Isn’t it illegal under the Cayman Islands charity law to solicit funds from the public without a charity licence or registration?
Auntie’s answer: This question came as a comment on a story last month about the GoFundMe page that was set up to help defray the cost of returning the body of Ignacio “Nacho” Kirzner to his home country of Argentina after he was hit by a car and killed while riding his bicycle to work.
The legislation the reader is referring to is the Non-Profit Organisations Law, 2017, which regulates the registration and monitoring of charities in the Cayman Islands. The General Registry is responsible for the oversight of charitable organisations through its dedicated section on non-profits.
An official with the registry confirmed that under the law “entities or individuals are allowed to raise funds for a one-off event”. For the specific fundraiser in question, “it relates to an event which would qualify as such”.
On the use of GoFundMe pages in general, the official said they were a “legitimate and useful method by which funding of this nature can be raised”. However, he stressed people should “conduct the relevant due diligence” before donating any funds.
Basically, anyone looking to donate to a cause through a GoFundMe campaign “as a minimum” should check to ensure the initiative is the real thing.
By the way, the page set up to help send Mr Kirzner home raised $32,571, well beyond the original goal of $20,000, and the campaign has ended.
The law mentioned above can be found on the CNS Library
Send questions to auntie@caymannewsservice.com
or leave your question in the comment section of any article
Every charity should be registered and even taxed.
Hi Auntie,
A couple of things regarding Beach Accces
I usually use the Beach access between Regal Beach Condos and Laguna Del Mar. Over the last few weeks Regal Beach has roped off a section of the beach to the point where sometimes it is difficult to pass. Laguna Del Mar has the same type of fence but much closer to their condos. My question is how close to the water are these condo allowed to put their fences?
Auntie: This issue is actually being dealt with on CNS Headline News. See this latest article. If possible, can you send a photo and/or plus details to news@caymannewsservice.com
Thanks!
this mother’s precious child was here working honestly, minding his own business and is killed through recklessness and no fault of his own and you are worried about decent people trying to raise funds to re-patriate his body his to his homeland.
I’m 99% sure that it will be mostly the ex-pat community that will be making the contributions.
You need to find something constructive to do as it seems you have too much time on your hands.
People should be ashamed of themselves. So much envy. That poor family to send this young man here and have this happen. Cayman has no conscious anymore.