News
Webinar: Haiti - Legal and Ethical Issues for Canadian charities responding to the earthquake
With the earthquake in Haiti Canadians have responded quickly and donated generously. Canadian charities have received record contributions to help with the disaster in Haiti. Many of the charities raising funds for Haiti have never operated in Haiti and/or been involved in disaster assistance. We have learned from past disaster responses in post-conflict areas that good intentions and money are not enough. Join charity lawyer Mark Blumberg (editor of www.globalphilanthropy.ca) as he highlights some of the top legal and ethical challenges facing Canadian registered charities operating in Haiti. From Income Tax Act rules to ethical dilemmas it is important that charities are aware of these and other issues.
Topics discussed include:
• Working with a Canadian charity vs. direct charitable activities
• Permissible structures for working with Haitian intermediary organizations
• How to pick an intermediary
• Dealing with transfers of capital property to Haitian organizations
• Books and records including the issue of obtaining receipts on the ground.
• Ethical standards issues with disaster assistance and international activities.
Click here to watch the archived recording of the webinar (approximately 1 hour 10 minutes)
OCIC Members Respond to the Haiti Earthquake
We have all been shocked by the recent earthquake in Haiti. A number of OCIC members are actively working on relief efforts in the country. Information on how to donate can be found by visiting their websites or calling their main offices.