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Support Quality, Independent, Nonpartisan Policy Research

An investment in sound public policy

Politicians of every stripe face inevitable temptations to make choices that are not based on sound, evidence-based economics. Yet the experience of Canada’s trading partners shows the importance of strategic and considered policy development – and, regrettably, the impact of its absence.

From EI reform, to recent changes in immigration policy, to healthcare, to fiscal accountability and tax policy, the work of the C.D. Howe Institute aims to help governments coast-to-coast craft a more competitive Canadian economy. We consistently attract research fellows with leadership experience from the public service, private sector, and top universities. Just recently, our work won the Canadian Economics Association’s Purvis Prize (for the sixth time!)

The Institute takes great pride in its contribution to Canada’s standing as one of the world’s most favoured nations. But our ability to support effective decision-making depends on donor support. Notwithstanding our high standing with political and policy leaders, top scholars, and media, our funding and staff complement are modest relative to the breadth and quality of our output.

Your personal, philanthropic support is critical to the Institute – central in helping us enhance our policy impact.

Donate your way

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Please make your gift by cheque made payable to:

C.D. Howe Institute 67 Yonge Street, Suite 300 Toronto, ON M5E 1J8

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The C.D. Howe Institute accepts VISA, MasterCard and American Express. Gifts on credit card may be made securely via the donation form.

Contact

For more information or to call in your donation, please call 416-865-1904 or send an email to cdhowe@cdhowe.org.

Please Note

As a registered Canadian charity, the C.D. Howe Institute accepts donations from individuals, private and public organizations, charitable foundations and others by way of general and project support. The Institute does not accept any donation that inhibits its independence or that of its staff and authors to pursue scholarly activities and disseminate the results of research. Further, the Institute will not accept any financial contribution that stipulates a predetermined result or policy stance.

Donor Accountability

When donors give money to charitable organizations they often wonder how the money is managed and what meaningful change their money has helped to create. When you give money to the C.D. Howe Institute you can be secure in the knowledge that your gift will be carefully managed and will be used to create high-level, relevant and exceptional results.

‏Endowment

Endowed gifts provide a predictable, secure source of funding for research programs, conferences, and publications in priority areas. The C.D. Howe Institute’s Board of Directors ensures that management of donations meets or exceeds accepted standards for good governance and generally accepted accounting principles.

The Board of Directors approves the investment and management policies of the Institute; the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee oversees (a) the policies’ compliance with legislation, accounting standards, other Institute policies, etc., and (b) management’s compliance with the policies. The Institute’s Board is composed of Directors whose financial and business acumen ranks among the best in Canada.

The members of the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee are:

Anna Kennedy

Corporate Director

Heather Evans

Executive Director and CEO, Canadian Tax Foundation

Louis Gagnon

President, Canadian Operations, Intact Financial Corporation

Marcia Moffat

Managing Director, Head of Canada, BlackRock

Your Contributions at Work

If you have given to the Institute in the past, what initiatives has your gift helped to support? The Institute has played a central role in defining the debate and development of Canadian public policy. The Institute led debate and helped spark:

The embrace of continental free trade by successive federal governments; The national consensus on the need to reduce federal and provincial deficits and to establish a more competitive fiscal framework; The reform of the Canada Pension Plan; The decision by the Bank of Canada to pursue a low inflation policy; The decision of various governments to create a tax advantage for Canada and begin to tax reform.

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You can give a one-time charitable gift or set up monthly donations through CanadaHelps

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs

For decades, the C.D. Howe Institute has brought rigour and thoughtfulness to some of the most important public policy debates our country has had – continental free trade, fiscal policy, healthcare policy and immigration policy, to name but a few. The Institute’s work in providing independent, non-partisan, evidence-based research is not only greatly needed for economic policies and fiscal accountability but also for our democracy.

Anindya Sen

I am delighted to be the CD Howe Institute’s Fellow-in-Residence and Inaugural Scholar in AI and Digital Policy. I look forward to conducting research with colleagues from the Institute, and helping convene national level conversations on public policies that support AI innovation and safety in Canada.

