Legal Services for Non-profits: Charitable Registrations
Registering a charity is a complicated process. If your charity will be incorporated, specific provisions must be included in your letters patent in order to qualify for charitable registration. If you are incorporating an Ontario corporation, prior approval of the letters patent by the Official Guardian and Public Trustee must be obtained. The application to the Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency for registration as a charity must be very carefully completed; the statement of activities must show that the organization will be established and operated exclusively for charitable purposes as interpreted by the Charities Directorate. If an application is rejected, the only appeal is to the Federal Court of Appeal and such appeals are almost never successful so it is very important to get it right the first time.
As a lawyer familiar with the application process I can assist you with the completion of your application and act as your organization’s contact with the Charities Directorate while your application is being reviewed. I can also advise you on maintaining your organization’s status as a charitable organization once your registration has been completed.