Some of the most nefarious villains in popular culture are philanthropists. The fabulous – and fabulously junky – Netflix series Lupin makes it clear. Philanthropists are smiling hypocrites with too much money and no scruples. Evil. In Lupin, the villain that bedevils the titular gentleman thief hero (played by the…
Category: Philanthropy/Charitable Giving
Total 146 Posts
Private foundations are believed to be durable entities. Perpetuity is assumed. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) data shows, however, that 2,319 private foundations closed during the period 2000 to 2021. Growth in Private Foundations There are currently 6,213 private foundations registered in Canada. The private foundation is the fastest growing category…
The 2021 Federal Budget announced the Government’s intentions to launch a consultation with charities about “potentially increasing the disbursement quota…beginning in 2022.” Any increase of the disbursement quota (DQ) rate above the current 3.5% annual requirement will have significant implications for the charitable sector, foundations and donors. Below is…
One in ten. That, according to charitable sector studies, is how many estate donors inform the charities in their will of their intentions. While this ratio varies by charity it underscores a fascinating paradox. Bequest donors trust charities enough to make them beneficiaries of their estate, but they don’t trust…
When I was a young charitable gift planner, my charity was offered a cluster of islands on Georgian Bay. Surrounding the 100-year-old family cottage were sheds, cabins and boat houses. The donors had a vision: it would be a children’s camp. It was a stunning property. Valuable, despite the sagging,…
The charitable tax incentives for donations of certified Cultural Property – art and artifacts – is the richest in Canada. Cultural Property donations are exempt from capital gains tax and can be claimed against 100% of the donor’s net annual income over up to six years. The incentive is part…
COVID-19 has hit the charitable sector hard, and arts organizations face particular challenges. A recent article in The Globe and Mail about the Banff Centre described closed facilities, lost fundraising, cancelled programs, layoffs, deficits, resignations, and protests. The article also mentioned a request to endowment donors for “permission” to use…
Can you donate the residual interest of a principal residence to charity? Absolutely! The question, however, is not can it be done, but should it be done. In most cases, the answer is no – especially for the charity. Structuring Options Let me address the structuring options first. It is…
There is a saying among charitable gift planners: “beware of in-kind property donors who show up with valuations in hand.” In other words, eager donors and their gifts may be too good to be true. This is folk wisdom that points to a serious issue. Donors, executors and charities often…
A crisis may change long-held views. In reaction to the devastating economic effect of COVID-19 a couple of regulators have loosened their rules related to two different types of charitable property. Will these changes be temporary or will they lead to long-term change? And what effect does it have on…