Category: uncategorized

Helping Syria’s Refugees: Facts to Help Canadians Give Intelligently

class=”download-report-button” https://www.charityintelligence.ca/images/syrianrefugeecrisis1.pdf Download Full Report
 
Photos of Aylan Kurdi’s tragic drowning hit home the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing Syrian refugees. Yes, this is a time for Canada’s government to cut red tape and fast track refugees’ settlement. To date, Canada has committed to resettle 11,300 Syrian refugees by 2017[1] (both government sponsored and private sponsored) – the sooner, the better – and has contributed $403.5 million in humanitarian aid[2]. Canada can do more. 
September 19, 2015 Update: The Canadian government announces it will speed up the refugee processing in an effort to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees by September 2016, 15 months earlier than anticipated, at an additional cost of $25 million. 
December 2, 2015 Update: Canada’s new government will welcome to Canada 25,000 Syrian refugees by February 2016.
 

Top Pick Charities for helping Syrian refugees:

  • Doctors Without Borders Canada*
  • UNHCR
  • Islamic Relief Canada

*Doctors Without Borders is not participating in the Canadian government’s matching donation plan. See below for more information.
 
The Syrian refugee crisis is different from other international disasters and requires giving to different charities. This brief gives donors information to give intelligently.
Humanitarian aid, not reconstruction. Syria’s on-going brutal civil war requires a different donor response than aid to victims of natural disasters. When earthquakes or typhoons hit, the event happens and passes. There is a need for emergency response and then recovery and rebuilding. In these situations, giving to Canadian charities with expertise in international development is fine. Tragically, the on-going war inside Syria likely renders rebuilding and redevelopment foolish at this time. Donors need to adjust and consider different ways to help and different charities to support.
Strong states, weak states: The Goldilocks solution. News reports are currently focusing on the 428,000 Syrian refugees who have made it to Europe. These European countries can be considered “strong states” – countries that have infrastructure, money and the social capital to help. Charity donations to aid European work are likely less essential. At the other end of the spectrum, for the 7.6 million refugees still in Syria, tragically, the violence of the ongoing civil war is beyond the resources for charities to operate safely or effectively. Donations can be most effective helping those refugees caught in the middle. Over 4 million Syrian refugees are living in “weaker states” like Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt. This is ten times the number of refugees that have made it to the relative safety of Europe. Furthermore, the lack of financial aid to date has led to cutbacks in food and welfare assistance to these refugees. These refugees have been living off what they could bring out of Syria. These resources are quickly depleting. It is these 4 million refugees that could likely benefit the most from Canadian donations, particularly the largest groups in Lebanon and Jordan.
  



Donations best meeting refugees needs: Another point for donors to consider is providing the humanitarian aid the refugees are asking for. A 2012 survey of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon[2] reported that what they wanted most were food (75%), shelter (69%), and household items/non-food items (64%) like cooking fuel, stoves and pots. Fewer refugees reported the need for education (26%) or mental health counselling (12%). Most refugee families have remained together; children are together with their parents, their most important support, and are less vulnerable. While there are many charities focused on supporting children, this is not the greatest need as self-reported by Syrian refugees. Similarly, funding education is popular with Canadian donors. Again, not the greatest need according to the refugees themselves.
Update: September 12, 2015: The Canadian government will match donations dollar for dollar until December 15, 2015 (individual donations not exceeding $100,000). The Canadian government will donate these funds to experienced Canadian and international humanitarian organizations to meet needs arising from the crisis in Syria.
 

