Due Diligence and Screening for Canadian Grantmakers

Paragon’s services contribute to the first of the guidance’s six accountability tools, research and review of the grantee. In the two core services, Paragon works with each grantee directly. Anti-Terrorist Financing Screening (Tier 1) collects information on the organization, leadership, governing body, beneficial owners and declared banks. Higher-Risk Anti-Terrorist Financing Screening (Tier 2) adds national sanctions lists for the country of registration, adverse media for terrorism-related and financial-crime exposure, a review of the grantee’s partner, vendor and subgrantee policies, and bank-issued account status documentation where provided. The Canadian designations screened include Criminal Code listed terrorist entities, Special Economic Measures Act sanctions and Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act listings; the international lists include the United Nations, OFAC, UK and EU lists. Each report includes a Canadian sanctions section for the grantee’s country of registration and countries of activity. Politically Exposed Person Screening, Integrity Review and no-contact validation are available where the grantmaker requires them.

The full overview below pairs each CRA risk level with the services that can support it, and sets out what each service includes, the lists screened and the scope of Paragon’s role.