The Canadian Charity Law Podcast

Why Canadian Charities are Cybercrime Goldmines: A Charity Lawyer's Privacy Checklist for Charity Boards & Executive Directors

This episode emphasizes that Ontario charities must treat data protection as a critical governance priority rather than a minor technical issue. It outlines essential questions for boards to address, covering topics such as risk assessment, staff training, and the mandatory appointment of a privacy officer. The discussion highlights the rising threat of cyberattacks and the severe financial and reputational consequences of losing sensitive donor or volunteer information. It also stresses the importance of maintaining updated privacy policies and securing formal contracts with third-party service providers to mitigate liability. Ultimately, the episode urges organizations to move toward explicit opt-in consent and rigorous oversight to navigate complex provincial and federal privacy regulations. B.I.G. Charity Law Group Professional Corporation A dedicated law firm exclusively serving charities and not-for-profits in Toronto, Ontario, and across Canada. Serving: * CRA Charity Registration  * Nonprofit Incorporation * Corporate Governance & CRA Compliance * ONCA Updates (Ontario nonprofit compliance) * Bylaw Reviews and Policy Development * Ready to build, grow, or protect your organization? * Website: https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/ [https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/] * Charity Lawyer Consultation: https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/booking/schedule-a-free-consultation [https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/booking/schedule-a-free-consultation] * Email: ask@charitylawgroup.ca [ask@charitylawgroup.ca] * Phone: 416-488-5888 Bookkeeping & Tax Services for Ontario Charities: Keeping your charity's finances and tax filings in perfect order is essential for transparency and success. For specialized Charity financial management, we recommend: * B&H Charity Accounts Corporation A professional bookkeeping firm focused on the unique needs of Canadian charities in Ontario. Their services ensure you're always compliant and mission-ready, including: * Full-Cycle Bookkeeping * CRA T3010 Charity Information Return Filing * Financial Reporting and Budgeting * Stop stressing about spreadsheets and focus on your mission. * Website: https://www.charityaccountingfirm.ca/ [https://www.charityaccountingfirm.ca/] A Special Mention: A huge thank you to our friends at OrgHub.ca, an innovative software platform that provides not-for-profits and charities across Canada with a streamlined, mode

Cross-Border Charity Compliance in Canada: What Every Director Needs to Know in 2026

Expanding a Canadian charity beyond a single province introduces a complex web of legal obligations that requires more than simple goodwill to navigate. Organizations must secure their brand through formal trademark agreements with regional chapters and strictly adhere to Quebec’s rigorous French language laws. When working internationally, charities must maintain rigorous direction and control over resources to satisfy tax auditors while remaining mindful of extraterritorial data and AI regulations like the GDPR. Furthermore, advocacy efforts in the United States or partnerships with foreign entities may trigger mandatory transparency filings under modern foreign influence legislation.  Documenting every cross-border relationship is essential for ensuring that a charity’s global mission remains legally sustainable. B.I.G. Charity Law Group Professional Corporation A dedicated law firm exclusively serving charities and not-for-profits in Toronto, Ontario, and across Canada. Serving: * CRA Charity Registration  * Nonprofit Incorporation * Corporate Governance & CRA Compliance * ONCA Updates (Ontario nonprofit compliance) * Bylaw Reviews and Policy Development * Ready to build, grow, or protect your organization? * Website: https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/ [https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/] * Charity Lawyer Consultation: https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/booking/schedule-a-free-consultation [https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/booking/schedule-a-free-consultation] * Email: ask@charitylawgroup.ca [ask@charitylawgroup.ca] * Phone: 416-488-5888 Bookkeeping & Tax Services for Ontario Charities: Keeping your charity's finances and tax filings in perfect order is essential for transparency and success. For specialized Charity financial management, we recommend: * B&H Charity Accounts Corporation A professional bookkeeping firm focused on the unique needs of Canadian charities in Ontario. Their services ensure you're always compliant and mission-ready, including: * Full-Cycle Bookkeeping * CRA T3010 Charity Information Return Filing * Financial Reporting and Budgeting * Stop stressing about spreadsheets and focus on your mission. * Website: https://www.charityaccountingfirm.ca/ [https://www.charityaccountingfirm.ca/] A Special Mention: A huge thank you to our friends at OrgHub.ca, an innovative software platform that provides not-for-profits and charities across Canada with a streamlined, modern approach to nonprofit incorporation and filings.

Crisis Management for Canadian Charities: A Practical Legal Guide for Boards and Executives

