About
The International Charity Law Network grew out of a recognition by charity law scholars around the world that their work could benefit from connecting with similar scholars in other countries. It also grew out of recognition that governments in many countries are wrestling with similar issues arising under charity law. These issues include the appropriate legal definition for charities, what activities should be limited or prohibited for charities, and to what extent the law should channel or restrict charity-government relationships.
The first major event for the Network was a September 2022 Charity Law Workshop in London. Hosted by Notre Dame Law School, the Workshop featured over two dozen scholars from a dozen countries and five continents. The presentations of works and progress and related discussions confirmed the insights that formed the basis for the Network. Charity law is a field of growing importance around the world, and academics, government officials, and legal practitioners are wrestling with the same issues relating to charity law in a variety of countries.
The second major event for the Network was a September 2024 Confrence in Toronto, hosted by Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. The conference included more than 60 participants, including not only academics from five continents, but also regulators and practitioners from Canada and the United States. It featured presentations on a wide range of international charity law topics.
In between in-person events, the Network maintains a website and related newsletter that keep participants informed about important charity law scholarly developments, including calls for papers, other events of interest, and new research. The Network is guided by a Board of Advisors consisting of leading charity law scholars from around the world.