Another case involving a charity losing its charitable status. Another example of a very weak case being brought that just helps perpetuate bad case law involving charities. Date: 20091102 Docket: A-530-07 Citation: 2009 FCA 318 Coram: NOËL J.A. NADON J.A.…
Here is an interesting article on the US foundation sector that appeared recently in the Wall Street Journal entitled “What’s Wrong With Charitable Giving—and How to Fix It”
Interesting article entitled Charities Face Greater Threat From Ponzi Schemes Than Lost Investments The long and the short is that a charity that received a donation from a person who had obtained those funds either illicitly or the return on…
In March 2009, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) (www.ncrp.org) released the Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best: Benchmarks to Assess and Enhance Grantmaker Impact. “The Criteria is the first ever set of measurable guidelines that will help foundations…
Here is the Charity Law Information Program (CLIP) presentation Strengthening Governance, Ethical Standards and Financial Controls. Production of this workshop and materials was made possible by a financial contribution from the Canada Revenue Agency. — Mark Blumberg is a lawyer…
Here is the Charity Law Information Program (CLIP) CRA’s Foreign Activities Guidance and Dealing with Non-Qualified Donees, prepared by Mark Blumberg — Mark Blumberg is a lawyer at Blumberg Segal LLP in Toronto, Ontario. To find out more about legal…
Here is a presentation I prepared for CLIP entitled Charity Compliance A Primer for Boards — Mark Blumberg is a lawyer at Blumberg Segal LLP in Toronto, Ontario. To find out more about legal services that Blumbergs provides to Canadian…
Here is the Charity Checklist – Managing Legal Compliance Risks presentation — Mark Blumberg is a lawyer at Blumberg Segal LLP in Toronto, Ontario. To find out more about legal services that Blumbergs provides to Canadian charities and non-profits please…
“Buffett says the rich should give back both in taxes and philanthropy. “They may think they did it all by themselves, but the society has done an awful lot for them,” he says. “So you ought to have a taxation…
I am in the midst of attending the PFC annual conference in Calgary. There have been some very interesting speakers and discussions for foundations. Here are some ideas for foundations to consider in dealing with the tough economic times: 1)…
According to their site “One World Trust, a London based think tank, has launched a portal on civil society self-regulation which includes a database listing over 320 initiatives (codes of conduct, certification schemes, working groups, self-assessments and information services) across…
The UK Charity Commission has published an interesting report entitled Charities Back on Track 2008-09 which looks at various investigations involving UK charities and “financial mismanagement, trustee duties and responsibilities, vulnerable beneficiaries, and inappropriate political activities and campaigning.” The number…
Here is the OECD Money Laundering Awareness Handbook for Tax Examiners and Tax Auditors. As the OECD website notes: “Criminals accumulate significant sums of money by committing crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, theft, investment fraud, extortion, corruption,…
Vern Krishna, a very respected Canadian tax lawyer, a few months ago provided an interesting affidavit on the lawsuit against Fraser Milner Casgrain and others with respect to the Banyan Tree Foundation at All allegations have yet to…
Here is an article entitled “Foreign Contractors of Canadian Registered Charities Carrying Out the Canadian Charity’s Projects – A Very Simplified View of the Process” that I wrote for the Capacity Builders Charity Law Information Program (CLIP) Mark Blumberg…
Here is an article entitled “CRA’s Consultation on Foreign Activities: What is New and Interesting with Canadian Charities Conducting Foreign Activities” that I wrote for the Capacity Builders Charity Law Information Program (CLIP) Mark Blumberg is a lawyer at Blumberg…
Any humanitarian relief organization that will operate in a conflict or post-conflict area should review “The Do No Harm Handbook (The Framework for Analyzing the Impact of Assistance on Conflict) which is located at: “ Mark Blumberg is a lawyer…
CRA in June 2009 released its Guidance on Fundraising by Canadian charities. You can see the document in English at: and in French at: It is 35 pages at 9.5 font. To make it easier to read I…
The Ontario Public Guardian and Trustee has produced a charity bulletin entitled Charitable Fundraising: Tips for Directors and Trustees. In that bulletin they list in “Appendix A: Factors to Consider Before Signing a Fundraising Contract”. Appendix A: Factors to Consider…
I will be delivering two workshops in Toronto on October 6, 2009 for the Charity Law Information Program (CLIP) of CapacityBuilders. For further information see the Toronto Brochure and registration information for CLIP. For a full list of workshops see: …
This article entitled The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle discusses “overhead” or “indirect expenses” and how various factors play in to charities not investing enough in infrastructure which results in less efficient organizations that cannot effectively serve their beneficiaries. About a year…
A list of some of my upcoming workshops for CapacityBuilders. In September, October and November I will be delivering workshops in a number of different cities across Canada. Mark Blumberg is a lawyer at Blumberg Segal LLP in Toronto, Ontario. …
I am the program chair for a conference organized by Insight that will be held November 23 – 24, 2009 at the St. Andrew’s Club and Conference Centre at 150 King Street West, Toronto. The Conference is called NON-PROFIT and…
Mango (Management Accounting for Non Governmental Organizations) is a UK registered charity that works to strengthen the financial management of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). It has a very good reputation for providing training and resources to international development organizations. They…