Case Study- How WaterAid Canada Unlocked Nearly $120,000 in Securities Gifts
A charity success story about strategic giving readiness, donor experience, and unlocking larger gifts.
Background
When WaterAid Canada partnered with GiveWise in August 2025, the organization was looking for a simpler, more effective way to support strategic giving and remove friction for donors interested in gifts like securities.
Like many charities, WaterAid had a strong mission and donor base — but the systems and visibility needed to support more complex gifts, like securities donations, were not yet fully in place.
Within just a few months of implementing GiveWise recommendations, WaterAid Canada received four securities gifts totalling nearly $120,000.
The Challenge
Many charities miss opportunities for non-cash gifts simply because the pathway is unclear or difficult for donors to navigate.
WaterAid Canada wanted to improve the donor experience and ensure supporters had a smoother, more visible way to give strategically.
This included:
· Improving how strategic giving options appeared on their website
· Making securities giving easier for donors to understand
· Reducing operational friction for both staff and donors
· Ensuring donors received timely support throughout the giving process
The Solution
After connecting with GiveWise, WaterAid Canada implemented recommendations designed to create a more friction-free pathway for strategic giving.
Rather than building a complicated internal system, GiveWise helped simplify the experience for both the charity and its donors by:
· Making securities giving more visible and accessible
· Supporting donor questions and processing
· Providing responsive operational support behind the scenes
· Helping ensure the donor experience remained smooth from start to finish
The impact became clear quickly.
Within months, WaterAid Canada received four separate securities gifts totalling nearly $120,000.
Even when a donor later experienced challenges accessing a tax receipt related to a securities gift, the GiveWise team was able to step in quickly to support the situation and ensure the donor experience remained positive.
Ashley later shared that the donor was completely happy with the resolution and the overall process.
“She [the donor] said we make it sooo easy.”
The Impact
The partnership had become so successful that WaterAid Canada was later featured by GiveWise in a conference presentation as an example of a charity embracing strategic giving well.
After the presentation, Ashley came to the GiveWise booth smiling.
“Usually I attend conferences and nobody knows WaterAid,” she said. “Now everyone I meet says, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re WaterAid. I heard about you in the GiveWise presentation’ I feel famous.”
Through its partnership with GiveWise, WaterAid Canada was able to:
· Receive nearly $120,000 in securities gifts within months
· Create a smoother donor experience for strategic gifts
· Increase visibility and awareness around non-cash giving
· Reduce complexity for both staff and donors
· Build greater confidence in handling securities donations
This case demonstrates that charities do not need large internal teams or complex systems to begin receiving strategic gifts.
Sometimes, creating a clear and supported pathway is enough to unlock generosity that was already waiting to happen.
This case demonstrates that receiving larger gifts is not just about having the right technology — it is about being ready for strategic giving when donors are ready to give.
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