Non-qualified donees reap rewards after hard fought battle for regulatory change

New law a catalyst for Toronto-based foundation to grant $90,000 to non-qualified donees through new Community Grants program

Why It Matters

Last June, the federal government changed the law allowing foundations across Canada to grant directly to non-charities. But are they doing it?

TORONTO/TREATY 13 – In her 10 years at the helm of Laadliyan, a non-profit empowering South Asian women, Manvir Bhangu has never managed to get a grant from a Canadian foundation.

That changed last week when the Peter Gilgan Foundation announced Bhanguโ€™s non-profit is one of 15 recipients of the foundationโ€™s new GTA Community Grants program. The foundation distributes dozens of grants each year, but this is the first time theyโ€™ve granted directly to a non-charity.

The contribution was made possible by a change in federal law last June, which allowed foundations to grant directly to so-called non-qualified donees โ€” social purpose organizations without charitable status. About six months later, the Canada Revenue Agency published a document spelling out what the new law means for

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