Boland Survey Opens March 1 | City of Calgary & Alberta Culture Day Grants + More
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2023 Boland Survey Opens March 1
The 2023 Boland Survey opens March 1 and runs until April 30, 2023. The Boland Survey is the most comprehensive source of nonprofit sector compensation data in Canada. It has compensation information for 96 positions as well as data on flex time, on-boarding, paid time off, professional development practices, employee recognition, recruitment practices and more.
This year we are excited to announce that we have expanded the reach of the Boland Survey with four new partnerships. Imagine Canada has partnered with us to expand the Boland Survey across Canada and Saskatchewan Nonprofit Partnership, Vantage Point and Pillar Nonprofit Network have partnered with us to expand the Boland Survey in their respective provinces. We are also continuing our partnerships with FuseSocial and SARC. These partnerships help increase the number of participants and help us all see the bigger picture. The increased information helps deepen the shared understanding of the labour market and HR trends and can help strengthen advocacy for sector-wide supports.
Taking part in the Boland Survey takes around 1-3 hours of time and gets you a discount on subscription. Subscription rates are based on organization size and can be found here. Reports for this year will be released in June. Find out more information and view sample reports here. Sign up for the report today using the link below.
Policy Highlights
Canada's Voluntary National Review on Sustainable Development Goals
Employment and Social Development Canada is seeking input to inform the Government of Canada's second Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). VNRs provide an opportunity for countries to share their individual experiences, challenges and lessons learned, with a view to accelerating the implementation of the SDGs. Canada’s VNR will be presented to the United Nations HLPF on Sustainable Development taking place from July 17-19 2023.
Organizations are invited to share their input through a survey which takes approximately 15-20 minutes. The survey is specifically looking for information on:
notable projects or initiatives to highlight
sharing challenges and opportunities in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
opportunities to increase awareness of the SDGs
Fill out the survey here.
What Trends Will Impact Charities and Nonprofits in the First Quarter of 2023?
Imagine Canada
Imagine Canada predicts a gloomy economic outlook, an increase in immigrants and a lack of volunteers will impact nonprofits in the first quarter of 2023.
There is a growing consensus that inflation and high prices are likely to persist and that interest rates will remain high and likely help push the economy into recession early in the year. We’re expecting to see a continuation of a trend that dominated throughout last year when inflation created a three-pronged impact on the sector, increasing operating costs and demand for services while driving down donations.
Canada’s decision to welcome more immigrants will impact the nonprofit sector’s workforce and donor base while increasing demand for some services. Currently, 47% of the nonprofit sector’s workforce is comprised of immigrants. At a time when 31% of nonprofits see labour shortages as an obstacle, an increase in immigrants who can join our workforce could be a part of the solution.
Volunteer shortages are compounding labour challenges for nonprofits with 28% of nonprofits report that staff are working more hours to take on work normally done by volunteers. The lack of volunteers is also impacting communities in a very concrete way; 33% of nonprofits reported that it is leading to a reduction of programs and services offered. Read Imagine Canada's full article here.
Government of Canada announces the Social Innovation Advisory Council Members
The Government of Canada is taking steps to encourage innovative approaches to address persistent social inequalities and environmental challenges faced by Canadians. The Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy aims to provide better support for community organizations working to achieve positive solutions to persistent social problems, including those faced by marginalized populations.
The Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould, announced the appointment of seven members to the Social Innovation Advisory Council, which is a foundational element of the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy. Michael Toye is chairperson, Lauren Sears is vice chairperson and Jane Bisbee, Rupert Downing, Roselyne Mavungu, Katie Miller and Ajmal Sataar are general members. The members of the Advisory Council are leaders, practitioners and subject matter experts in the social innovation and social finance sector from across Canada. They offer a diverse range of skill sets, knowledge and experiences. Read more about the Social Innovation Advisory Council here.
