The National Post today had a story on IRFAN entitled “Relief organization that allegedly supported Hamas suspends operations after CIBC closes bank accounts”. The National Post notes: “A humanitarian relief organization that lost its charity status two years ago over…
Mark Rosenman has written an article “Silence Isn’t Golden” for Philantopic of the US Foundation Center. It is well worth reading. “Confronted by headlines about truly questionable practices at a few dozen charities, the response of too many nonprofit leaders…
In the past we posted the revocation letters from the Canada Revenue Agency to various registered charities in the Vancouver area including the Prescient Foundation (and also Essential Grace Foundation, Malachi_3_10_Foundation, and The Gateway Benevolent Society). A number of law…
I will be giving a presentation to Chapel & York on Fundraising from Canada on July 26th, 2013 in London, England. Here is a link to the description and registration details: Here is the blurb from Chapel & York:…
Many Aboriginal groups or bands either currently receive or could receive funding from Canadian charities and foundations. Some of these Aboriginal groups who are receiving funding do so on account of their special status of being a “municipal or public…
In this article I discuss the importance of Canadian charities involving professional advisors in their planned giving efforts. Planned Giving and Professional Advisors – The Why and How to Involve Professional Advisors in Canadian charities
In this article I provide some suggestions to charities in Canada as to how they can easily start a planned giving program for their charity. Starting a Basic Planned Giving Program for a Canadian Charity – A Lawyer’s Perspective
In this article I discuss different planned giving vehicles in Canada. What is planned giving?
I recently wrote a short piece entitled “Asking a bigger question” that was distributed in the new Mackenzie Investments magazine entitled Mackenzie Strategic Philanthropy. My article dealt with the true cost of bringing resources into the sector. There are a…
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has put out an interesting report on “Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing: Vulnerabilities of Legal Professionals”. The report provides interesting case studies, red flags, examples and suggestions for avoiding involvement with money laundering and…
Confused about the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA)? In this article we have summarized some things that non-profits and charities should consider Here is the article: Governance Changes and responding to the New Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA)
The Federal Department of Canadian Heritage a few years ago did a “Summative Evaluation of the Movable Cultural Property Program” in which it discusses the program, its relevance and concerns about the program. While there is no doubt that many…
The US National Centre for Charitable Statistics has some good cautions on the use of US data Form 990 data that I recently noted. Similar issues apply here in Canada with the T3010 so I have reproduced the sections below.…
CRA has released a ‘Charities Media Kit’ which is now available on its website at the CRA Newsroom Page at
CRA has published the Director General’s speech that was presented at the Canadian Bar Association’s National Charity Law Symposium in May by Cathy Hawara. Here is a link to the speech: Director General Cathy Hawara’s speech at the National Charity…
CRA recently released a letter which gives CRA’s views on providing advance tax rulings in respect of leveraged donation arrangements. Following the recent Maréchaux decision and the CRA audits of leveraged donation arrangements, there have been concerns raised regarding the…
The Excise and GST/HST Rulings Directorate of the CRA released a ruling in March regarding the application of the Goods and Services Tax (GST)/Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in determining whether an entity is a non-profit organization. The GST/HST Rulings Directorate…
This new CRA guidance will be of interest to organizations that deal with youth and are interested in charitable status or are currently registered charities. Here is a link to the Guidance: Charitable Purposes and Activities that Benefit Youth
The Vancouver Sun has published an article entitled “Behind the Rick Hansen Foundation”. In the article investigative reporter David Baines discusses financial matters and fundraising by the Rick Hansen Foundation. Here is the article “Behind the Rick Hansen Foundation”
David Baines recently retired from the Vancouver Sun. He will be missed. He was prepared to cover stories that others were not. He notes “I learned that it takes money, not just to publish stories, but also to defend them.…
The CRA has just released its new process for recognizing “municipal or public bodies performing a function of government in Canada”. Here is a PDF OF THE ARTICLE This will be of particular interest to Aboriginal bands, school boards and…
The Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) has overturned a Tax Court of Canada (TCC) decision in Guindon. The FCA found that, in this case in which no notice of constitutional questions was served by Guindon, “the Tax Court did not…
In March 2013 we published the “Blumbergs Canadian Charity Sector Snapshot 2011”. Now here is Blumbergs Canadian Charity Sector Snapshot for 2010 which will allow those who are interested to compare the 2010 and 2011 snapshots.
A final report entitled “Evaluation of the Tax Policy Branch” has been prepared by the Internal Audit and Evaluation of the Dept. of Finance. Those interested in tax policy may find it interesting. Here is a copy of the report: …