1. Geographic Mandate
Greater Edmonton Area (Edmonton and the four surrounding counties)
ECF is often asked to provide a grant to a non-charity through a fiscal agent
No. A charity cannot act as a conduit and transfer funds to a non-charity without maintaining direction and control (CRA)
But. A charity can act through an intermediary. The non-charity delivers the activity on behalf of the charity. The activity must be consistent with the charity’s charitable purpose. The charity maintains direction and control. From CRA’s perspective, the activity belongs to the charity.
CRA recommends a written agreement (usually only a couple of pages):
Description of activities, roles and responsibilities
Timeframes and deadlines
Mechanisms for monitoring, supervision, and ongoing instruction by the charity
Periodic transfers
Reporting
Any administrative fees
Separate record keeping
For the charity – risk, but also demonstrates a partnership, furthers the mandate, and may increase the capacity of the organization (e.g. building collaborations, accessing expertise, demonstrating impact to funders)
For the intermediary – loss of control, but access to funds, able to complete the project, and may increase the capacity of the organization

2. Who Can We Grant To? Registered charities Municipalities
Municipal or public bodies performing a function of government in Canada
ECF is often asked to provide a grant to a non-charity through a fiscal agent
No. A charity cannot act as a conduit and transfer funds to a non-charity without maintaining direction and control (CRA)
But. A charity can act through an intermediary. The non-charity delivers the activity on behalf of the charity. The activity must be consistent with the charity’s charitable purpose. The charity maintains direction and control. From CRA’s perspective, the activity belongs to the charity.
CRA recommends a written agreement (usually only a couple of pages):
Description of activities, roles and responsibilities
Timeframes and deadlines
Mechanisms for monitoring, supervision, and ongoing instruction by the charity
Periodic transfers
Reporting
Any administrative fees
Separate record keeping
For the charity – risk, but also demonstrates a partnership, furthers the mandate, and may increase the capacity of the organization (e.g. building collaborations, accessing expertise, demonstrating impact to funders)
For the intermediary – loss of control, but access to funds, able to complete the project, and may increase the capacity of the organization

3. Charities and Intermediaries
Must be consistent with the charitable purpose
Charity must have “direction and control”
Written agreement
ECF is often asked to provide a grant to a non-charity through a fiscal agent
No. A charity cannot act as a conduit and transfer funds to a non-charity without maintaining direction and control (CRA)
But. A charity can act through an intermediary. The non-charity delivers the activity on behalf of the charity. The activity must be consistent with the charity’s charitable purpose. The charity maintains direction and control. From CRA’s perspective, the activity belongs to the charity.
CRA recommends a written agreement (usually only a couple of pages):
Description of activities, roles and responsibilities
Timeframes and deadlines
Mechanisms for monitoring, supervision, and ongoing instruction by the charity
Periodic transfers
Reporting
Any administrative fees
Separate record keeping
For the charity – risk, but also demonstrates a partnership, furthers the mandate, and may increase the capacity of the organization (e.g. building collaborations, accessing expertise, demonstrating impact to funders)
For the intermediary – loss of control, but access to funds, able to complete the project, and may increase the capacity of the organization

4. Community Grants Small Grants $10,000 to $50,000/$80,000
Four cycles/year
Usually one time
Small Grants
Up to $10,000
Ongoing intake; 2-4 weeks to process
Discrete, smaller needs; emerging needs
ECF is often asked to provide a grant to a non-charity through a fiscal agent
No. A charity cannot act as a conduit and transfer funds to a non-charity without maintaining direction and control (CRA)
But. A charity can act through an intermediary. The non-charity delivers the activity on behalf of the charity. The activity must be consistent with the charity’s charitable purpose. The charity maintains direction and control. From CRA’s perspective, the activity belongs to the charity.
CRA recommends a written agreement (usually only a couple of pages):
Description of activities, roles and responsibilities
Timeframes and deadlines
Mechanisms for monitoring, supervision, and ongoing instruction by the charity
Periodic transfers
Reporting
Any administrative fees
Separate record keeping
For the charity – risk, but also demonstrates a partnership, furthers the mandate, and may increase the capacity of the organization (e.g. building collaborations, accessing expertise, demonstrating impact to funders)
For the intermediary – loss of control, but access to funds, able to complete the project, and may increase the capacity of the organization
ECFoundation.org