Effective crisis management is a fundamental fiduciary duty for leaders within the Canadian charitable sector, requiring preparation long before an emergency occurs. This episode emphasizes that the initial forty-eight hours of a disaster often dictate an organization's ultimate survival and the personal liability of its directors. To mitigate risks such as cyber attacks, financial fraud, or the loss of key personnel, boards must assemble diverse planning committees that represent both administrative and frontline perspectives. A robust strategy involves securing specialized insurance, protecting restricted funds, and diversifying revenue to avoid dangerous dependencies on single partners. Ultimately, proactive planning ensures that charities can maintain operational continuity and regulatory compliance when faced with unexpected disruptions. B.I.G. Charity Law Group Professional Corporation A dedicated law firm exclusively serving charities and not-for-profits in Toronto, Ontario, and across Canada. Serving: * CRA Charity Registration  * Nonprofit Incorporation * Corporate Governance & CRA Compliance * ONCA Updates (Ontario nonprofit compliance) * Bylaw Reviews and Policy Development * Ready to build, grow, or protect your organization? * Website: https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/ [https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/] * Charity Lawyer Consultation: https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/booking/schedule-a-free-consultation [https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/booking/schedule-a-free-consultation] * Email: ask@charitylawgroup.ca [ask@charitylawgroup.ca] * Phone: 416-488-5888 Bookkeeping & Tax Services for Ontario Charities: Keeping your charity's finances and tax filings in perfect order is essential for transparency and success. For specialized Charity financial management, we recommend: * B&H Charity Accounts Corporation A professional bookkeeping firm focused on the unique needs of Canadian charities in Ontario. Their services ensure you're always compliant and mission-ready, including: * Full-Cycle Bookkeeping * CRA T3010 Charity Information Return Filing * Financial Reporting and Budgeting * Stop stressing about spreadsheets and focus on your mission. * Website: https://www.charityaccountingfirm.ca/ [https://www.charityaccountingfirm.ca/] A Special Mention: A huge thank you to our friends at OrgHub.ca, an innovative software platform that provides not-for-profits and charities across Canada with a streamlined, modern approach to nonprofit incorporation and filings.

The Hidden Liabilities in Your Charity's Real Estate—And How to Find Them Before They Find You

This episode serves as a legal compliance guide for Ontario charities managing real estate assets, detailing the risks associated with both owned and leased properties. For organizations that rent, we highlight the dangers of personal guarantees, escalating operating costs, and potential regulatory issues regarding leasehold improvements. Charities that own land must navigate complex historical trust restrictions, environmental liabilities, and new statutory requirements under the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act. We also cover essential safety and accessibility standards, such as fuel tank regulations and AODA compliance. Ultimately, we advocate that charities perform regular property audits and engage professional charity legal counsel reviews to prevent minor oversights from becoming financially ruinous liabilities. B.I.G. Charity Law Group Professional Corporation A dedicated law firm exclusively serving charities and not-for-profits in Toronto, Ontario, and across Canada. Serving: * CRA Charity Registration  * Nonprofit Incorporation * Corporate Governance & CRA Compliance * ONCA Updates (Ontario nonprofit compliance) * Bylaw Reviews and Policy Development * Ready to build, grow, or protect your organization? * Website: https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/ [https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/] * Charity Lawyer Consultation: https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/booking/schedule-a-free-consultation [https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/booking/schedule-a-free-consultation] * Email: ask@charitylawgroup.ca [ask@charitylawgroup.ca] * Phone: 416-488-5888 Bookkeeping & Tax Services for Ontario Charities: Keeping your charity's finances and tax filings in perfect order is essential for transparency and success. For specialized Charity financial management, we recommend: * B&H Charity Accounts Corporation A professional bookkeeping firm focused on the unique needs of Canadian charities in Ontario. Their services ensure you're always compliant and mission-ready, including: * Full-Cycle Bookkeeping * CRA T3010 Charity Information Return Filing * Financial Reporting and Budgeting * Stop stressing about spreadsheets and focus on your mission. * Website: https://www.charityaccountingfirm.ca/ [https://www.charityaccountingfirm.ca/] A Special Mention: A huge thank you to our friends at OrgHub.ca, an innovative software platform that provides not-for-profits and charities across Canada with a streamlined, modern approach to nonprofit incorporation and filings.

Investment Policy for Canadian Charities: The Five Questions Every Nonprofit Board Must Answer

Managing charitable assets requires navigating a complex intersection of provincial legislation and federal tax regulations. Canadian charity boards must identify their specific legal investment powers, as founding documents or private acts can often override general provincial rules. Establishing a formal investment policy is essential for demonstrating fiduciary compliance and protecting directors from liability during audits. Boards must also distinguish between social investments governed by Ontario law and program-related investments defined by the CRA, as these frameworks have different reporting and disbursement requirements. Finally, implementing a structured disbursement policy ensures that organizations balance mission-based spending with the long-term preservation of endowed capital. ‍ B.I.G. Charity Law Group Professional Corporation A dedicated law firm exclusively serving charities and not-for-profits in Toronto, Ontario, and across Canada. Serving: * CRA Charity Registration  * Nonprofit Incorporation * Corporate Governance & CRA Compliance * ONCA Updates (Ontario nonprofit compliance) * Bylaw Reviews and Policy Development * Ready to build, grow, or protect your organization? * Website: https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/ [https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/] * Charity Lawyer Consultation: https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/booking/schedule-a-free-consultation [https://www.charitylawgroup.ca/booking/schedule-a-free-consultation] * Email: ask@charitylawgroup.ca [ask@charitylawgroup.ca] * Phone: 416-488-5888 Bookkeeping & Tax Services for Ontario Charities: Keeping your charity's finances and tax filings in perfect order is essential for transparency and success. For specialized Charity financial management, we recommend: * B&H Charity Accounts Corporation A professional bookkeeping firm focused on the unique needs of Canadian charities in Ontario. Their services ensure you're always compliant and mission-ready, including: * Full-Cycle Bookkeeping * CRA T3010 Charity Information Return Filing * Financial Reporting and Budgeting * Stop stressing about spreadsheets and focus on your mission. * Website: https://www.charityaccountingfirm.ca/ [https://www.charityaccountingfirm.ca/] A Special Mention: A huge thank you to our friends at OrgHub.ca, an innovative software platform that provides not-for-profits and charities across Canada with a streamlined, modern approach to nonprofit incorporation and filings.