SPECTRUM logo

Read our territorial acknowledgment | Telephone: 226.779.9695 |  email us

Check out our calendar of Spectrum Events here!

We run 60+ programs a month, with 8000+ yearly participants.

We serve a huge breadth of wavelengths along the 2SLGBTQIA+ spectrum – and the need is always expanding.

A locally developed study (the OutLook Study) found that 90% of 2SLGBTQIA+ high school students in Waterloo Region reported pretending not to be 2SLGBTQIA+ while growing up. Data from our Children and Youth Planning Table’s 2021 Youth Impact Survey showed that almost half of gender non-conforming children in our region experience social isolation. 

In addition, 2SLGBTQIA+ youth face 14 times the risk of suicide faced by their straight and cisgender peers. In our view, this constitutes an ongoing crisis.

As one participant shared, “This is the only group that makes me feel welcome and understood.”

It costs us on average $250 per group per month to keep this programming going. You can contribute to those costs directly, right now.

We know through our internal surveys from those who access Spectrum’s programs and services that:


Attendees reported feeling included and welcomed


Indicated they found the support they were seeking


Reported feeling more connected to the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community

    

Donate Offline

Fill out our Donation Form, and send your donation by mail to: 

SPECTRUM, Waterloo Region's Rainbow Community Space
283 Duke Street West, Unit 210
Kitchener, ON Canada N2H 3X7

Donate Securities or Mutual Funds

SPECTRUM can accept donations of securities or mutual funds through our CanadaHelps page. By donating securities directly to a charity as opposed to selling them and donating the proceeds, the capital gains tax can be eliminated. This means more money for the charity and a greater charitable tax credit for you. Learn more here.

Spectrum's Rainbow Community Fund

Spectrum’s Rainbow Community Fund is one of over 400 funds held by Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF). These funds generate income that is then distributed to support a broad range of charitable causes within our community.

Learn more here.

Benevity logo

Donation-matching Through Benevity

The Benevity Goodness Platform is an online donation platform that helps employees in companies make donations to charitable groups.  Participation from hundreds of companies in many sectors like the high-tech sector (Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc.) and the financial sector (banks and insurance companies).
Ask your place of work whether they participate in the Benevity Goodness Platform.

Charitable Status

SPECTRUM is a charitable not-for-profit organization registered with the Canada Revenue Agency.  Our charitable registration number (“business number”) is 85096 0576 RR0001. When you donate to SPECTRUM, you will always receive an income-tax receipt for a charitable donation.

Income-Tax Receipts

If you donate through an accredited online donation platform, they will issue you the income-tax receipt.  SPECTRUM currently works with CanadaHelps, PayPal Giving Fund, and Benevity; see below for more information.

If you donate directly to SPECTRUM, we will issue the income-tax receipt to you.

bequests in a will

SPECTRUM Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space is grateful to receive bequests under a will. When the time comes to update your will – something that should be done every five years or when family connections change – it is time to consider what you would like to leave to the purposes that have the greatest significance to you. Read more here.