The Charities & Not-For-Profit Group represents charities and not-for-profit organizations in Canada.
Our clients range from the largest charities and foundations in Canada to small community organizations. They include public and private foundations, hospitals, universities, schools, social service organizations, environmental groups, trade and professional associations and churches. We act as counsel to charities and not-for-profit organizations and other professionals with regard to:
- Incorporation and organization of non-profit organizations
- Registration of charities to obtain charitable status
- Fundraising issues and charitable giving
- Establishment of endowment funds
- Governance, policy development and risk management
- Directors’ and trustees’ duties and liabilities
- Reorganizations, wind-ups and mergers
- Defence and administration of charitable bequests
- Planned giving
- Labour & employment law
- Hospital law
- Intellectual property matters
- General legal matters, including administration and real estate
The laws and regulations with which charities & not-for-profit organizations must comply is growing increasingly complicated and is ever-changing. Our experience in all matters pertaining to charities & not-for-profit organizations allows us to assist these organizations in a quick, efficient and practical manner. In addition, many lawyers at TDS serve on various boards and committees in the charities & not-for-profit sector, provides us with first-hand knowledge of the issues facing these organizations.
Charities & Not-For-Profits Lawyers
Mitch Billinkoff
Lawyer
Leilani Kagan, K.C.
Lawyer
Adam I. Kaplan
Lawyer
Frank Lavitt, K.C.
Lawyer
Richard M. Leipsic
Lawyer
Leo E. K. Palay
Lawyer
C. Leah Suderman
Lawyer
Celyna Yu
Lawyer
- Article02|24|2025
In recent months, discussions around artificial intelligence (AI) have become ubiquitous with news stories and social media posts highlighting its benefits and challenges appearing daily. New AI tools and services… Learn More
- Article11|30|2016
Author Vivian E. Rachlis is no longer with TDS. Please contact us for further assistance. On any given Tuesday or Friday, a small room on the second floor of a… Learn More
- Article05|26|2015
The Winnipeg Foundation (the “Foundation”) is the first community foundation in Canada, established in 1921. It is an endowment-based organization, preserving capital to leave a legacy for the long run.… Learn More
- Article02|29|2012
More and more Canadian charities are finding it necessary to carry on some type of business activity to generate additional revenues to support their charitable purposes. But the Canada Revenue Agency… Learn More
- Article02|16|2012
The law on profit-making by non-profits remains unsettled in Canada. The Income Tax Act(Canada) allows for tax-exempt status for organizations that are not registered charities as long as they satisfy… Learn More
- Article11|01|2011
The Infrastructure behind Social Innovation and “Philanthrocapitalism” There is increasing discourse in Canada and elsewhere on the topic of social innovation. Governments in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom and… Learn More
- Article05|28|2010
Newspapers have been full of stories about naming rights and sponsorships gone wrong. The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California had to decide this week whether to proceed… Learn More
- Article04|01|2010
Charities and advocates for charities have long been calling for the elimination of the disbursement quota as “an unduly complex and costly administrative burden on charities”. The federal government’s Budget… Learn More
- Article03|24|2010
I have been asked on more than a few occasions to review corporate by-laws to confirm for clients whether or not there is an indemnity clause in favour of directors… Learn More
- Article03|08|2010
My client’s prospective business partner, through his lawyer, inserted a clause into their business arrangement that required my client to exert “best efforts” to achieve an outcome. My client knew… Learn More
