Registered charities are required by law to distribute the bulk of their receipted revenue to causes or activities in line with their charitable mission. But the numbers aren't always as cut and dried as one might expect. Adam Aptowitzer, a...
Introduction I opened up my closet the other day and put on a pair of casual pants that I have had for three years. As I put them on, I thought about their excellent quality. They fit well. The plaid...
My newspaper frequently covers scandals where charities have misused donations or staff have absconded with funds. Every story like that reduces my ability to raise funds for my charity even though we are not part of this wrongdoing. I think...
Vanna White. Donny Osmond. Spike Lee. Fran Drescher. Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver. What do all these have in common? They all came into being in 1957, which means that in 2007, all turn 50 years old. It’s not known...
Despite the oft-maligned paradigm of governments entering into contract with private firms to provide services and/or build infrastructure for the public good, public-private partnerships, or P3s, continue to gain steam in Canada. Skeptics say the fact that governments can borrow...
The federal Conservatives presented their 2007 budget on March 19th and there was some good news for charities, namely the elimination of capital gains tax on the donation of publicly-listed securities to private foundations. Adam Aptowitzer, a lawyer with the...
I think my membership organization needs change at the board, but there are no term limits so there are never any elections; people are comfortable and stay forever. At the last Annual General Meeting (AGM), I proposed a carefully worded...
Keeping a not-for-profit organization running requires effort. Small tasks add up. Next thing you know, you're working 'til 9pm. Can you be saved by technology? It’s obvious that technology can provide solutions that save time and money, enabling you to...
Although charities are exempt from paying taxes, the Canada Revenue Agency still requires them to fill out paperwork, namely the Registered Charity Information Return, better known as the T3010. Adam Aptowitzer, a lawyer with the Ottawa-based law firm Drache LLP,...
I was recently working with a board of directors who came together for a weekend to develop their new strategic plan (I was the facilitator). After we had mapped out a detailed strategic plan of action for both the short...
