travel, accommodation and entertainment expenses
Purchase of tables or tickets for fundraising events
Courtesy/goodwill advertising
Low-interest or no-interest loans
Direct mail solicitations
Freelance films, videotapes, or audio productions
In-kind contributions, such as meeting space and materials, and promotional items
Requests for funding are reviewed by BMO Financial Group’s Corporate Donations Committee, which meets on a quarterly basis.
Requests for charitable donations should be submitted in writing. The formal proposal should include a covering letter which incorporates the following information:
Full name and title, address, telephone number, fax number and email address of the contact at the organization
General information including a brief history of the organization, its goals and achievements, description of clients/groups served, and the geographical area it serves
A list of the Officers/Trustees/Board of Directors of the organization
A list of national, provincial and local affiliations
Charitable registration number as assigned by Canada Customs & Revenue Agency, or other basis for provision of tax receipts
Most recent audited financial statements, current operating budget and sources of funding (including other donors, government grants, etc.)
Purpose and objective of the project/programme for which funds are being requested, including detailed budget and amount of grant requested
Time frame of project/programme implementation
A plan on how the project/programme will be evaluated and measured
In the case of capital campaigns, provide the breakdown between public and private sector funding
Applications on behalf of a national organization should be directed to:
Senior Manager, Corporate Donations
BMO Financial Group
Corporate Communications
302 Bay Street, 10th Floor
Toronto, ON M5X 1A1
Telephone: (416) 867-7102 or (416) 867-7101
Fax: (416) 867-6850
Local and Regional Requests:
Applications should be sent to the following addresses:
Atlantic Division
Donations Coordinator
BMO Bank of Montreal
P.O. Box 2207
5151 George Street, 15th Floor
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3C4
Telephone: (902) 421-3405
Fax: (902) 421-3404
Prairies Division
Communications Manager
BMO Bank of Montreal
350 – 7th Avenue S.W., 6th Floor
Calgary, Alberta T2P 3N9
Telephone: (403) 503-7002
Fax: (403) 503-7021
British Columbia and Yukon Division
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
BMO Bank of Montreal
595 Burrard Street, 22nd Floor
Vancouver, British Columbia V7X 1L7
Telephone: (604) 665-7596
Fax: (604) 665-2610
Quebec Division
Donations Coordinator
BMO Bank of Montreal
129 rue St-Jacques, 3rd Floor
Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1L6
Telephone: (514) 877-1787
Fax: (514) 877-2150
Ontario Division
(Greater Toronto Area Division)
Communications Manager
BMO Bank of Montreal
55 Bloor Street West, 5th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3N5
Telephone: (416) 927-2258
Fax: (416) 927-2899
BMO Nesbitt Burns
Manager, Corporate Donations and Sponsorships
BMO Capital Markets
6th Floor, 1 First Canadian Place
Toronto, Ontario M5X 1H3
Telephone: (416) 359-5851
Fax: (416) 359-6494
Ontario Regional Division
(outside Greater Toronto Division)
Communications Manager
BMO Bank of Montreal
Marsland Centre, 4th Floor
20 Erb Street West
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 1T2
Telephone: (519) 633-2204
Fax: (519) 633-7088
If you have a sponsorship proposal, at a minimum please include the following:
Information about the organization, including whether you have staff dedicated to managing sponsorship/marketing benefits
A description of the sponsorship [strategic objectives, frequency, location(s), date(s)], plus its proposed cost and duration
Does it align with BMO’s focus on the arts, sports or civic and community engagement, and if so how
A full description of the marketing benefits (TV, radio, print and online advertising, PR, in-branch and onsite promotions and signage, hospitality opportunities, personal appearances, use of marks and logos, etc.)
List of confirmed sponsorship partners and their level of participation
Opportunity for employee participation
Expected attendance at the event, where the audience is from and other demographics such as average age, gender, household income and levels of education
Do you have qualitative or quantitative tools for measuring the sponsorship’s success
Indicate if you are either a customer or an employee of BMO Financial Group
Please note, we do not sponsor individuals, books, film productions, fashion shows, extreme sports, beauty pageants, motor-sports, religious or political groups, or conferences.
How to Apply
Please send your proposal in writing to:
Meredith Sumner
Manager, Sponsorships & Marketing Alliances
BMO Financial Group
55 Bloor St. West, 4th floor
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3N5
