Non-profit and charity law

This resource has been specifically developed for commissions, committees, societies, and associations that require training and support. Created by the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies, with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, and Solicitor General and Public Security, the material is aimed at helping your organization perform oversight functions consistently, effectively, and transparently. The resources is divided into 2 parts and 8 sections and covers the following topics: What is governance?, Board Structure, Roles and Responsibilities, Risk Management, Board Development, Planning and Strategis Cirection, Communications, Board Meetings, and running effect meetings.

List of the top 10 things charities and not-for-profits need to do to comply with Canada’s Anti-Spam law.

Volunteer Alberta aims to empower Alberta’s nonprofit sector organizations through knowledge exchange and strategic connections. Their risk management resources include an Insurance Toolkit and Guide to Director’s and Officer’s Liability.

VARC is a an online library of resources related to: nonprofit organization management; voluntary sector leadership; fund development; volunteer program management; board leadership; and governance voluntary sector issues. 

hrcouncil.ca was created by the HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector (HR Council). Incorporated as a nonprofit from 2005 to 2013, the HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector (HR Council) took action on nonprofit labour force issues. As a catalyst, the HR Council sparked awareness and action on labour force issues. As a convenor, it brought together people, information and ideas in the spirit of collaborative action. As a research instigator it built knowledge and improved the sectors understanding of the nonprofit labour force.

The Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta produces and distributes booklets and pamphlets that explain the law in plain language. Topics areas include: Landlord and tenant; Real estate; Wills and estates; Registered charities; Elder abuse; and Law-related education materials for schools. Publications are available to download as PDFs or print copies may be ordered. 

Mentoring Canada, is a not-for-profit informational site that provides resources and training to mentoring organizations and other charities.  The Mentoring Canada website provides up-to-date, relevant resources for mentoring organizations, and other service delivery organizations, through an on-line Library of downloadable materials and interactive training modules.

The Institute On Governance (IOG) is a non-profit organization with charitable status founded in 1990 to promote effective governance. Their mission is ‘advancing better governance in the public interest,’ which we accomplish by exploring, developing and promoting the principles, standards and practices which underlie good governance in the public sphere, both in Canada and abroad. The IOG’s vision is to be the pre-eminent, independent Canadian source of knowledge, research and advice on governance and its continuous improvement.

The Canadian Revenue Agency’s guide to donating, from how to find registered charities to how to claim the donation for your taxes. Includes a large glossary of terms used within charity laws.

The Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) registers qualifying organizations as charities, gives technical advice on operating a charity, handles audit and compliance activities, and provides donors with relevant information about donating to charities.

The Foundation works to strengthen the charitable sector through policy research, public awareness research and analysis, consultations on the regulation of charities, seminars and workshops on key issues and concerns affecting charities as well as special projects. Particular areas of concern are management development and leadership and building capacity within organizations devoted to early childhood development. They provide a variety of publications related to this work.

This site provides links to community grants, programs and services designed to assist non-profit organizations, communities, and volunteerism, as well as links to tools and resources to help.

Volunteer Canada is the national voice for volunteerism in Canada. Since 1977, Volunteer Canada has been committed to supporting volunteerism and civic participation through ongoing programs and special projects. National in scope, Volunteer Canada’s board members, partners and members represent hundreds of different communities across Canada.

Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada strives: to provide national leadership for those working in the field of Volunteer Management; to maintain a professional Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice in the management of volunteer resources; to promote professional development in the management of volunteer resources; and to collaborate with provincial, national and international organizations.

Volunteers and the Law in Alberta provides information for both volunteers and the organizations who recruit them, as to what the law is regarding volunteering. The site is divided into two sections; Volunteers and Organization/Board Member, so as to make finding the information you need as fast and easy as possible.

This online resource was created by the Alberta Voluntary Sector Insurance Council and the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations to assist nonprofits with understanding and managing their insurance issues. It explains the basics of insurance, understanding a policy and managing your policy. It includes a section about Volunteers and Insurance, and provides information for volunteer board members.

Imagine Canada is a national charitable organization whose cause is Canada’s charities and nonprofits. They support and strengthen charities and nonprofits so they can, in turn, support the Canadians and communities they serve. Sections include: Ethical Code program; Insurance and liability resource centre for non-profits; Charity tax tools; and Non-profit library.

Charity Central is a Canada-wide charity law education initiative which supports Canadian charities in understanding and complying with the requirements of the Income Tax Act in the areas of receipting, fundraising, record keeping, and accountability and transparency practices. The audiences for the resources are small, medium and large charities; staff, board members and volunteers involved with charities; and professionals and educational agencies that support the charitable sector. Charity Central is a website of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA).

Service Alberta oversees and enforces Alberta provincial legislation and regulations that set standards for charitable organizations and professional fundraisers, provides legal authority for non-profit societies to incorporate and helps protect the public from fraudulent, misleading or confusing solicitations. This section of their website provides information on these topics.

Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes access to justice in Alberta by creating and promoting opportunities for lawyers to provide pro bono (free) legal services to persons of limited means. PBLA does not provide direct support to members of the public; their website lists clinics and projects that may be helpful to individuals.

The Center for Civil Society Studies of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies seeks to encourage the development and effective operation of nonprofit, philanthropic, or “civil society” organizations. The Center carries out its work through a combination of research, training, and information-sharing both in the United States and throughout the world.

This online resource from Imagine Canada, provides recommended resource lists and a searchable database to the John Hodgson Library collection, the most comprehensive collection of Canadian research and practical resources in the following areas: Governance & Accountability, Philanthropy & Fundraising, Organizational Management, Human Resources and Volunteerism.

The Volunteer Lawyers Service (VLS) program is operated out of the Pro Bono Law Alberta office. VLS is a pro bono program, initiated by the United Way of Calgary and Area, the Canadian Bar Association Alberta, the Law Society of Alberta, and the Association of General Counsel of Alberta. The VLS assists eligible non-partisan charitable organizations in obtaining pro bono legal services that would otherwise be unavailable to them due to a lack of financial resources.

Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) is a national network of law schools and community organizations that matches law students who want to do pro bono work with public interest and non-governmental organizations, government agencies, tribunals and legal clinics during the academic year and during the summer. Over the past decade the program has expanded to include the Family Law Project, where students provide legal information to unrepresented individuals at the Provincial Family Court.

This online source of the consolidated Acts and regulations of Canada is provided by the Department of Justice Canada. The consolidations are generally updated on a weekly basis.