Learning Opportunities
Introduction to Financials
Mar 1 | Online
REGISTER
Social Innovation Mastermind
Mar 2 | Social Innovation Hub
REGISTER
Volunteerism and Civic Engagement in the Nonprofit Sector
Mar 7 | Online
REGISTER
Working Stronger Workplace Mental Health Conference
Mar 7-8 | Westin Edmonton
REGISTER
Ask Me Anything About Social Enterprise
Mar 8 | Online
REGISTER
Non-Profit Day
Mar 9-10 | Double Tree West Edmonton
REGISTER
Funding & Grants
City of Calgary Arts and Culture Microgrant Program
Non-profits and registered charities, including Community Associations and Business Improvement Areas, can apply for between $500 and $50,000 in funding for community-based arts and culture initiatives. Activity ideas could include a community mural, neighbourhood concert, winter carnival, cultural celebration or another creative idea you have.
To qualify, initiatives must:
Be new or improved over previous years.
Support local and publicly accessible programming and creative placemaking.
Include community-run projects and installations, opportunities for local artists and culture makers, events, activations in winter months, or activities with an Indigenous or multicultural focus.
Strengthen the local economy and contribute to community spirit and wellbeing.
Applications from $500 to $5,000
Supports up to 100% of eligible expenses.
Applications due a minimum of 30 days before your initiative start date. Funds are awarded on a rolling basis until all funding is allocated.
Applications from $5,001 to $50,000
Supports up to 50 per cent of eligible expenses per initiative.
Apply by March 22, 2023 for initiatives taking place between June and November 2023.
Apply by September 13, 2023 for initiatives taking place between December 2023 and May 2024.
Organizations that receive funding support from the Festivals and Events Subsidy Program are not eligible to receive an Arts & Culture microgrant.
Full details and application forms are available here.
Alberta Culture Days Grant
The Government of Alberta provides funding to assist community organizations in hosting Alberta Culture Days events. Alberta Culture Days is your opportunity to reach out to new audiences and showcase your organization and community. Community organizations and not-for-profits can apply to become a feature, host or pop-up celebration site for Alberta Culture Days celebrations:
Feature celebration site: Sites offering three days of family-friendly programming during Alberta Culture Days are eligible for up to $10,000 in funding support.
Host celebration site: Sites offering two days of family-friendly programming during Alberta Culture Days are eligible for up to $5,000 in funding support.
Pop-up Celebration Site: Sites offering one day of family-friendly programming during Alberta Culture Days are eligible for up to $1,000 in funding support.
Applications will close on Friday, March 17 at 4:30 pm. To find out more information and apply here.
Telus Community Board Grant
Canadian registered charities that offer community-based health, education or technology programs for youth can apply for up to a $20,000 grant.
Programs must have measurable community health and technology outcomes.
There are 3 intake periods per year and the next application deadline is March 24 with funding decisions finalized June 15.
Charities may only apply once per calendar year and must choose between the Innovation Grants channel or the Community Board Grants channel.
Find out more information and apply here.
ActivateYYC
ActivateYYC funds projects that turn space into place and empower community. There are 3 funding streams available.
Wayfinding, parades and activated spaces: Get up to $1000 for a mural, seating, games area or parade. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until August 15 or when funds run out.
Bump Outs and Parklets: Get up to $5000 for traffic calming or projects that reclaim streets for pedestrians. Applications are due by March 15 and projects must be completed by Sept 30.
Large Public Space Projects Get up to $10 000 for a large scale tactical urbanism intervention. Applications are due by March 15 and projects must be completed by Sept 30
Eligible expenses include equipment and artist fees. Ineligible expenses include staff salaries, administrative costs and permanent capital or infrastructure improvements. Find out more information and apply here.
City of Calgary Capacity-Building and Emerging Issues Fund
The purpose of the Capacity-Building and Emerging Issues Fund is to strengthen the capacity of the non-profit sector, organizations and/or programs to effectively address the needs of Calgarians experiencing vulnerabilities. Funds are intended for initiatives that will strengthen an organization’s effectiveness or service delivery, so that its outcomes can be improved and sustained over time. Initiatives should be targeted at developing the capabilities of an organization so it can better respond to the changing needs of Calgarians.
