Diversity is our Strength Report, CPSA Healthier Albertan Grant
Diversity is Our Strength: Improving Working Conditions in Canadian Nonprofits
Imagine Canada’s latest report demonstrates what the sector has long known but not had the data to prove: our workforce is incredibly diverse but undervalued. Some key findings from the Diversity is Our Strength report include:
The average annual salary for those working in community nonprofits is $38,716, compared to $57,137 in the economy overall.
The nonprofit sector’s workforce is older and more highly educated than that of other parts of the economy.
Women make up more than three-quarters of the nonprofit sector’s workforce.
Almost half of sector workers are immigrants, and nearly a third are racialized.
Half of all jobs held by immigrant women and almost a third of jobs held by Indigenous and racialized women are in the nonprofit sector.
To improve conditions for the nonprofit sector’s diverse workforce, we need immediate action from funders, governments, and nonprofit leaders.
Funders need to provide funding that allows for decent work for sector workers and does not reinforce gender and racial inequality.
Federal, provincial, and local governments need to treat the nonprofit sector as a valued partner, on par with the way they treat other industries of similar size.
Nonprofit sector leaders need to adopt decent work and anti-racism/antioppression practices to help ensure they are providing respectful, fair jobs where our diverse workforce can thrive.
Read the full report here to learn more.
Policy Highlights
Government of Alberta 2023 Budget Consultation
The Government of Alberta is currently looking for feedback to help decide the direction of the 2023 budget. A short online survey is open until January 15, 2023. The survey covers spending priorities and options for what to do with the projected 2022/2023 surplus. Organizations can also submit letters or reports in PDF or Word formats. Telephone Town Halls will be announced later which will give people the opportunity to share their thoughts directly with finance minister Travis Toews.
The 2023 Alberta provincial budget will be released in February 2023. Learn more about the survey and submitting a letter here.
New Members Appointed to the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector
New membership for the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector (ACCS) has just been announced. The ACCS is a consultative forum for the Government of Canada to engage in meaningful dialogue with the charitable sector, to advance emerging issues relating to charities, and to ensure the regulatory environment supports the important work that charities do. To date, they have published three reports containing a range of recommendations on important and emerging issues facing registered charities.
The following member, selected from the committee’s existing membership, will serve a two-year term as ACCS sector co-chair:
Sheherazade Hirji, former Resident Representative, Aga Khan Development Network, Afghanistan
To ensure continuity, the inaugural sector co-chairs began one-year terms in the following roles:
Bruce MacDonald, President & CEO, Imagine Canada (Transitional Co-chair)
Hilary Pearson, former President, Philanthropic Foundations Canada (Past Co-chair)
Additionally, the following members will begin two-year terms:
Althea Arsenault – Manager Resource Development, Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, Government of New Brunswick
Elisabeth Baugh – former CEO, Ovarian Cancer Canada
Minnie Karanja – Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, Network for the Advancement of Black Communities
Kevin McCort – President & CEO, Vancouver Foundation (reappointed for a second term)
Find out more information about the updated membership here.
Priorities and Challenges for Nonprofits in the Fourth Quarter of 2022
Imagine Canada
As we enter the final stretch of the year, Canada continues to experience considerable social and economic tumult. Imagine Canada's quarterly blog, discusses some of the biggest trends impacting Canada’s nonprofit sector in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The greater need for healthcare services, combined with a shortage of healthcare workers, has led to significant problems with access to care. If the population is less healthy and can’t access care in a timely manner, challenges recruiting and retaining staff and volunteers are likely to increase for all organizations. In addition, many of the issues sector organizations work to address (e.g., poverty, homelessness, disability rights, addiction) are intrinsically linked to population health.
Inflation also continues to be a major challenge for nonprofit organizations. Not only does it increase operating costs, it also increases demand for the services provided by many organizations, and is likely to lead to a drop in donations.
Lastly, nonprofits are working hard to support wellness of workers amidst continuing labour shortages. Nonprofits are much more likely than for-profits to report having implemented or having plans to implement practices to support employee wellbeing and diversity which will likely help retain employees. Read Imagine Canada's post here.
Learning Opportunities
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Cryptocurrency, NFTs, and Philanthropy: A Match Made in Bits and Bytes
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Dec 1 | online
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Funding & Grants
CPSA Healthier Albertan Grant
The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) Healthier Albertan Grant is a one-time grant program to support Alberta-based organizations and/or individuals with their projects, initiatives and/or research that align with at least one of CPSA’s strategic directions and will directly benefit the health of Albertans or improve their care. CPSA’s strategic directions are:
Highest quality, compassionate ethical care
Enhanced partnerships
Proactive and innovative approach
Anti-racism and anti-discrimination
Authentic Indigenous connections
The CPSA Healthier Albertan Grant will see a total of $5 million in funding available across Alberta. Local organizations and individuals will be able to select one of three funding categories when submitting their proposal:
$50,000 – $100,000
$100,001 – $1,000,000
$1,000,001 – $2,500,000
All eligible Alberta-based organizations and/or individuals with a project, initiative and/or research that will benefit the health of Albertans or improve their care are encouraged to apply. The primary recipient of funds must be a nonprofit, non-government agency, academic organization/individual, charitable organization or community group. CPSA values enhanced partnerships, so collaborations at ANY level are strongly encouraged.
Interested applicants must submit an expression of intent no later than Dec. 15, 2022, outlining their intent to submit a proposal. Find out more here.
Blogs & More
Blogs & More
An Introduction to Utilizing Key Performance Indicators in Your Organization
Guest Blogger Robin Butler, Baker Tilly Catalyst
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are a way to measure progress toward business or agency goals. Whether it be for profit, employee retention, or general costs, KPIs as a tool have been used for decades by many businesses. The issue for many Not-for-Profits (NPO) is that the majority of these indicators seem to be based on the idea that one is generating profits for the business. This is not always the case, and KPIs serve a valuable purpose in the NPO world as well. Read more→
Scheduling for Inclusion
Encounter World Religions
Inclusive scheduling is one way to help nurture a culture of respect for all religious, spiritual, and secular identities. In order to make your workplace as inclusive as possible, it is important to schedule meetings, product launches, conferences and other social and business events during times and dates that will not exclude those celebrating religious or cultural holidays from attending. This post highlights some important tips so organizations can schedule for inclusion. Read more→
A Home in Government for the Nonprofit Sector
Mary Barroll and guests for Charity Village Connects
For years, many nonprofit leaders have been calling for better representation within the federal government. The hope is for a sector that has as great an impact on government policies as it does on the people and causes it serves. This podcast episode explores the campaign for a federal “Home in Government” for the charitable sector and how, if successful, this could improve nonprofits’ influence on policy that affects them directly and indirectly. Hear from the first Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits in British Columbia to find out more about her work, and how a Home in Government actually looks in practice. Listen here→
The Advocacy Riddle
John Lorinc for The Philanthropist
While life has mostly returned to normal for many charities and nonprofits, the sector has continued to be haunted by a flashbulb memory of the first pandemic year. As an extraordinarily wide range of groups not only got the federal government’s ear, but succeeded in negotiating supports for themselves, the charitable sector found its efforts initially disregarded. This article discusses some of the research on the sector’s advocacy efforts, the related challenges, and the structures needed to make that advocacy both broad-based and nimble. Read more→