Top Pick Charities:

 
Doctors Without Borders Canada operates 6 medical facilities in northern Syria and directly supports more than 100 field hospitals and clinics throughout Syria, particularly in the besieged area around Damascus. Following ISIS’s kidnapping of 5 international staff in January 2014 (released in May 2014), Doctors Without Borders withdrew its international team and closed its health facilities in areas now held in ISIS-controlled areas. Doctors Without Borders’ Syrian staff still operate three hospitals, one in Atmeh and two in Aleppo, in addition to three clinics in Northern Syria. Doctors Without Borders tries to provide both materials and distance training support to Syrian medics but this is increasingly challenged by the August 2015 siege blocking essential medical aid getting through to medical units.Doctors Without Borders also works in refugee camps in Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, provides medical aid to thousands of refugees in Europe, and on the Mediterranean in boats rescuing refugees and North African migrants.Having worked in Syria for the last 4 years, in 2014, Doctors Without Borders Canada provided $2.4 million in support to Syrian Crisis relief efforts. Doctors Without Borders assesses it needs $3.9 million for its work with Syrians this current year. The numbers are changing fast, but to date $100,000 has been raised.
September 15, 2015 Update: Doctors Without Borders has taken the tough decision not to participate in the Canadian government’s donation matching fund. This maintains its neutrality in the conflict, allowing it to continue to gain medical access.
Charity Intelligence rating: * * * *
http://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/81-doctors-without-borders Charity Intelligence report on Doctors Without Borders Canada
http://www.msf.ca/ Doctors Without Borders Canada website
 
UNHCR, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, co-ordinates all global refugee issues. The UNHCR works inside Syria and neighbouring countries, handling more than 4 million Syrian refugee claims, and co-ordinating with governments for placement.  The UNHCR processes the majority of refugee claimants and gives them refugee status. Reports are that it is overwhelmed by this, the largest influx of refugees since World War II. The UNHCR is not a registered Canadian charity but, as a UN agency, donations are tax receipted. The funding need for the Syrian Refugee Crisis has initiated the largest UNHCR appeal in history for US$5 billion. For the 1st 6 months of 2015, UNHCR reports providing legal aid to 58,000 refugees, iris scanning and registering 1.6 million refugees. These processes and registration help manage the response process and needs assessments. UNHCR provided 44,000 families with cash assistance to meet basic living needs. Through a generous donation from the IKEA Foundation, UNHCR distributed mattresses and blankets to 95,000 families living in refugee camps. It cleared 16,730 refugees for resettlement. The UNHCR’s total annual cost per refugee is $336. With a significant funding shortfall, UNHCR reports a decrease in the distribution of family kits from 20,000 to 8,000 per week to families inside Syria.
No Charity Intelligence rating
http://www.unhcr.ca/ UNHCR website
 
Islamic Relief, while not a well-known household name to Canadian donors, its international operations provide one of the most extensive relief efforts underway for Syrian refugees. IRW is running programs in Lebanon, Jordan and Eqypt covering most aspects of refugee support including welfare, protection, schools, and occupational training. Islamic Relief has been on the ground inside Syria since the outbreak of the civil war. Islamic Relief also identifies resilient refugees and provides job training in addition to cash transfers. In addition, Islamic Relief is helping in the Mediterranean distributing humanitarian aid in Italy, Germany and Greece.
Charity Intelligence rating * * * *
http://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/501-islamic-relief-canada Charity Intelligence report on Islamic Relief
http://islamicreliefcanada.org/ Islamic Relief website
 
 
Other Canadian Charities listed as providing Syrian Relief assistance:[5]
(click on the Charity Name underlined to read Charity Intelligence’s profile on the charity) and Charity Intelligence star rating. In most cases, the Canadian charity will be fundraising and passing on the donation to its regional partners providing the humanitarian assistance in the region.
 