The Capacity-Building and Emerging Issues Fund is implemented via two focus areas: Emerging Social Issues for sector-wide initiatives and Organizational Effectiveness for initiatives that strengthen organizations.
Emerging Social Issues
Grant amount: $15,000 to $50,000 for each initiative. Funds are available to support initiatives that address an emerging social issue or trend. Initiatives should involve members of the community that are directly involved in, or impacted by, a particular issue.
Organizational Effectiveness
Grant amount: $10,000 to $30,000 for each initiative. Funds are available to support an organization in increasing its effectiveness in supporting Calgarians experiencing vulnerabilities. These initiatives would include increasing the adaptive or technical capacity of an organization.
Eligible projects must be one-time initiatives that can be completed by December 31, 2023. Applications will be accepted until March 15. Find out more information and submit an application here.
Calgary Children's Foundation
Registered charities that have programs and services to help children in-need in Calgary and surrounding area (southern Alberta) are welcome to apply for funding through the Calgary Children’s Foundation.
There is no minimum or maximum grant amounts although grants are typically between $2,000 and $10,000. The deadline for applications is April 1. Apply here.
CreateAction Employer Community
The purpose of CreateAction is to provide employment and career-relevant learning opportunities to youth involuntarily not in education, employment or training (NEET) and/or underemployed -AND- facing barriers to employment.
All work experience placements will support youth to further their career interests in community economic development, social innovation and/or off-reserve Indigenous service delivery infrastructure and provision of culturally enhanced programs and services to urban Indigenous residents.
Employers will:
actively seek out youth candidates from diverse backgrounds with barriers to employment;
identify candidates by April 21, in order for work experience youth to start placements on May 1;
become a member of the Canadian CED Network after selection, if not already a member.
offer a meaningful 26-week employment opportunity;
develop a Learning Plan to provide sufficient support services to enable youth to succeed at their placement;
provide, with support from the CreateAction program, career advice, regular feedback and guidance to youth and assist youth in laddering into further career-relevant employment or education at the end of the placement and post-placement;
This call for proposals is for placements taking place from May 1 to October 27, 2023 (26 weeks). The CreateAction program will provide youth with a wage of $21/hour for 37.5 hours/week. Employers may volunteer to increase their youth’s wages at their own expense. Find out more information and apply here.
Blogs & More
Resisting a Rest: How Urgency Culture Polices Our Work
Lydia Phillip, Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia
In the Community Impact Sector there’s often an urgency to provide proof of production – which perpetuates the power dynamic between funders and the sector as well as within organizations. Funders who have economic power may have vastly different lived experiences and priorities than the communities they intend to serve. Urgency culture favours funder priorities, removing the time for relational work and needs assessments and instead jumping on activities that provide measurable results but may not be in the best interest of those being served. In a sector where there’s more equity-deserving people on the front lines versus in management positions, we need to ask who is setting the priorities and how is applying urgency to funder relationships affecting community health and what work is supported? Read more here→
Meet Generation Z and learn how to engage these digitally savvy change-makers
Jacqueline Martinz, The Philanthropist Journal
As a result of changing immigration patterns in North America, Gen Z is the most racially and ethnically diverse generation – and the most educated. This has resulted in a liberal set of attitudes for many Gen Zers and an openness to new social trends. In fact, roughly six in 10 Gen Zers believe that more racial and ethnic diversity is a good thing for society. They are also the generation most likely to believe the government should do more to solve societal problems.
In 2022, global communications firm Edelman completed research that showed Gen Z has a penchant for finding and sharing information online. “What we’re seeing with Gen Z is they’re not paralyzed by fear. They truly believe that if they get involved in a cause, they can help”. Read more here→
Advancing Equity in Corporate Social Investment
Let's Imagine
Amidst growing global catastrophes, Canadian companies are committing billions of dollars in an effort to move society towards greater social and environmental outcomes. While diversity training and donations from companies are well intended, perspectives shared by Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI, South-Asian, and South-Asian Muslim professionals inside these companies, as well as Canadian youth aspiring to work in business sustainability and CSR, uncover a different story. Listen to the podcast here→