A Toronto-based charity watchdog has lost its charitable status after failing to file an annual information return the Canada Revenue Agency.

Charity Intelligence, a foundation that rates Canadian charities and provides advice on where to donate, blamed the problem on “a series of unfortunate events” that led to an administrative oversight.

“We’re a small organization with three staff and (33) volunteers, and it slipped,” said Kate Bahen, the organization’s managing director.

“We’re very sorry.”

Bahen said she and colleagues immediately worked to correct the problem once it was identified. Audited statements for 2011 are now available on the Charity Intelligence website, though they have yet to be posted to Canada Revenue Agency website.

Charities must file financial statements within six months of their fiscal year end.

The taxman formally revoked the group’s status on Sept. 15 due to “failure to file.”

Charity Intelligence rates and recommends charities based on several factors, including transparency, and has been critical of charities that do not post full audited financial statements on their websites.

The irony of the quandary Charity Intelligence has found itself in is not lost on Bahen, whose organization has angered many in the charitable sector.

“There are people dancing all over this story,” she said. “Yes, absolutely.”

“It’s unfortunate it happened to Charity Intelligence, but it did.”

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