http://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/183-care-canada CARE Canada ** funds operation through its partners in Jordan and Lebanon proving cash assistance, core relief items and protection. In Jordan, CARE’s expertise with Palestinian and Iraqi refugees is now extended to 24,000 Syrian refugee families primarily in cities[6]. In Lebanon, Care provides core relief items, food and water and sanitation.
Catholic Relief Services funds programs with Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Egypt. In Beirut, CRS provides community services and HIV/AIDS programs. In Egypt, CRS provides education, education grants, and livelihood assistance. No research report or rating by Charity Intelligence.
http://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/71-canadian-red-cross Canadian Red Cross **** funds its partners operations primarily in Iraq, continuing on from its efforts to address the 1980 Iran-Iraq war. In 2012 the Red Cross/Red Crescent reports visiting 38,161 people detained by Iraqi and Kurdish authorities, worked on clarifying the fate of people missing as a result of the 1990-1991 Gulf War and the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, 7 operations to exhume and transfer remains. The Red Cross reports helping 11,857 female-headed households with livelihood support projects, improved access to water and primary health care. With refugees, the Red Cross helped 36,264 refugees with emergency assistance including food, water and household supplies.
http://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/59-samaritans-purse-canada Samaritan’s Purse *** had no activities reported in the Syrian refugee response although reports to have 6 people on the ground running programs and providing aid. No details on where these program are located[7].
http://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/262-save-the-children-canada Save the Children Canada **** funds programs through its international affiliates throughout Lebanon, Jordan and in Erbil and Anbar, Iraq providing the full gambit of relief support including child protection, community services, core relief items, health and information management.
http://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/16-unicef-canada UNICEF Canada **** is the UN agency dealing exclusively with child welfare. In Syria, UNICEF’s Back to Learning initiative aims to reach 1 million children with school supplies and help 315,000 students who aren’t attending school in 2015-2016. UNICEF is seeking $185 million to build, supply and staff new schools [8] inside Syria that it estimates will help education 1.6 million children, according to Stephen O’Brien, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. In response to the siege with water used as a war tactic, UNICEF scaled up its water trucking intervention delivering 2.5 million litres per day providing 200,000 people with clean drinking water. One major breakthrough, UNICEF was able to deliver 100,000 litres of water disinfectant to Raqqa. This will clean the water supply for more than 2 million people. It has been 18 months since supplies could reach this region.
http://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/265-war-child-canada War Child Canada **** funds current operations in Za’atri camp, Jordan, since 2013 with plans to expand into Iraqi camps in 2014 dependent upon receiving funding of US$545,000.
http://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/33-world-vision-canada World Vision Canada **** funds operations through its international affiliates in Lebanon providing core relief, schools, food and water and sanitation.

Other ways to give: Supporting Syrian refugees isn’t just about giving money.  http://lifelinesyria.ca/ Lifeline Syria a year-old, grassroots organization co-ordinating private sponsorship of Syrian refugees in the Greater Toronto area. Its goal is to help private groups, like churches, university students and social clubs, sponsor 1,000 Syrian refugees over the next 2 years. Donations can be made to the Lifeline Syria Fund through its website and will be tax receipted by the Aqueduct Foundation (Scotiabank’s public foundation) up to January 4, 2016.
No Charity Intelligence rating 
http://lifelinesyria.ca/ LifeLine Syria website
For those who feel passionately about this cause, LifeLine Syria recommends:

  1. Contact your local MP’s constituency office and the federal government to increase international aid and accept more refugees.
  2. Become a private sponsor. Canadians can volunteer to support an individual or a family for one year, and they don’t have to do it alone. You can collaborate with friends, neighbours, colleagues, professional organizations and social clubs to provide the time and money commitment necessary. Government estimates place the cost of settling an individual refugee around $12,000. A family of four costs about $25,000.

 

