A charity must keep books and records as follows:
- Copies of official donation receipts (other than for 10-year gifts) – Must be kept for a minimum of two years from the end of the calendar year in which the donations were made.
- Records for 10-year gifts – Must be kept for as long as the charity is registered and for a minimum of two years after the date the registration of the charity is revoked.
- Minutes of meetings of the directors/trustees/executives – Must be kept for as long as the charity is registered and for a minimum of two years after the date the registration of the charity is revoked or, in the case of a corporation, for two years after the day the corporation is dissolved.
- Minutes of meetings of the members – Must be kept for as long as the charity is registered and for a minimum of two years after the date the registration of the charity is revoked.
- Governing documents and bylaws relating to the charity – Must be held for as long as the charity is registered and for two years after the date the registration of the charity is revoked.
- General ledgers or other books of final entry containing summaries of year-to-year transactions and the accounts necessary to verify the entries – Must be kept for six years from the end of the last tax year to which they relate, while the charity is registered, and for two years after the date the registration of the charity is revoked or, in the case of a corporation, for two years after the day the corporation is dissolved.
- Financial statements, source documents and copies of annual information returns (T3010 forms) – Must be kept for six years from the end of the last tax year to which they relate or, if the charity is revoked, for two years after the date of revocation.
This page has been copied from the CRA site: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/charities-giving/charities/operating-a-registered-charity/books-records.html?utm_source=charities&utm_medium=eml
