The CRA has posted a note on the new anti-avoidance rules and designated gifts for Canadian charities that were introduced in the March 2010 Federal Budget. New anti-avoidance rules and designated gifts The 2010 Federal Budget introduced new anti-avoidance…
This Toronto Star article discusses various charities, including The Organ Donation and Transplant Association of Canada, the Children’s Emergency Foundation, Pediatric AIDS Canada, that CRA has recently shut down. It also discusses the telemarketer Xentel DM (now called “iMarketing Solutions…
Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf wrote an interesting article on Charity Sector Watchdogs in Canada. He quotes Cathy Barr (Imagine Canada), Anderson Charters, owner of CharityCan.ca (a great database), Ken Berger (Charity Navigator), Kate Bahen (Charity Intelligence) and myself. Charity Sector Watchdogs: An…
Here is some information from the Charities Directorate on statistics for the Charities Directorate website Here is some information from the Charities Directorate on statistics for the Charities Directorate website
The Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) sends out a “Charities and Giving – What’s new” newsletter every couple of weeks with links to new documents on the Charities Directorate webpage. As CRA notes it “Notifies you about…
On February 26, 2011, Industry Canada published the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Regulations under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. It provides an Executive Summary as well. Here is the text of the Executive Summary and the Regulation Industry Canada releases Canada…
CanadaHelps and Capital One did a survey of Canadians about charity fraud which shows that the public’s concern about being defrauded is up considerably. This is part of an initiative by CanadaHelps and Capital One to highlight dangers of charity…
The Canada Revenue Agency has revoked the registration of The Organ Donation & Transplant Association of Canada excessive fundraising and administrative fees and for involvement in an “international donation arrangement” in which “the Organization paid $35,000 to allegedly acquire property…
Here is a press release from the Canada Revenue Agency about a Toronto tax preparer jailed in tax fraud scheme for issuing false receipts. Toronto tax preparer jailed in tax fraud scheme Toronto, Ontario, February 21, 2011… The Canada Revenue…
The CRA has revoked the registration of Pediatric AIDS Canada/USA. It has also reminded Canadian charities that fundraise to be aware of the rules for fundraising contained in the CRA’s Guidance on Fundraising. In addition to high fundraising costs…
Here is a copy of my article Keeping charity laws top of mind which was published in The Bottom Line. What is the “The Bottom Line”. “The Bottom Line is an independent and specialized business periodical that keeps accredited professional…
Here is the Blumbergs Canadian Charity Law List for February 2011. To sign up to this free newsletter visit: Blumbergs Canadian Charity Law List – February 2011 1) Upcoming FREE CLIP Webinars (Online internet seminars) on charity law, fundraising…
Here is a copy of my paper delivered at the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) Institute 2011 entitled Top Receipting Concerns for Canadian Registered Charities. I was delighted to be co-chairing the program and that there were 90 lawyers out for…
CRA has just released its “Consultation on proposed guidance for The Promotion of Animal Welfare and Charitable Registration”. It is being released as part of a consultation and they are asking for comments by March 31, 2011. There are over…
David Thompson of Scarfone Hawkins in Hamilton, Ontario recently wrote a paper entitled “Dangerous Opinions – Legal and Ethical Issues with Legal Opinions on Charity Law and the Income Tax Act”. If anyone is wondering how can people believe the…
Jamie Golombek wrote recently an article in the Financial Post on an audit initiative of CRA targeting high net worth individuals whose assets are over $50 million dollars and one of the items CRA is querying is related entities including…
Here is a presentation entitled CRA Major Charity Non-Compliance Issues which was recently delivered in Toronto. Danie Huppe-Cranford is head of compliance at the Charities Directorate of the CRA.
In Proulx, D. v. The Queen, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) sided with CRA and allowed a CRA appeal from a Tax Court decision dealing with clergy residence deductions. The court noted that “the judge recognized Ms. Proulx, a…
Here is a flyer for an upcoming program on Fundraising and Receipting in Ottawa February 23, 2011. Join us on February 23 for two new Fundraising Guidance and Receipting Workshops in Ottawa! RA Centre – Courtside B Room 2451 Riverside…
Here is a copy of the IC84-3R Attachment published in February 2011. The list covers a small category of qualified donees which are organizations outside of Canada to which the Canadian government has made a gift to in the last…
Here is debate organized by Network For Good involving author and fundraising consultant Dan Pallotta, Ken Berger (Charity Navigator) and Bob Ottenhoff (Guidestar). Here are Bob’s slides and Ken’s cogent argument at When Dan makes his slides publicly…
Here is an upcoming presentation I will be delivering entitled “Governance Primer for Charity Boards” for Volunteer MBC (Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon)) and the Peel Leadership Centre on February 15, 2011. Is your board properly carrying out its responsibilities? Join…
Here is a nice simplification of the Do No Harm model. You can read about it at Here is a quote from the DNH document: Actions, Resources, and Resource Transfers When an organization enters a context, it brings…
Be careful of tax preparers offering inflated charitable donation receipts. “The CRA reminds Canadians to not be fooled by tax preparers offering larger refunds than other preparers. While most preparers provide excellent service to tax filers, a few unscrupulous return…