🍁 VHLC volunteer group is also registered charity?
In June 2016, I obtained “registered charity” status for VHL Canada - a VHL peer support group and network. Click pdf1 and jpgf2 (sample documents).
Why? “There are lots of groups doing charitable work in Canada, but not all are registered charities. To be registered, a charity must meet some legal tests and be accepted for registration by the Canada Revenue Agency, a government body… The organization must have been created in Canada and still be resident in Canada. It may be incorporated, but does not have to be…”
Registered charities are accountable and follow rules about finances and behavior only to the Canadian government. The public, members, donors and others may have more confidence and trust in an accountable registered organization that is well run and doing actual charitable work. (It’s possible to edit activities later on as long as they’re charitable approved)
“Respecting the legal obligations of being a registered charity takes time, money and an organizational structure. Handling the finances and reporting requirements of a registered charity is particularly complex…”
*quotations: https://educaloi.qc.ca/en/capsules/introduction-to-registered-charities/
And see canada.ca https://www.canada.ca/en/services/taxes/charities.html
- Notes at end
|
|
Qu’est-ce qu’un organisme de bienfaisance enregistré?
Il y a plusieurs organismes œuvrant à des fins de bienfaisance au Canada, mais ils ne sont pas tous enregistrés. Un organisme de bienfaisance enregistré est celui qui rencontre certains critères et qui a été accepté pour enregistrement par l’Agence du revenu du Canada.
L’enregistrement procure aux organismes de bienfaisance certains avantages, comme le droit de remettre des reçus officiels de dons. Cependant, ces avantages entraînent des responsabilités. Pour en savoir plus sur celles-ci, référez-vous à la question « Les organismes de bienfaisance enregistrés doivent-ils suivre certaines règles? »
… https://educaloi.qc.ca/capsules/introduction-aux-organismes-de-bienfaisance-enregistres/
canada.ca https://www.canada.ca/fr/services/impots/bienfaisance.html
________________
I got an intensive introduction to VHL patient advocacy and support organizations from my duties as volunteer chair of Canadian VHL Alliance from 2013-14, an informal education from VHL Alliance’s executive director, at the time, and consultations with Canadian VHL peers, lawyers and agencies. Eventually, I was forced to start my own VHL group. As a VHL patient in Canada who recently started disability benefits and happened to be a professional, I wanted to fill a gap.
I started VHL Canada to be a support group or network that was proactive to VHL (von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome) patients in Canada. We also support family members. We’re similar to international VHL groups who tend to their own countries. However, VHLA for the US may be an “exception”. They’re a pioneer, a global source of VHL information and research funding and have professional paid staff.
We may, eventually, consider changing our registration status because it may be more beneficial to all.
CRA charitable registration also qualifies you for:
- “being able to issue official tax receipts for donations. These receipts can reduce income tax owed by people and businesses that donate…”
- gifts from other registered charities
- grants or funding available only to registered charities
- special policies from many provinces and municipalities
- exemption from federal and provincial income tax
- partial reimbursement of the GST and QST
|
|
|
|
