Brad Offman, Vice President, Strategic Philanthropy at Mackenzie Financial Corporation and Managing Director of the Mackenzie Charitable Giving Fund has written an interesting article entitled “Canada’s Charities Deserve Better”. Brad argues quite correctly that using one or two financial ratios…
On April 20, 2012 CRA released a new Guidance on Fundraising for Canadian registered charities. This guidance is the most important information from the Charities Directorate on the obligations of Canadian registered charities when it comes to fundraising. Here is…
The Charities Directorate of CRA does Charities Information Sessions (which used to be called RoadShows). The registration for new sessions has been announced and you can register at: Here is some information from the CRA website: “Charities Information Sessions…
Here is an article in the Toronto Star ““Catholic teachers under fire for promoting pro-life motion to students”. Catholic teachers under fire for promoting pro-life motion to students http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1166752—catholic-teachers-under-fire-for-promoting-pro-life-motion-to-students
Finance has just released the “Notice of Ways and Means Motion to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 29, 2012 and other measures”. There are also “Explanatory Notes” that are helpful. Here are the parts…
Imagine Canada has announced that they will be launching their new Standards program on May 8, 2012. According to Imagine “The Standards Program features a Canada?wide set of shared standards for charities and nonprofits wishing to enhance and demonstrate their…
Here is a press release from CRA relating to a tax preparer who pleaded guilty to fraud for filing false income tax returns with false charitable donation receipts. Here is the CRA press release: “Toronto tax preparer guilty of over…
I was on a panel today at the Green Living Show. There was an interesting discussion on the environment, political activities, and charities. 6:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. The Federal Budget Blueprint: What’s Really at Stake Panel Discussion &…
The Toronto Star covered the story of a tax preparer from Vaughan, Ontario who is a fugitive after having prepared thousands of tax returns with fraudulent charitable donation receipts amounting to millions of dollars. Most interesting is that the CRA…
Canadian registered charities must file the T3010 Registered Charity Information Return within six months of the end of their fiscal year, although some are not able to meet that deadline and file soon thereafter. It is a very important form…
The Charities Directorate of CRA has a guidance entitled “Political Activities” for Canadian registered charities. CRA notes in the guidance that it”… provides information for registered charities on political activities and allowable limits under the Income Tax Act (the Act).…
Whether I like it or not the involvement of Canadian charities in political activities has become a major issue. Therefore, I am creating a new blog category on Canadian charities and political activities. The discussion has been squarely on environmental…
In an article by The Chronicle of Philanthropy by Caroline Preston entitled “Update: IRS Levies Fine on Food for the Hungry Over Drug Valuations” it describes how the US IRS has levied a penalty against a charity that misreported donations…
Kathryn Blaze Carlson of the National Post has written another article on charities and political activities entitled “The politics of charity: When is a tax-exempt organization too political?” “The politics of charity: When is a tax-exempt organization too political?” by…
On March 4, 2012 Debra E. Blum of the Chronicle of Philanthropy wrote an interesting article “Think Tank in Koch Brothers Dispute Could Find Its Tax Status at Risk”. The article discussed the litigation surrounding the US Cato Institute. It…
Here is an Op Ed in New York Times that I just noticed in November 2011 entitled “Tax Write-Off Now, Charity Later” which discusses donor advised funds in the US and how they may disproportionately high net worth individuals and…
I will be presenting to the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA) on “Transparency in the Canadian Charity Sector – the T3010 and Beyond” on October 10, 2012. https://sites.google.com/site/apracconference/ Transparency in the Canadian Charity Sector – the T3010 and…
The UK government has slashed incentives for charitable giving and this has caused tremendous concern amongst UK charities. The UK government notes “… some individuals on very high incomes have used reliefs to pay little or no tax, sometimes year…
The CRA has sent notices to registered charities announcing that in August 2012 the Charities Directorate will introducing “Charity Quick View”. Here is a copy of the CRA announcement entitled “Introducing Charity Quick View” in English and French. Currently one…
Here is a short summary of the major provisions relating to charities in the 2012 Federal Budget – tried to keep it to 100 words but I did not make it. Budget 2012 and charities * receipting suspension for incomplete…
The Globe and Mail published an article “New rules in budget ‘create more fear’ among politically active charities”. Here is a link to the article:
The Charities Directorate of the CRA has posted information on the Federal 2012 Budget. “Message from the Director General Budget 2012 – Transparency and Accountability On March 29, 2012, the Minister of Finance presented the 2012 federal budget which…
CRA has posted an FAQ on the Transparency and accountability provisions relating to registered charities in the 2012 budget. “Transparency and accountability 1.What are the new rules for registered charities engaged in political activities? 2.Will charities have to submit more…
Here is the CRA FAQ on “Gifts to foreign charitable organizations” “Gifts to foreign charitable organizations 1.What are the new requirements for registration of a foreign charitable organization that is the recipient of a gift from Her Majesty in right…