On November 4, 2011, our community will be celebrating Random Act of Kindness Day. This day was established to encourage kindness and humanity in the Guelph and surrounding areas. In conjunction with the the Guelph Community Foundation, we are asking for your help to promote this special day in your workplace and community.

Gifts to charities are often paid in cash; however in certain circumstances it may be more practical or beneficial to the charity or the donor to donate property other than cash. The Income Tax Act provides specific rules for donors to alleviate potential tax consequences in certain circumstances where property is donated.

"Smart" phones store massive quantities of data and can access corporate servers with ease. In fact, many of today's phones are able to store more information than earlier generation laptops. This increased capability brings increased risks. Information from the phones, or the actual devices, can be stolen and put your company at risk. Here are some steps to take to help minimize the potential damage posed by cellphones.

Multi-year pledges can provide a stable revenue stream of funds, but what if a donor dies before an agreement is fulfilled? You may find that the estate is under no legal obligation to live up to the deceased's intentions. Here's how one hospital lost a large donation and what your not-for-profit group can do to help make long-term pledges hold up.

The disbursement quota was introduced in 1976, with a view to control the amount of fundraising and administrative costs incurred, and the accumulation of capital, by a registered charity. A charity was required to disburse in any year: 80% of the prior year's tax-receipted gifts, plus 3.5% of assets not used in charitable activities.