There are hundreds of registered charities in Canada that are Jewish. Jewish charities are more than just synagogues that might be involved with a multiplicity of activities but also Jewish groups that focus on youth, poverty, elderly, health care, homelessness, education, campus events, helping immigrants, kashrut, mikvehs, and advocacy organizations concerned with Israel and Antisemitism.
Some work is done exclusively in Canada, and some in Israel and other countries.
It is important that Jewish charities are aware of the rules for registered charities. In addition to being aware, Jewish charities need to understand the rules and have systems in place to ensure compliance for their organization.
Failure to comply with the rules can result in various consequences, including penalties, suspensions and revocation. In addition, directors and senior staff can become ineligible individuals, and there can be potential reputational issues for those involved and, indirectly, the Jewish community. Donors donating to such charities could also face additional scrutiny, including but not limited to having their donation receipts invalidated by CRA.
Jewish organizations are not only small volunteer community groups but also larger organizations that, in some cases, receive significant support from government and non-Jewish organizations. The health of the Jewish community is in part related to the health of Jewish organizations.
The regulatory environment has become more complicated over the years, including new “directed donation” rules. This presentation by charity lawyer Mark Blumberg provides plain language information and resources about the compliance obligations of Canadian Jewish charities.
Mark will also provide participants with a checklist of top compliance concerns with links to resources that provide further information.
The cost of the webinar is $18. All proceeds will be donated to a Jewish registered charity.
Mark Blumberg is a charity lawyer based in Toronto with Blumbergs Professional Corporation and has worked for over 25 years on legal, compliance and other issues relating to non-profits, registered charities and philanthropy, in Canada and abroad. Mark has written and lectured extensively on these topics. He is the editor of a blog www.CanadianCharityLaw.ca, and created the largest portal of data on the Canadian charity sector, www.CharityData.ca Mark also edits www.SmartGiving.ca, which provides information on due diligence when selecting charities.