Registered charity vs. non-profit in Canada

What registration tells you

Registration means the CRA recognizes the organization as a charity for tax purposes. It doesn't mean every payment to it gets a receipt, or that its programs match what you want to support. Some other kinds of qualified donees can also issue receipts.

How to check a charity

Use the charity search linked from the CRA's donor guidance. Search the legal name or registration number, compare the record with the charity's website, and check its status and recent filings. If the details don't match, contact the charity using contact details you found yourself.

• Confirm the legal name of the organization that will issue the receipt.
• Read what the charity does and where it works.
• Go to the donation page from the charity's own website.
• Ask about receipts, fees and recurring payments before you pay.

Example: two similar names

Say a social media fundraiser uses a well-known charity's name but links to a different website. Don't guess. Go to the charity's own website yourself and compare its donation page, or contact the charity directly.

Charities do use outside payment services, but a familiar logo doesn't prove a fundraiser is authorized. Beaver Ledger links to each charity's own donation page. We don't collect gifts or check every payment made there.

Choose the cause first

Read the charity's programs and public reports. A receipt is about your tax claim; it says nothing about what your gift achieves. You can give to a non-profit for good reasons without getting a credit. Decide what you can afford before thinking about tax.