Mark Zelmer

Fellow-in-Residence

Public policy and regulation work best when they are grounded in strong research, deep analysis and lively debate. The C.D. Howe Institute offers one of Canada’s most dynamic and effective forums where this takes place. I am deeply honoured to be part of it.

Barbara Zvan

Former Chief Risk & Strategy Officer, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

In today’s complex landscape, the C.D. Howe Institute gives home to the constructive dialogue needed to shape effective public policies for today and tomorrow. I am continually inspired by the work C.D. Howe does to promote actionable, high impact policy in Canada.

Jennifer Zelmer

President, Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement

Now more than ever, the importance of rapidly convening leaders with a range of expertise and perspectives to respond to emerging policy challenges is clear. I’m pleased to continue connecting with colleagues across the country via the C.D. Howe Institute’s programs.

FAQ

Why does the Institute need my support?

A. It is an undeniable truth that there are many worthy charitable organizations in existence. People may question how a public policy institute can really affect meaningful change in the world and wonder if perhaps they should donate their hard-earned monies to another charitable organization whose work and contributions are well known.

What many people fail to realize is that the public policy recommendations that the C.D. Howe Institute makes will help to shape the programs of these organizations and the society in which they operate. Public policy research is a low-profile yet powerful tool. Good policies, properly implemented, can help lift a person from poverty, improve the education outcomes of children, or ensure a healthy climate for economic growth and job creation. Policy research creates a lasting legacy for the nation in the form of increased social and economic well-being, and improved opportunities for all.

The C.D. Howe Institute has operated with a staff and budget that are modest in size relative to the scope of its mandate and the resources of other think tanks. As time passes, the demands on the Institute are increasing. The risks and opportunities confronting policymakers are as urgent as ever. The complexity of issues is increasing, moreover: new theories and evidence require more analytical depth. The C.D. Howe Institute needs your charitable support to continue the exceptional work that it is currently undertaking and also to increase the scope and complexity of its current focus.

There are other think tanks that provide similar services, why should I support the C.D. Howe Institute?

A. In measuring the effectiveness of a think tank, there are specific areas where the organization should excel. In each of these respective categories, the C.D. Howe Institute has illustrated that with fewer resources than many similar organizations, it continues to achieve exceptional results:

One of Canada’s Foremost Centres for Policy Expertise and Influence: A measure of the C.D. Howe Institute’s success is the quality of its human capital: its staff, its Board of Directors, its members, and the authors and speakers it has engaged over the past five decades. It has had top corporate leaders as Directors, university presidents as members, key elected and public-service officials as event participants, and the nation’s best minds as authors and scholars.

Turning resources into high-visibility output: A critical measure of a think tank’s effectiveness is its conversion of support into high-impact output. The C.D. Howe Institute is noted for its productivity in turning its resources into publications and events, and for the visibility of its activities in high-quality media citations.

Peer-reviewed leadership in policy research: Another useful measure of a think tank’s efficiency is the quality of its research. The C.D. Howe Institute publishes papers that are both respected and referenced by experts in their respective fields.

Credibility Where it Counts: The C.D Howe Institute commands the attention and respect of Canada’s top opinion leaders and policymakers. The quality of the Institute’s research and its capability to pull together decision makers for off-the-record discussions is unequaled.

I thought that paying membership fees would be enough to support the Institute. Is that not the case?

A. While current membership fees and special project grants support the core operations of the Institute and help to ensure the Institute remains relevant, they do not provide sufficient funds for the Institute to second scholars from universities or the public/private sector. The Institute does not have the resources to support an in-house team that can facilitate rapid response in a multitude of areas nor can they dedicate attention to specialized audiences or all regions of Canada.

Can I choose where my gift will be directed?

A. You can absolutely choose where your gift will be directed! Choose the area of the Institute you feel most compelled to support.

Do I receive a tax receipt for my gift?

A. Yes. As a registered charity, all gifts to the Institute qualify for a tax receipt. The Institute will mail yours within two weeks of receiving your donation.

How do I make a gift?

A. You can make your charitable gift today by going to Make a Gift , or call Stephane Paris at 416-865-1703.