INTRODUCTION TO CHARITY LAW
The Charitable sector forms an essential part of society whose importance and sophistication is growing steadily. In part because of that importance and sophistication and in part because of world events the regulation of charities has taken on greater complexity. Unfortunately, this regulation is so complicated that it is generally beyond the understanding of most people involved in the management of charities. Contravening these regulations could result in a variety of punishments to both the charity and the individual ranging from the revocation of a charity's charitable registration to personal ruination of a charity's directors. It is for this reason that a charity must have appropriate legal protection.
As a Canadian who has been active in charitable activities most of my life, I am passionate about helping others in their charitable endeavours. This is what has led me to provide both legal counsel and a mechanism for administrative services for Canadian charities. If you wish to conduct charitable activities in Canada, I can help you in a variety of ways.
Not-for-Profit groups in Canada can operate in a variety of ways such as an unincorporated organization, trust, or as a federally or provincially constituted corporation. Depending on the group's objects it may be a candidate for registered charity status which would allow it to issue charitable tax receipts in Canada. Charities operating overseas have an additional level of complexity which may be solved through an agency with an overseas organization or a partnership of some kind, or other type of mechanism.
The charity's actual operation brings up a host of other issues as charities are subject to the applicable laws in all areas such as employment law, corporate law, customs law, GST law, trust law, and real estate law. Charities are also subject to anti-terrorism laws both in Canada and elsewhere. The web of laws and regulations pertaining to charities is complex with serious consequences for both the charity and its directors for non-compliance. (To learn more about some of the fundamental areas which cause problems for charities please click here).
I can help you navigate these complicated laws with the goal of meeting your charitable objects as effectively as possible. If you have altruistic aims you need a lawyer who will work 100% to help you meet them.