Background on the Syrian Conflict 2011 

In the Arab Spring, Syrian people took to the streets to demonstrate against the Assad regime’s extreme response to anti-government graffiti and the lack of political progress. The Assad government responded brutally, escalating into a civil war. Syria is now divided into territory controlled by the Assad government, rebel fighters and ISIS extremists. The Syrian civil war has killed more than 200,000 people[9] and caused more than 4.1 million Syrians to flee and take refuge in neighbouring Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq and Egypt. An estimated 7.6 million people are displaced from their homes inside Syria and also need urgent help. By early August 2015, large numbers of Syrian refugees crossed into the European Union reaching 428,735 UNHCP applications[10].
For Canadian context, in 1979 in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, 7,000 Canadian groups sponsored 29,269 refugees through grassroots organizations. More than 60,000 refugees were welcomed to Canada[11].
Focus on Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Lebanon, a country of 4.2 million people, now hosts 1.5 million Syrian refugees, in addition to Palestinian refugees. Today, one in every three people in Lebanon is displaced. Lebanon has managed to successively absorb large waves of refugees until it finally closed the border late in 2014. Four years since the Syrian refugees started to arrive, Lebanon is now showing signs of vulnerability. “The population influx is straining municipal budgets for solid waste removal and water” [12]. “Cash-for-rent aid first began in Lebanon in June 2012 in a limited approach as alternative shelter was available and Lebanon has been very welcoming and eager to assist. However, once refugee numbers began to rise dramatically, with refugees quickly using up their financial resources in rental accommodations, pressure increased on the rental markets, evictions became more frequently, and cash for rent caused tensions with Lebanese families in the same neighbourhoods.” For Syrian refugees in Lebanon, being registered to receive international support requires that they pledge not to work. If found working, they risk being repatriated to Syria. As such, some refugees choose not to register and pay a resident permit costing $200 for one year, simultaneously making them ineligible for international assistance. As of May 6, 2015, UNHCR has temporarily suspended new registration as per Government of Lebanon’s instructions.
 
 
Sources:
[1] http://www.international.gc.ca/international/syria-syrie.aspx?lang=eng http://www.international.gc.ca/international/syria-syrie.aspx?lang=eng
[2] http://www.international.gc.ca/international/syria-syrie.aspx?lang=eng http://www.international.gc.ca/international/syria-syrie.aspx?lang=eng
[3] While Turkey has taken in the most Syrian refugees, aid is provided solely by the Turkish government and no charities are listed as running programs inside Turkey. Lebanon has requested US$449 million and Jordan has requested $380 million.
[4] http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/partner.php?OrgId=58 2012 survey by World Vision in Lebanon
[5] http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/country.php?id=122 The list of Canadian registered charities listed on the Syria Regional Refugee Response Inter-agency Information Sharing Portal
[6]  http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/partner.php?OrgId=82 http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/partner.php?OrgId=82 June 2014.
[7] http://globalnews.ca/news/2212184/how-much-of-your-donations-go-directly-to-refugees-in-the-syrian-crisis/ http://globalnews.ca/news/2212184/how-much-of-your-donations-go-directly-to-refugees-in-the-syrian-crisis/
[8]  http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51769#.VfsQBhFVhBc http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51769#.VfsQBhFVhBc, September 1, 2015
[9] http://www.international.gc.ca/international/syria-syrie.aspx?lang=eng http://www.international.gc.ca/international/syria-syrie.aspx?lang=eng
[10]  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugees_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugees_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/16/magazine/how-to-build-a-perfect-refugee-camp.html?_r=1 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/16/magazine/how-to-build-a-perfect-refugee-camp.html?_r=1
[11] http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/09/03/we-can-all-do-more-for-syrian-refugees.html http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/09/03/we-can-all-do-more-for-syrian-refugees.html
[12] https://www.careemergencytoolkit.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CARE_LB-Rapid-Shelter-Assessment-in-Tripoli2015.pdf https://www.careemergencytoolkit.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CARE_LB-Rapid-Shelter-Assessment-in-Tripoli2015.pdf
 

 
If you find Charity Intelligence’s research useful in your giving, please consider donating to support our work. Being entirely funded by donors like you maintains our independence and objectivity to help Canadians be informed in their giving. Canadians donate over $17 billion each year. This giving could achieve tremendous results. We hope Charity Intelligence’s research helps Canadians give better.
Legal disclaimer:
The information in this report was prepared by Charity Intelligence Canada and its independent analysts from publicly-available information. Charity Intelligence and its analysts have made endeavours to ensure that the data in this report is accurate and complete but accepts no liability.
The views and opinions expressed are to inform donors in matters of public interest. Views and opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, organization, individual or anyone or anything. Any dispute arising from your use of this website or viewing the material hereon shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, without regard to any conflict of law provisions.
 

