The Non-profit Corporations Act, 2022 sets out the rules for the incorporation and registration of non-profit organizations in Saskatchewan, and for the registration of non-profit extra-provincial corporations.
The Act provides that any one or more individuals or corporations, or combinations of individuals and corporations, may incorporate as a non-profit corporation.
It is not mandatory for non-profit organizations to incorporate. However, non-profit organizations of all types and sizes can benefit from the advantages of a corporation. For instance, the corporation may hold title to land in the name of the corporation and may apply for grants or funding from government agencies.
There are two kinds of non-profit corporations:
- charitable; and
- membership.
Charitable corporation
A charitable corporation carries on its activities primarily for the benefit of the public and is usually funded by donations, grants or other public money.
Corporations are deemed to be charitable corporations if they:
- carry on activities that are not primarily for the benefit of members;
- solicit or have solicited donations or gifts of money or property from the public;
- receive or have received any grant of money or property from a government or government agency in excess of ten per cent of their total income in any fiscal year;
- are a registered charity within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada).
Membership corporation
A membership corporation carries on activities primarily for the benefit of its members and may be financed by its members through membership fees, loans, member donations, commercial lenders or a combination of these (e.g., a golf or curling club, board of trade or chamber of commerce.) It does not usually solicit donations from the public or receive government grants.
You can view the full version of this Act and other related pieces of legislation on the Government of Saskatchewan's website.
Non-profit Corporations Act, 2022
Non-profit Corporations Regulations, 2022