CRA Revokes Multiple Charity Registrations

Summary#

The Canada Revenue Agency published notices in the Canada Gazette on March 25, 2023 saying it will revoke the registered charity status of a number of organizations under the Income Tax Act. Some revocations were proposed because of alleged non‑compliance; others were requested by the charities themselves or follow mergers/consolidations.

What it does#

• The Canada Revenue Agency issued three types of notices:
  • Proposed revocations for charities the agency says failed to meet parts of the Income Tax Act. These include a notice for DIGNITAS INTERNATIONAL (business number listed in the Gazette).
  • Notices of intention to revoke at the request of the charity (the charity asked to have its registration removed).
  • Notices where a charity asked to revoke its registration because it consolidated or merged with another organization.
• The notices were signed by Sharmila Khare, Director General, Charities Directorate, and the revocations are effective on the date the notices appear in the Canada Gazette (the Gazette publication date is March 25, 2023).

Who's affected#

• The specific charities named in the Gazette notices (examples include DIGNITAS INTERNATIONAL and ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP), plus dozens of other charities listed in the same notice.
• Donors who gave to those charities and expected official donation receipts.
• Local communities and clients who receive services from the affected charities, which could see changes in funding or operations.
• Funders, banks, and partner organizations that rely on a charity’s registered status for tax or grant rules.
• If it’s unclear whether a particular charity you care about is on the list, check the Canada Gazette notice or contact the charity or the Canada Revenue Agency directly.

Why it matters#

• Losing registered charity status generally means an organization can no longer issue official donation receipts for income tax purposes. That can reduce donations and change how the charity raises funds.
• For charities that asked to be revoked because of a merger, the change may be administrative — the work may continue under a different legal entity. For proposed revocations for non‑compliance, the change could affect the charity’s ability to operate and fund programs.
• If you donated to any charity on the Gazette list, or rely on services from one, you may want to confirm the charity’s current status and how it affects receipts, tax claims, and ongoing services.