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Nepal Earthquake Update

Information is coming in as charities arrive in Nepal and assess the needs. We will continue to post updates. 
The Canadian government will match Canadian donations made before May 25, 2015.

Best Charities to Support for Nepal Earthquake

In response to the major earthquake in Nepal, at least 15 Canadian charities are fundraising to provide disaster relief. Natural disasters are a time when Canadians respond generously. Given the urgency to quickly get aid there, donors do not have much time or information to assess these giving decisions. The sheer number of charities fundraising gives donors choices. And your choice matters. Different charities have different areas of expertise and different track records in delivering disaster relief. This donor brief is to help you give intelligently.
At this time, please remember disaster relief is very different from international development. Disaster relief requires speed and expertise to most efficiently meet the needs of Nepal. This is not the time to send a goat.
In disaster relief, we feel it is important to help all people. Our recommendations emphasize charities working with all in need, not just women or children.  With earthquakes, the highest priority emergency needs are typically medical, shelter and debris removal. After the emergency, there is a need for infrastructure rebuilding.

Charity Intelligence’s Top Picks for Nepal Earthquake Disaster Relief

  • Doctors Without Borders – specialist in medical emergency as local hospitals are over-whelmed and many people are injured, requiring immediate medical care beyond first aid
  • World Vision – fast responder in the Philippines and Haiti with effective disaster relief programs 
  • UNHCR – expertise in shelter and on the ground in Nepal

In our assessment of the limited facts at this time, Nepal’s needs are moderate relative to the Haitian Earthquake of 2010 and in-line with the Philippines Typhoon. The earthquake affected a much smaller population of people than the natural disasters in the Philippines and in Haiti. We anticipate strong community resilience to build back, making disaster relief donations effective.
Each natural disaster is horrific and needs to be assessed individually on where the need is greatest, the magnitude of the devastation. This table provides quick context for donors.

Donors Tips for Giving to Nepal Earthquake

1. Give to a registered charity. Donating on-line through charities’ websites by-passes scoundrels on the street who have exploited disaster situations in the past. That said, if you have family in Nepal, give directly to those you know in need. Canada’s local Haitian and Filipino communities were highly effective in quickly getting aid to their families at home.

2. Disaster relief requires different giving. Disaster relief is radically different from international development. In Nepal’s situation, aid workers are assessing the needs. In past earthquake disasters, the greatest needs have been medical expertise, rubble removal (opening roads and clearing sites), and shelter.

3. Hold charities accountable. Donors need to give now for the emergency response without much information. Most charities are accountable and publish reports on their response 6 months and one year after the disaster. These reports give donors essential information about the emergency performance of each charity. Charity Intelligence reads these reports. These reports provide an excellent track record of a charity’s disaster response. Of great interest is how quickly a charity spends donations. In emergencies, speed matters. Each charity has a different balance between emergency relief and long-term development aid.

From this assessment of Nepal’s situation and prior research, these are Ci’s Top Picks:
http://charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/81-doctors-without-borders Doctors Without Borders Canada has rapid fast response time. In Haiti and the Philippines typhoon, Doctors Without Borders was first on the ground. Doctors Without Borders focuses on emergency medical aid. In earthquakes, medical needs typically require setting broken bones, amputations and surgery, far surpassing basic first aid. With the number of people reported injured, Nepal’s local hospitals are overwhelmed with injured people.
Doctors Without Borders does emergency work fast. It spends most of the donations it receives within 6 months of the disaster; in the Philippine disaster relief, it spent 52% of donations in the first 3 months, and a total of 77% of donations in the first year. After the emergency response, Doctors Without Borders hands over its field hospitals to local health services and leaves. 
Doctors Without Borders has taken a contrarian approach not to launch a Nepal fundraising campaign. Its relief efforts are funded by unrestricted donations. This gives Doctors Without Borders greater flexibility in using donations to respond to other emergencies.
 
