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Links to more helpful resources…

Links to additional resources on becoming a registered charity and maintaining and operating your registered charity.

The projects listed below were initiatives funded by the Canada Revenue Agency – Charities Directorate 

Canadian Association for the Deaf

Project Title Compliance in the Disability Charity Sector
Project Description The Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD) is leading a new initiative designed to help disability-sector organizations meet tax requirements more effectively. Their project, called Compliance in the Disability Charity Sector, operated from December 1, 2007 to March 31, 2010. The goal of the project was to contact more than one hundred existing or aspiring charities across Canada and provide them with tools and presentations to help them work through tax and compliance issues. The project was created to serve charities that serve the needs of persons with disabilities.
Educational Focus Fundraising, receipting, and maintaining books and records
Reach National (French)
Resources Short audio/visual presentations (includes simultaneous sign language presentation) on accounting practices, directors and officers, gifts and donations, board governance, and risk management
Website http://cad.ca/projects-and-programs/compliance-in-the-disability-charity-sector/

The Charities File

Project Title The Charities File: On Board
Educational Focus Compliance for small and rural charities
Reach National
Resources Charity Treasurer

Charitable Compliance

Good Governance Best Practices

Charitable Compliance

Fundraising Committee

Listing of Fundraising Development Committee Responsibilities (The Charities File)
Website These resources are now housed on the Capacity Canada website.

Community Sector Council Newfoundland and Labrador

Atlantic Charities Learning Exchange (ACLE)

Project Description The Atlantic Charities Learning Exchange was the lead for the project, partnering with Community Links, NS, Centre de Benevolat de la Peninsule Acadienne Inc., NB, volunteer Centre of Southeastern New Brunswick, and Voluntary Resource Centre, PEI. ACLE established a learning community to exchange resources and support mentoring for small and rural charities in the four Atlantic provinces. Compliance needs of small and rural charities were assessed and reflected in telelearning sessions. An inventory of mentors was developed and promoted.
Educational Focus Compliance for small and rural charities
Status Completed March 2010
Resources http://communitysector.nl.ca/atlantic-charities-learning-exchange/resources
Website http://communitysector.nl.ca/atlantic-charities-learning-exchange

Éducaloi

Project Description The project developed legal information capsules and a toolbox to help organizations to improve their level of knowledge of the requirements and obligations related to this special status, as well as alternatives to registration, before they make an application to register as a charity.
Educational Focus Requirements and obligations of charitable registration and alternatives to registration
Reach National (French)
Status Completed March 2010
Resources Checklists; info sheets on becoming a registered charity, fundraising, donations and receipts, rules;quizes; and a glossary
Website https://www.educaloi.qc.ca/en/capsules/introduction-registered-charities

 

Project Description To develop an online project which will provide access to products which will include videos, webinars and information capsules related to accountability and transparency for registered charities
Educational Focus Accountability and transparency in the charitable sector
Reach National (English and French)
Resources Resources in development include – videos; webinars; and information sheets
Website https://www.educaloi.qc.ca/en/search/node/charities

Imagine Canada

Project Title Charity Tax Tools
Project Description Charity Tax Tools is a free comprehensive information website with easy-to-understand content developed by Imagine Canada.
Educational Focus Fundraising, receipting, and maintaining books and records
Reach National (English and French)
Status Completion March 2010
Resources The website provides Canadian charities with timely information and tools to ensure they have the resources to meet Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requirements. The website is most advantageous for small and medium-sized charities, as well as the many legal and accounting advisers/practitioners who do not specialize in the sector, but nevertheless support charities.
The overall goal of the Charity Tax Tools website is to provide support to Canadian charities in the areas of receipting fundraising activities, maintaining books and records and reporting to the CRA.
Website http://charitytax.imaginecanada.ca/

 

Project Title To be a charity or not?
Project Description The purpose of this project was to educate potential charitable registrants, through a variety of delivery channels, on the obligations of charitable status and the alternatives to charitable registration.
Educational Focus Requirements and obligations of charitable registration and alternatives to registration
Reach National (English and French)
Status Completion March 2010
Resources website
Website http://sectorsource.ca/managing-organization/charity-tax-tools/starting-organization

 

Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS)

Project Title The Form T3010, Registered Charity Return: “Everything you always wanted to know, but were afraid to ask”
Project Description The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS) introduced an annotated version of the CRA’s Information Return (T3010A-05 and associated forms) for Registered Charities in Canada. This annotated return was developed to aid organizations in successfully fulfilling its obligation under the Income Tax Act to file an information return each year, no later than six month after the end of your fiscal period.
Educational Focus Compliance for small and rural charities
Reach National (English and French)
Status Completed March 2009
Resources Annotated T3010
Website https://www.legalinfo.org/non-profit-charitable-organizations/non-profit-guide

 

Project Title To Be or Not to Be a Charity: The Decision Tree
Project Description The purpose of this project was to create a decision tree for organizations considering charitable registration to allow them to determine:

  • whether their application is likely to be approved;
  • whether registration would truly be of benefit to them; and
  • the real consequences of being granted status.
Educational Focus Requirements and obligations of charitable registration and alternatives to registration
Reach National (English and French)
Resources Online Interactive decsion tree;
Website https://www.charitydecisiontree.legalinfo.org/

Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (Charity Central)

Project Title Enhancing Voluntary Compliance: Fundraising, Receipting and Books and Records
Project Description The goal of this project was to enhance the voluntary compliance of registered charities in meeting the requirements of fundraising, issuing receipts for donations, and maintaining books and records
Educational Focus Fundraising, receipting, and maintaining books and records
Reach National
Resources Annotated bibliography, website, tipsheets, fast facts, podcasts, articles, learning modules, FAQs
Status Completed March 2010
Website www.charitycentral.ca

 

Project Title Road to Accountability
Project Description The goal of this project is to assist small and mid-sized charities to assess and improve their state of transparency and accountability.
Educational Focus Accountability and transparency in the charitable sector
Reach National (English and French)
Status Under development. Completion March 2011
Resources Online annotated bibliography; plain language resource kit on accountability and transparency with self-diagnostic pack; Road to Accountability Handbook; tipsheets and online learning module
Website www.charitycentral.ca

Ontario Community Support Association

Capacity Builders / Charity Law Information Program (CLIP)

Project Description The project’s goal was to help Canadian charities become more aware of their legal obligations under the Income Tax Act and to increase compliance with those requirements.
CLIP provides plain-language resources, tools and practical training so a registered charity can quickly get the information it needs to ensure it is meeting legal obligations. Special emphasis will be placed on supporting small and rural charities.
Educational Focus Compliance for small and rural charities
Reach National (French and English)
Resources
Website http://www.capacitybuilders.ca/clip—charity-law-information-program.html

Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NS)

Project Title Welcome Aboard – Resources for Board Members, Staff and Volunteers in the Charities Sector
Project Description PLEIS-NB has developed a number of bilingual resources to help individuals better understand the roles and responsibilities of board members, executive directors and volunteers. The resources contain information on:

  • the challenges of small and rural organizations with regards to compliance;
  • the role of board members and officers, responsibilities and liabilities in plain language;
  • the importance of board education and training and creating a corporate memory;
  • direct individuals to resources available to help the charities sector
Educational Focus Compliance for small and rural charities
Reach Online (English and French)
Status Completed March 2010
Resources Bilingual pamphlets; video; information sheets; handbook
Website www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca/en/charities