Nonprofit News: Alberta Budget, Nonprofit Connections, Funding Opportunities
Nonprofit Connections: An Afternoon with Mayor Gondek and City Council
FEBRUARY 25 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM | VILLAGE COMMONS | CALGARY
Join nonprofit peers and City leaders to create relationships and chat about important issues in Calgary's communities
CCVO’s networking and speaker series, Nonprofit Connections (formerly Nonprofits at 2:00) brings nonprofit professionals and other community leaders together in conversation about relevant issues. These gatherings provide attendees with timely information, meaningful discussions, and actionable insights – and provide the space for nonprofit professionals and leaders from other sectors to come together to discuss important issues in the community.
The gathering on February 25 will provide a space for nonprofit professionals representing diverse subsectors to come together with City leaders to make relationships and chat about important issues in the community. Held at Village Commons, carya’s new community hub, this event will bring together community leaders for the first in-person CCVO networking session since November 2019. Join nonprofit peers and Council members as we connect and work to centre community in recovery for a more equitable, resilient, and prosperous Calgary.
TICKET INFORMATION
CCVO Members: $10
Not sure if you're a CCVO Member? Visit our member directory here.
Non-Members: $25
Want to become a CCVO Member? Visit our website here to learn more.
ABOUT CARYA AND VILLAGE COMMONS
carya is a social profit agency dedicated to creating strong families and communities for generations. Since 1910, carya has supported Calgarians through counselling, education, community development and in-home assistance, school-based support and more. Village Commons brings all carya's work together in one space, designed to offer programs, events and services rooted in prevention and intervention for everyone. This community hub in the heart of East Village connects people from all walks of life as they learn, cook, create, and enjoy their community together. https://caryacalgary.ca/
RESTRICTIONS EXEMPTION PROGRAM
Village Commons participates in the Restrictions Exemption Program. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination, proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the past 72 hours, or a COVID-19 exemption letter, and photo ID is required for entry.
EVENT WAITLIST
Due to the recent increase in COVID cases in Alberta, we have limited the capacity of the event to 100 attendees. This number could change as we approach the event date. If the event is sold out and you are interested in attending, please add your name to the waitlist.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Due to the increase in COVID cases, we will be closely following the situation to ensure the safety of staff and attendees at the event. Should we determine that the event should be cancelled, we will contact registrants as soon as possible and issue a refund for the price of the ticket.
CCVO Alberta Pre-Budget 2022 Submission
Creating Community Prosperity in Alberta's Recovery
The pandemic has taught us that nonprofits and charities, governments, and businesses can respond quickly in times of emergency and provide support for our communities – and that we are more effective when we work in collaboration with one another.
CCVO’s recent Alberta 2022 pre-budget submission focuses on the recommendation to invest a portion of unallocated Recovery Plan contingency dollars through a strategic Community Recovery Fund. This fund would support community-focused recovery through investment in social infrastructure that will create jobs and spur economic stimulus. The recommendation contained within this submission outlines a role for the Government of Alberta in working collaboratively with nonprofits to meet the Government’s economic recovery goals while supporting efforts for solutions to pressing social issues.
policy highlights
Government of Alberta Extends Consultations for Budget 2022
The Government of Alberta has extended consultations for Budget 2022 and released the dates for two telephone town halls. There are three ways that your organization can have its say in the upcoming budget:
An online survey that will now be open until Friday, January 21
An online written submission
Participation in one of two telephone town halls:
Northern Alberta – Tuesday, January 18, 6:30 to 8:00 PM.
Southern Alberta – Wednesday, January 19, 6:30 to 8:00 PM.
Budget consultations are a time for your organization to make a case for your priorities and how it will serve individuals and the community. CCVO will make a submission to government that will be made public once complete. For more information on budget consultations, organizations can visit the Government of Alberta’s Budget 2022 consultation website.
Premier’s Council on Charities and Civil Society Annual Report & Strategic Plan
In November of last year, the Premier's Council on Charities and Civil Society released their annual report, which features an overview of the work between the Council and CCVO, in relation to CCVO's work on a collective Community Prosperity Strategy for Alberta. The meeting focused on the strategy’s draft recommendations for the nonprofit sector, the Government of Alberta, funders, the private sector, and other stakeholders. The Council reinforced the need for sustainable financing models, and the importance of capacity building and collaboration in civil society, so that existing efforts and funding can have maximum impact for Albertans.
The Council's 2021-23 strategic plan outlines three priorities:
Support efforts to improve the sustainability and financial resilience of civil society organizations.
Champion the development of innovative, system-level approaches that enable collaboration and increase the impact of civil society efforts to address social issues.
