Haiti Earthquake highlights challenges for Canadian charities with
international operations

TORONTO , Feb. 1 /CNW/ - The Haiti Earthquake demonstrates vividly how difficult and complicated international charitable activities can be. The challenges presented to Canadian charities range from logistics to security, careful planning and preparation to ensuring people on the ground have the requisite skills and experience.

At an upcoming national conference, Being Good at Doing Good: Safeguarding Yourself and Your Charity in a Complex World, discussions will take place on the necessity for charities to maximize their effectiveness. The conference will also provide solutions to prevent resources from being misused both locally and internationally.

The 2-day conference, which takes place February 22-23, 2010 in Toronto , will feature knowledgeable Canadian and International speakers and a broad range of topics. Many sessions will incorporate updates and lessons learned from Haiti .

    
    Speakers include:
    -  David Morley, President and CEO, Save the Children Canada
    -  Marilyn McHarg, General Director, Médecins sans frontières (MSF)
    -  Charlie Fluit, Vice-President, World Vision
    -  Jamie Craig, Vice-President, CARE Canada
    -  Marie-Luise Ahlendorf, Transparency International, Germany
    -  John Schafer, Security Coordination Unit, InterAction, Washington,
       D.C.
    -  Haroun Atallah, Islamic Relief Worldwide, UK
    -  Don McCreesh, Chair, Imagine Canada
    -  Kevin Donovan, Staff Reporter, Toronto Star
    -  Mark Blumberg, lawyer and editor of http://www.globalphilanthropy.ca

    Sessions include:
    -  Planning for Difficulties in International Settings
    -  Being a Great CFO and Board Treasurer
    -  Preventing Corruption in Humanitarian Settings
    -  Security, Security, Security
    -  A Muslim Perspective on International Activities
    -  Charity Abuse and Media Coverage
    -  Direction and Control While Respecting Local Ownership
    -  Preventing Fraud, Money Laundering and Other Misappropriation of
       Charitable Resources
    

The Charity Law Information Program (CLIP) is a project of Capacity Builders, made possible by a financial contribution of the Canada Revenue Agency. The project's goal is to help Canadian charities become more aware of their legal obligations under the Income Tax Act. With leadership from Charity lawyer Mark Blumberg and with other experts, CLIP provides plain-language guidance and materials to Canadian charities on a variety of topics from legal compliance requirements to ethical standards and better financial controls.

For Canadian charities who wish to conduct foreign activities or deal with non-qualified donees, CLIP provides guidance about the necessary "direction and control" that is required for these kind of endeavors.

    
                                EVENT DETAILS

    Being Good at Doing Good: Safeguarding Yourself and Your Charity in a
    Complex World

    Date:      February 22-23, 2010

    Location:  Toronto Board of Trade
               1 First Canadian Place, 100 King Street West
               Toronto, ON

    Register Online at www.capacitybuilders.ca/clip/conference
    

About Capacity Builders

Capacity Builders provides innovative, cost-effective training and resources that foster professional and organizational excellence. Capacity Builders is a division of the Ontario Community Support Association, a registered charity.

For further information: Susie Colbourn, Charity Law Information Project (CLIP), Capacity Builders, 104-970 Lawrence Ave. W, Toronto, ON M6A 3B6, [email protected], [phone] ext 232 or 1-877-484-3030, website: www.capacitybuilders.ca