Registered charities are required to file an annual return with the CCRA, a portion of which is available to the public, and must meet certain requirements of the Income Tax Act concerning their expenditures and activities. The CCRA tries to ensure that only organizations meeting the legal requirements are registered as charities. However, changing circumstances in a charity's operations, inaccurate information and other factors can hinder the CCRA's role in monitoring charities. While most charities operate within the rules, registration should not be viewed as absolute proof of an organization's credibility.
Donors are responsible for ensuring that their gifts to charity are used as stipulated.
In this module, you can find publications and forms related to charities, as well as a list of all Canadian registered charities . You can also find out whether a charity is registered by contacting your tax services office . Our bilingual toll-free telephone service provides information about registered charities . This service is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.