Some big changes to our website are coming as we update our look and content to match our new brand! Thanks for your patience while some information might be out-of-date — we hope to have our revamp done soon. If you have a question, please contact us!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. How do I become a member?
A. Easy: just complete the form on the join us page.
Q. How long do the meetings last?
A. The meeting itself lasts for no more than an hour, but there's also time before and after for drinks and socializing. Doors open at 5:30pm for the networking, and the formal meeting (one hour max) starts promptly at 6:15pm. When we wrap up, there's more time for socializing and chatting with representatives of the charities who presented during the meeting.
Q. What if I cannot attend a meeting?
A. We of course hope that everyone might be able to attend but that is not always possible. You still contribute your $100 through the Vancouver Foundation and abide by the decision of the majority attending and voting.
Q. Can I pay by cheque?
A. You can pay by cheque or credit card. All donations are handled by the Vancouver Foundation, which provides tax receipts. Most members make automatic monthly payments by credit card.
Q. Can I still join if I live far away? How do I take part from a distance?
A. You can live anywhere and still be a member. You need only make your tax-deductible donation. Of course, attending meetings might be a challenge — but you will still feel great about making a difference!
Q. Can I just send the donation to the charity myself?
A. Of course, but we discourage it for two reasons. First, it does not count toward your membership. Second, the total of donations has a major direct impact, beyond what any one individual might contribute. We also track donations through the Vancouver Foundation to maintain our membership roster as only members in good standing can nominate, attend and vote.
Q. Is membership limited to 100 people?
A. No, that would not be fair to the charities, would it? If we can make a big impact with 100 men, why not invite a friend and make an even bigger impact? Allies are also welcome. Remember, we're doing this for the charities and our community, not just for ourselves.
Q. Do I have to be "gay" to be a member?
A. Membership in 100 Gay Men for a Cause — Vancouver is an intentionally-created community for people who identify as men, and who are attracted to people who identify as men, in the broadest sense: this includes gay, bisexual, pansexual, Two-Spirit, queer, or questioning men. For greater certainty, when we say "men", we mean that in terms of identity, not gender assigned at birth.
Q. Can I bring a friend to a quarterly meeting?
A. Yes. We are always seeking men who care. For us, caring means making a commitment. That means you can bring a prospective member to a quarterly meeting, but if they don’t join, they don’t vote.
Q. What do you do with my personal information?
A. We collect your name, email address, and phone number to stay in touch with you and to administer membership in 100 Gay Men For a Cause — Vancouver. We will never sell or give out your personal information without your consent unless we are required to do so by law.
Note about photography: We do have a photographer at our quarterly events, and event photos are published to our website and social media. Members who wish to remain anonymous must identify themselves to our photographer at the event to make arrangements to stay out of photos.
Q. How do I nominate a charity?
A. There are three ways:
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Nominate up to three charities when you join or renew membership.
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Nominations forms are available to members at our meetings.
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Members can use the nominate a charity form on our website.
Q. How are the three presenting charities chosen?
A. Each nominated charity is verified by the Vancouver Foundation to ensure charitable status and at least one year of operations. The leadership team selects three charities by theme (such as arts, education, or health) in advance of each meeting. These charities are invited to give a five-minute presentation at the meeting. If a charity cannot attend or declines, another charity is selected instead. The charities are not revealed until the meeting.
Q. Can a charity nominate itself?
A. No, charities are nominated exclusively by the members. This is an opportunity for our members to learn more about the charities that are supporting LGBTQ2S+ communities in Metro Vancouver.
Q. How much of my donation goes to the administration costs?
A. Absolutely zero! Donations are handled by the Vancouver Foundation. We are organized and operated entirely by unpaid volunteers, and we do not charge members any fees to cover room rentals, staff, or supplies. Any direct expenses are approved by the leadership team, and paid out of operating funds provided by our partners. An annual financial overview is provided to members at one of our quarterly meetings.