Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund (COETF)

The Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund (COETF) was established by CAO in 1977. A federally registered, charitable organization, the COETF supports optometric research, education, and professional development through cash awards to individuals or institutions. The COETF Awards Committee meets annually (generally in March) to consider applications. The deadline for application is typically in early February. Since its inception, COETF has awarded over $1 million in grants. Click here for information about applying for a COETF Award.

Donations to COETF are important to maintain the legacy of support from Canadian optometrists and others who recognize the need. Please support OPTOMETRY'S CHARITY in Canada.

To mail donations, please send them to:

The Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund
234 Argyle Ave
Ottawa, ON
K2P 1B9

To phone in a donation, please call our toll-free number: 888-263-4676, ext. 214.

Suggestions for How You Can Help

Single Gift

Cash, in the form of a cheque or credit card, is of course, another way to donate.

Download a printable mail-in/fax form here.

Bequests / Estate Gift

Naming COETF as one of the beneficiaries in your will can reduce your estate tax and immeasurably benefit COETF.

Tributes & Memorials

Supporters of COETF can make a donation to honour a loved one or a valued colleague. In addition, supporters often designate COETF as the recipient of donations in lieu of flowers being sent upon the death of a friend or family member. We would be happy to work with you to make individual arrangements for a sensitive situation in your life.

When you make a gift to COETF in the form of a Tribute, the person in honour of whom you sent the gift will receive a letter with text that reads: the COETF is grateful to be the recipient of a contribution donated by (donor's name) in support of optometric research, education, and professional development.

Download a printable tribute mail-in form here.

Stocks / Securities

Donors may consider stocks and securities as an alternative to cash donations to COETF. Some reasons why:

• everyone must dispose of stock at one time or another;

• if you sell stock for cash, you pay the government capital gains taxes of 50% on the appreciated amount;

• donating stock eliminates capital gains taxes and provides the donor with a tax deductible receipt for the full market value of the securities.

Download a printable stock and securities donation form here.

Gifts of Real Estate

Deeding land, a residence or a vacation property to COETF will provide substantial income for COETF, while saving you the cost of capital gains taxes, and estate taxes.

Workplace Giving Programs

Dollars can be donated to the COETF through workplace charitable campaigns such as United Way. These contributions are either one-time gifts or are fulfilled through payroll deduction, a program where employees choose specific amounts to be deducted from their paycheques and specific charities to receive their gifts. Write COETF and charitable #118834852RR0001 on your United Way pledge form. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund!

Gifts of Life Insurance

Naming COETF as the owner of a life insurance policy that is no longer required for your personal financial security or the security of your family can result in a significant charitable income tax deduction.

Naming COETF as the owner and beneficiary of a policy for which all payments are current entitles you to a tax deduction equal to the cost basis of the policy. Were you to make a gift of a policy that hasn't been paid in full, you would still be entitled to a tax deduction roughly equal to the policy's cash surrender value.

You can also name COETF as a beneficiary or a partial beneficiary of a policy you retain.

Gifts of Tangible Personal Property

Works of art, jewelry, equipment, and collections can be contributed with the appraised value of the property providing an income tax deduction for the donor.

Matching Gifts

Give your gift a lift! Many employers match their employees’ gifts. Consider a campaign that match, double or even triple employee contributions. For more information about how you can make your money work for you and for the Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund, please call 888-263-4676, ext. 214. This information is provided for general educational purposes only. For advice and assistance in specific cases, COETF recommends you seek the services of a legal and/or financial advisor.

Application for Funding

Through its projects, the Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund has greatly improved the quality of vision and eye care services available to the Canadian public. In order to continue to reach its goals, the COETF needs the financial support not only from those members of CAO who have pledged in the past, but also from more recent graduates and from those who have long since completed their original pledge programs.

Since 1980, the COETF has received applications and awarded funding to projects covering a vast and varied scope of research. The COETF Awards Committee meets annually (generally in March) to consider applications. The deadline for applications is typically in early February. Click on the following links for a copy of the COETF Application Form: English or French. Print and complete the form and mail with the appropriate enclosures to:
Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund
234 Argyle Ave
Ottawa, ON, K2P 1B9

University of Waterloo gratefully acknowledges the gift of $250,000 by COETF to support UW’s School of Optometry.

Click here to see the announcement.

COETF Wall of Fame

The COETF Wall of Fame is now on display at the CAO office.

Click here to see the list of names of all donors that donated $2,001 to the Millennium Fund Campaign