http://charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/33-world-vision-canada World Vision Canada, even though it is Canada’s largest charity and with a primary focus on international development, responded quickly and efficiently in disaster relief in Haiti and the Philippines. In response to the Haitian earthquake, World Vision spent 31% of donations in the first 6 months and 55% of donations in the first 9 months[i].
 Before the earthquake, World Vision was on the ground in Nepal working in three communities: Butwal, and Doti East and Achham East on the far western border (not in the epicentre zone). World Vision has been in Nepal since 1982. We believe this local knowledge will get aid quickly where it is needed most. World Vision is targeting its efforts on 100,000 people in the affected areas of Lamjung, Lalitpur, Gorkha and other parts of the Kathmandu Valley. World Vision will focus on providing temporary shelter and distributing non-food items.
In prior disaster relief efforts, World Vision provided direct cash transfers to victims. Research shows this is a highly effective and cost efficient way to deliver emergency aid. Unconditional cash transfers to the people affected by the earthquake lets them buy the relief items they need. Cash transfers get aid where it is needed faster than charities can arrive in the communities to assess the damage and appropriate response. Also direct cash helps local markets and local producers.
Another highly effective program we will be listening for is paying people to help get the cleanup done. This worked well in the Philippines, gets debris cleared and roads opened, and helps communities get back on their feet.
 
http://www.unhcr.ca/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency. In past disaster relief responses, providing shelter was one of the most pressing needs. In Haiti, 4 years after the earthquake, 250,000 people still live in tarp camps. This homeless situation is a disaster long after the earthquake. Providing shelter is essential. UNHCR has expertise in delivering temporary shelter. This will be critical before Nepal’s rainy season between May and September. UNHCR is already on the ground in Nepal. 
UNHCR is a new recommendation and, at this time, Charity Intelligence does not have a history of UNHCR’s disaster response. We will be watching with interest to see if UNHCR deploys the innovative IKEA Foundation shelter huts in Nepal rather than UN tents that typically only last 6 months.
 
Canadian Charities Fundraising for Nepal’s Earthquake Recovery (to be added to).



[i] World Visions expects to release its donor accountability report on its response to Typhoon Haiyan in summer 2015.
 

 
If you find Charity Intelligence’s research useful in your giving, please consider donating to support our work. Being entirely funded by donors like you maintains our independence and objectivity to help Canadians be informed in their giving. Canadians donate over $17 billion each year. This giving could achieve tremendous results. We hope Charity Intelligence’s research helps Canadians give better.
Legal disclaimer:
The information in this report was prepared by Charity Intelligence Canada and its independent analysts from publicly-available information. Charity Intelligence and its analysts have made endeavours to ensure that the data in this report is accurate and complete but accepts no liability.
The views and opinions expressed are to inform donors in matters of public interest. Views and opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, organization, individual or anyone or anything. Any dispute arising from your use of this website or viewing the material hereon shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, without regard to any conflict of law provisions. 

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So Much Choice: Charity Gift Catalogues

Deworming medication
font-weight: 400; If you want to help kids attend school, deworming medication has proven to be 20 to 700 times more cost effective than scholarships, uniforms and direct cash transfers in increasing school attendance in southern Africa.
font-weight: 400; https://shop.unicef.ca/anti-infection-tablets Best Buy: UNICEF’s “anti-infection” tablets, $20 for 450, $0.04 per pill. The tablets protect children from worms and potentially deadly intestinal infections. 

Chlorine dispensers for safe water
font-weight: 400; The evidence-based research also highlights the impact of chlorine dispensers. Free access to chlorine dispensers at local water sources was found to significantly increase access to safe water and reduce diarrhea in children, saving lives and reducing early child mortality.
font-weight: 400; Some gift catalogues offer water purification tablets. The research states that these are frequently used improperly and only a third as effective as chlorine dispensers at the well.

