We recently reviewed the T3010 Registered Charity Information Return database for 2011 as part of the Sean Blumberg Transparency Project. We provided an overview of the whole charity sector in the Blumbergs’ Charity Sector Snapshot 2011. We have taken a…
The Finance Committee of the House of Commons has been holding hearings. A number of charities have presented. Many charities have sent in submissions. Here is a link to the Minutes of Proceedings: http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=6292712&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2 “MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS Meeting No.…
The Accounting Standards Board and Public Sector Accounting Board are asking for comments by December 15, 2013 on some changes to the principles affecting non-profit accounting. The document is entitled “Improvements to Not-for-Profit Standards (Applicable to Private and Public Sector…
The Muttart Foundation has released the 2013 edition of its “Talking About Charities”. It updates its last similar opinion poll from 5 years ago. Here is a link to the various responses and reports: Here is the summary: …
At the website of the Toronto class action law firm Paliare Roland they have a note that “On Friday, October 18, 2013, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the settlements with the Law Firm Defendants (including Edwin C. Harris…
Here is an interesting series of letters from CRA to the Corban Foundation in the 1990s relating its revocation as a registered charity. It deals with the meaning of a gift, and various programs to provide tuition assistance to those…
Here is an interesting series of letters from CRA to the Corban Foundation in the 1990s relating its revocation as a registered charity. It deals with the meaning of a gift, and various programs to provide tuition assistance to those…
I am looking at a number of old audit letters from CRA. In one of the audit letters it discusses the CRA’s views on director compensation. We have previously discussed this issue on our blog. Here are some paragraphs from…
So far the CRA 2013 database has about 7900 charities on it. There are in total approximately 86,000 Canadian charities who will file their T3010s. Therefore, less than 10% of the 2013 T3010 forms have been filed and inputted into…
Here is a presentation that I delivered to the Canada Southern Africa Chamber of Business’ 11th Risk Mitigation and & CSR Seminar entitled Canadian Charities and CSR in the New DFATD World Here are some of the other presentations: http://www.canadasachamber.com/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=NewsDetail&newsid=230
The CRA has added a number of new webinars to their websites on arts, CED, the T3010 and political activities. The following recorded webinars are now available on the CRA’s video gallery: ?Arts activities and charitable registration ?Community economic…
On October 15, 2013, Blumbergs will be having the 2nd Annual Blumbergs’ Canadian Charity Law Institute in Toronto. It will be a full day of practical legal and ethical compliance information geared toward charities, professional advisors and those interested in…
The Hamilton law firm Scarfone Hawkins has just filed another charity class action lawsuit. The case is Terry Emms vs. Christian Economic Assistance Foundation and Ontario Alliance of Christian School Societies. The case essentially deals with the Christian Economic Assistance…
Scientology is not considered a registered charity in Canada. If an individual donates to Scientology they will not receive an official donation receipt in Canada. In Hall v. The Queen, Mr. Hall donated money to the International Association of Scientologists…
The Charities Directorate has recently put up new webinars dealing with political activities. Charities are allowed to conduct political activities but there are rules and limits around how that should be done. These webinars will help charities understand CRA’s views…
The Toronto Star published an article entitled “Toronto Christian program tries to ‘heal’ gays” with a by-line “A Star reporter goes undercover inside a gay conversion program in Toronto to uncover the controversial practice of “healing” homosexuality.” It is an…
I am not sure if I should even cover Sowah. The CRA denied a claim by Emily Sowah $10,252 because the receipt did not have all the required elements and also Emily Sowah was not able to prove that she…
International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy (Canada) (“IRFAN”) was revoked for cause in 2011. Previously we had provided copies of the CRA letters outlining in quite a large amount of detail the concerns CRA had with IRFAN. A…
The Charity Commission of England and Wales has reminded UK charities who provide humanitarian assistance in certain areas of the importance of avoiding terrorist activity. “Charities working in conflict zones or in regions where it is known that terrorist organisations…
CRA has begun posting and releasing data from the 2013 T3010 which has extensive questions on Canadian charities and political activities. So far only 3400 have been released. Of them only a handful identify that they are doing political activities. …
CIVICUS is an important organization that supports civil society around the world. They have recently held their three annual conferences in Montreal. CIVICUS has just released a new report on civil society around the world. CIVICUS notes “many governments around…
I will be leading a webinar entitled “Spam Law – Recent Legislation and its Impact on Canadian Fundraisers and Charities” on October 28, 2013 AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada and Mackenzie Investments have partnered to strengthen training and education…
The Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency has revoked the charitable registration of the ISNA Development Foundation for funding activities outside of Canada without appropriate “direction and control” and funds for “relief work” may have been used to support…
The Charity Commission of England and Wales has released an updated public benefit guidance. Canadian charities can find this material quite helpful in terms of the understanding the concept of public benefit and how a charity can show public benefit. …