Charitable Fundraising Businesses

The Charitable Fund-raising Businesses Act regulates for-profit, fund-raising businesses that raise funds on behalf of charitable organizations.

Fund-raising businesses must be licensed and may be required to file a bond.

All fund-raising businesses and the charities they represent must enter into written fund-raising agreements. The terms of the agreement must include:

• the duties and responsibilities of the parties, and the manner in which the agreement may be terminated;
• a description of any goods or services being sold and the specific sale price;
  an estimate of the amount of contributions to be received and the expenses of the fund-raising; and
• the methods to be used in soliciting.

Copies of agreements must be provided to the Registrar of Charities before solicitations begin.

Charities entering into agreements with fund-raising businesses are allowed to request accountings by the business, and the Registrar and the Court of Queen's Bench may demand such accountings. The Act further provides that charities may apply to the Court to have agreements cancelled as contrary to the public interest, including contracts made before this Act came into force.

Charities are not allowed to make telephone or door-to-door solicitations except between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Door-to-door canvassers employed by a fund-raising business must wear an identification card and, before accepting a contribution, must give the person who is being solicited certain information, including:

• the name of the canvasser; and
• the amount being paid to the fund-raising business and the canvasser.

A representative of a fund-raising business making a telephone solicitation on behalf of the registered charitable organization shall provide the person with the following information prior to accepting a contribution:

• licensee's name;
• the name of the fund-raising business they are employed by;
• the name of the charitable organization on whose behalf solicitations are being made;
• the charitable purpose of which contributions will be used;
• the jurisdiction in which contributions will be used; and
• upon request, the above information shall be provided in writing within 30 days after the request.

If individuals do not want to be solicited, they may request that their name be put on a "do not call" list.

Fund-raising businesses must file annual financial returns with the Registrar and must maintain records of their Saskatchewan operations for at least six years.

The Registrar may conduct investigations and cancel licences if a fund-raising business has committed an offence under the Act.

For more information, contact:

Registrar of Charities,
Consumer Protection Division
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority
Suite 500, 1919 Saskatchewan Dr.
Regina, SK S4P 4H2
Phone: (306) 787-5550 Fax: (306) 787-9779
Toll-free: 1-877-880-5550
E-mail: consumerprotection@gov.sk.ca

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