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font-weight: 400; Previously posted in December 2014 – interesting to see some price changes
font-weight: 400; Below is a listing of Canada’s major international aid charities that publish gift catalogues offering bed nets at various prices and 2 offer an item that includes deworming pills. While a number contain water provision and sanitation, none specifically notes the use of chlorine dispensers. Hopefully, as more donors ask more questions about these gifts and their effectiveness, the charities will provide more details.


font-weight: 400;  

font-weight: 400;  
If you find Charity Intelligence’s research useful in your giving, please consider donating to support our work. Being entirely funded by donors like you maintains our independence and objectivity to help Canadians be informed in their giving. Canadians donate over $17 billion each year. This giving could achieve tremendous results. We hope Charity Intelligence’s research helps Canadians give better.
Legal disclaimer:
The information in this report was prepared by Charity Intelligence Canada and its independent analysts from publicly-available information. Charity Intelligence and its analysts have made endeavours to ensure that the data in this report is accurate and complete but accepts no liability.
The views and opinions expressed are to inform donors in matters of public interest. Views and opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, organization, individual or anyone or anything. Any dispute arising from your use of this website or viewing the material hereon shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, without regard to any conflict of law provisions. 
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Canada’s Environmental Charities Audited for Advocacy

 

Environmental Charity Analyst Canada’s Environmental Charities Audited for Advocacy

According to recent media reports, the Canada Revenue Agency has been auditing several Canadian environmental charities. The focus of these audits is apparently on advocacy activities.
What is advocacy and why can it be a problem? There is no reason why charities should not work to promote causes that their donors believe are important. However, Canada’s tax laws prohibit charities from spending more than 10% of their “total resources” on “political activities”.
Some of us might think that this policy simply means that charities aren’t supposed to spend large amounts of money promoting a political party. But in fact the definition of “political activity” is much broader. According to the Income Tax Act, if a charity recommends “to retain, oppose, or change” any “law, policy, or decision of any level of government in Canada or a foreign country” that will be considered a political activity. So, for example, if an environmental charity publishes a recommendation that the government should do more to protect the habitat of the woodland caribou, that can be considered a “political activity”. Similarly, a recommendation to the City of Toronto to increase the number of homeless shelters could be considered a “political activity”.
Of the face of it, it may seem unreasonable that any public action by a charity in favour or against any government policy is “political”. Nonetheless, this is how the legislation is worded.
Donors to Canadian environmental charities should have no concerns about giving to charities they support, provided that the charity keeps its CRA registration in good standing. Charity Intelligence’s recent comprehensive  http://www.charityintelligence.ca/environment-charities report on Environmental Charities identifies those charities that include advocacy as a significant portion of their activities. Donors might want to discuss this issue with charity management if they have concerns about the CRA actions.
The forthcoming Federal Budget may include further restrictions on activities by Canadian charities. Charity Intelligence will be following these issues closely and will provide an update following release of the Budget if required.
 

 
If you find Charity Intelligence’s research useful in your giving, please consider donating to support our work. Being entirely funded by donors like you maintains our independence and objectivity to help Canadians be informed in their giving. Canadians donate over $17 billion each year. This giving could achieve tremendous results. We hope Charity Intelligence’s research helps Canadians give better.
Legal disclaimer:
The information in this report was prepared by Charity Intelligence Canada and its independent analysts from publicly-available information. Charity Intelligence and its analysts have made endeavours to ensure that the data in this report is accurate and complete but accepts no liability.
The views and opinions expressed are to inform donors in matters of public interest. Views and opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, organization, individual or anyone or anything. Any dispute arising from your use of this website or viewing the material hereon shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, without regard to any conflict of law provisions. 

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Charity Intelligence researches Canadian charities for donors to be informed and give intelligently. Our website posts free reports on more than 800 Canadian charities, as well as in-depth primers on philanthropic sectors like Canada’s environment, cancer, and homelessness. Today over 500,000 Canadians use our website as a go-to source for information on Canadian charities reading over 1.6 million charity reports. Through rigorous and independent research, Charity Intelligence aims to assist Canada’s dynamic charitable sector in being more transparent, accountable and focused on results.

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