Organizer guide: How to enable charitable donations on your event
You can enable charitable donations on any Showpass event, allowing Ticket Buyers to support a registered Canadian charity during checkout. Donations can be added during the event creation process or applied to an existing event.
Adding donations during event creation
To include a donation option while setting up a new event:
- Begin creating your event by following the steps in this guide.
- Once your basic event details are entered, select Show Advanced Settings.
- Click on Charitable Donations in the menu.
- Use the search bar to find and select a registered Canadian charity.
- Customize the suggested donation amount and add an optional message that will appear to Ticket Buyers at checkout.
Once finished, save your event. The donation prompt will appear on the checkout page when Ticket Buyers complete their purchase.
Adding donations to an existing event
If your event is already created, you can still enable donations:
- From your dashboard pop-out menu, select Manage Events.
- Locate the event and click Edit.
- In the left-hand menu, navigate to the Charitable Donations section.
- Follow the same steps as above to select a charity, suggest a donation amount, and add a custom message.
- Save your changes to update the live event page.
Note: Charitable donations will appear as an optional line item during checkout. Ticket Buyers can choose whether or not to add a donation to their purchase.
Donation payout structure
Charitable donations are collected and distributed directly by Showpass. Payouts are handled separately from ticket sales and follow a distinct donation payout schedule.
Here’s how the process works:
- Minimum payout threshold: Donations are only paid out after they reach a minimum total of $75 CAD.
- Payout timing: Payouts occur at the end of the month following the donation collection period (e.g., donations made in March are paid out at the end of April).
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Recipient:
- If you, the event organizer and the selected charity are different, Showpass contacts the charity directly via email to confirm banking details and sends the donation amount directly to them.
- If you, the event organizer are the registered charity, they may request the donation payout be deposited into the same bank account already on file in your Showpass organizer profile. This will still be processed as part of the donation payout schedule, not the regular event payout.
Organizers do not need to manually request the donation payout—it is processed automatically once the threshold is met.
If donations for a given period do not meet the $75 threshold, the balance will roll over to the next donation payout cycle.
Limitations
• Only one charity can be selected per event.
• Donations are optional for the customer at checkout.
• Donations cannot be made to private individuals or unregistered charities.
• Charitable donations are only available in Canada.
• Payouts may be delayed if the $75 minimum is not met.
• Charities must be listed in the CRA database and supported by Showpass.
FAQs
Can I view how much has been donated to my event?
Yes. Donation totals can be viewed using custom reports or the event stats page.
Do ticket buyers receive a tax receipt for their donation?
Ticket buyers will see their donation listed on their order receipt as a separate line item. However, this is not an official charitable donation receipt for tax purposes.
Showpass does not issue charitable tax receipts and is not a registered charitable organization.
If a tax receipt is available, it must be issued directly by the registered charity in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) guidelines.
What if my event raises less than $75 in donations?
The funds will be held until the total reaches $75, at which point the next month’s payout will include them.
Can I remove or change the charity later?
You can remove or update the charity on your event at any time prior to ticket sales.
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