Build strong relationships with civil society actors, relevant experts and government partners addressing social issues.
Read the Council's annual report here and strategic plan here.
funding & grants
Canadian Race Relations Foundation National Anti-Racism Fund
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) seeks to support organizations to combat racism, promote events and education, and build a more anti-racist society. The $3 million National Anti-Racism Fund will be disbursed over two years, contributing to the continuation of CRRF's mission of developing, sharing, and applying knowledge and expertise to contribute to the elimination of racism and all forms of racial discrimination in Canadian society.
Applications must align with one or more of the following themes and objectives:
Systemic racial barriers: Reducing barriers to inclusion by addressing systemic racism in education, healthcare, the justice system, public services, employment, and public life.
Research and education: Promoting and increasing availability and accessibility of data, evidence, and community insights on race relations in Canada.
Public awareness: Informing public policies by highlighting systemic and institutional barriers.
Cultural and intercultural community building: Creating cross-cultural opportunities through discussions and dialogue on race, religion, building awareness, and collaborations.
The online application portal closes on January 28. Learn more about guidelines and eligibility on the CRRF website.
TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund
The TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund offers flexible grants up to $50,000 for Indigenous-led social, health and community programs. Funding is available for projects focused on, but not limited to:
Health, mental health and well-being
Access to education and resources
Community building and enhancement
Language and cultural revitalization
Inter-community sharing of cultural stories
Requests eligible for funding: the organization, community group or project supports Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) within Canada; and the applicant clearly addresses a pressing social or well-being need and create measurable community outcomes. The next deadline for applications is March 4, 2022. Visit the TELUS website to learn more about the fund and how to apply.
Calgary Foundation Community Grants
The Community Grants program aims to strengthen the charitable sector and engage citizens. Calgary Foundation has made some adaptations to the program that reflect the ongoing effects of the pandemic, their commitment to Reconciliation, and advancing equity and systemic change.
The Community Grants program can only accept applications from registered charities and other qualified donees. For more information on eligibility, review the Program Guidelines here. It is encouraged that organizations contact grants staff before the deadline to discuss their initiative.
The deadline to apply is February 15, 2022. Learn more and apply through the online grant portal on Calgary Foundation's website.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Re-imagining Philanthropy: Unlocking Your Non-Profit's Potential
January 27 | online conversation
REGISTER
CCDI: History of race and racism in Canada
February 17 | webinar
REGISTER
Cybersecurity Awareness for Canadian Nonprofits and Charities
February 17 | webinar
REGISTER
The Resilient Nonprofit: New Strategies & Digital Tools to Thrive during COVID-19
on-demand | webinar
WATCH NOW
Blogs & More
Digital Wellness: Building Great Habits,TechSoup Canada
Big resolutions or daily practice? The start of a new year can be a powerful motivator and a source of inspiration. In fact, chances are you’ve heard the word “resolutions” being bandied about a fair bit the past couple of weeks. You yourself may have been inspired to sit down and brainstorm goals for the year that just started. Just as common this time of year, though, is coming across articles that denounce the end of "New Year’s resolutions" or that explain why so many of us have such a hard time staying consistent with our goals. With that, little is said about the value of starting small. Humble first steps, repeated over time, can lead to the creation of rituals that can grow to become a powerful practice. And it is precisely the cultivation of a personal practice that can be life-changing. Read more →
Are Your Data Visualizations Racist?, Stanford Social Innovation Review
Through rigorous, data-based analysis, researchers and analysts can add to their understanding of societal shortcomings and point toward evidence-based solutions. But carelessly collecting and communicating data can lead to analyses and visualizations that have an outsized capacity to mislead, misrepresent, and harm communities already experiencing inequity and discrimination. To unlock the full potential of data, researchers and analysts must consider and apply equity at every step of the research process. Ensuring responsible data collection, representing the communities surveyed accurately, and incorporating community input whenever possible will lead to more equitable data analyses and visualizations. Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to working with data, for researchers to truly do no harm, they must build their work on a foundation of empathy. Read More →
SEO for Nonprofits: A 7-Step Checklist, CharityVillage
SEO for nonprofits can be a great opportunity to grow online presence. As purpose-driven organizations, charities and nonprofits face unique challenges when it comes to connecting with your base digitally. While businesses in the private sector focus on selling products and services, nonprofits and charities need to fundraise, build a donor base, raise awareness, and champion causes. It is a long-term undertaking that involves keeping your base engaged and attracting more people to your mission. In this article, you’ll learn what SEO is, why SEO for nonprofits is important, why you need SEO even if you are already running paid search campaigns via the Google Ad Grant, and how to get started without needing experience with HTML code. Read More →