State of the Sector Report Launch Feb 21| Government of Alberta Funding Announcements
Facing the Storm Report Launch
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 | 10:00AM-11:00AM | DECIDEDLY JAZZ DANCEWORKS
Join us for the launch of our new state of the sector report, Facing the Storm. Karen Ball, president and CEO of CCVO, will highlight some of the key findings of the report. Following the report launch there will be a short social with light refreshments.
PROGRAM
10:00AM Report Launch
10:30AM Social
Welcoming Students Into Your Organization: Tools, Tips, and Resources
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22 | 11:30AM-1:00PM | KAHANOFF CENTRE
Join TalentED YYC and CCVO for an activity-based workshop with ideas and resources on creating a quality student-onboarding experience. Outcomes include the ability to:
Describe the importance of onboarding and considerations in how student onboarding differs from onboarding other employees
Identify different onboarding components that affect your organization, including the level of interaction and support you will receive from a post-secondary partner via different Work Integrated Learning options
Determine onboarding essentials and timelines that work best for your organization
Create a high-level orientation plan to introduce a student to your workplace culture, management style, and expectations
Network with human resources representatives, post-secondary partners, and the TalentED YYC team, available to further support you with referrals, assessing student-based opportunities, and funding application processes
Gain early access to TalentED YYC’s Employer Resource Hub - an employer tool to help you navigate various employer student onboarding resources
Policy Highlights
Government of Alberta Funding Announcements
The Government of Alberta recently made three funding announcements for nonprofits.
A one-time increase of $10 million has been given to housing providers to deal with inflation. This additional funding can help with utilities, staffing, supplies, and other housing-related costs. Find more details about funding to housing providers here.
As part of the 2023 Agricultural Societies Infrastructure Revitalization Program, 34 agricultural societies will receive $2.5 million. This money will be going towards updating community halls, arenas, and rodeo grounds. Find more information about the Agricultural Societies Infrastructure Revitalization Program announcement here.
271 nonprofits will be receiving more than $42 million of funding through the Community Facilities Enhancement Program. This money will be used for facility improvements that support art, culture, heritage, sport or recreation. See the full announcement here.
Generosity In Canada Survey
Sector3Insights
The Generosity in Canada Survey explores why generosity is declining. It found that Canadians are strongly supportive, have trust in, and appreciate the importance of the charity sector. Canadians recognize the need for charitable services in their communities and find the processes to donate and volunteer to be accessible and simple.
Real or perceived economic pressures are one of the reasons that Canadians are being less generous. Older adults are also more generous and their generosity is not being replaced by the next generation. Read the full report here.
Premier's Council on Charities and Civil Society Recruitment
The Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services (SCSS) is currently accepting applications for membership on the Premier’s Council on Charities and Civil Society (the Council).
The Council provides advice to government on its relationship with civil society organizations addressing pressing social issues. The Council’s mandate includes:
engaging civil society leaders to explore how civil society organizations can be empowered;
consulting with civil society organizations about how government can build the capacity of civil society; and
advising government on how it impacts and influences civil society organizations.
More information about this opportunity, including the time commitment and skills required, are located here. Additional information about the Council’s mandate, current membership and activities can be found here.
The deadline for applications has been extended to February 5. Contact the government’s Executive Search Services by phone 780-408-8460 or email for any questions.
Alberta Emerald Awards
The Emerald Awards showcase organizations, projects, and individuals from across Alberta who are working to address environmental and climate change issues. These environmental awards are incredibly unique, as they’re the only program in Canada to recognize environmental excellence across a diverse range of sectors. The project/initiative award categories are air, land, waste management, infrastructure, wildlife & diversity, public engagement and outreach, and shared footprints. The legacy award categories are business, nonprofit or community group, education, government, youth, and lifetime achievement. Nominations are open until February 12. Award recipients will receive a $1,500 grant, a custom trophy, a video feature, website feature, and additional publicity opportunities. Find out more information here.
Learning Opportunities
HR and Financial Strategy in the New Economy
Jan 30 | online
REGISTER
Meaningful Digital Transformation: Advancing Sustainability and Wellness in the Digital Sphere
Jan 30 | online
REGISTER
Five Good Ideas for Disrupting Ableism In The Workplace
Jan 31 | online
REGISTER
Enhance Your Funding Success Through Partnerships
Jan 31 | online
REGISTER
The Board/Staff Partnership: Sharing Leadership and Getting Results
Feb 9 | online
REGISTER
Grow Your Nonprofit Revenue in 2024: Practical Tactics to Navigate Challenging Economic Conditions
Feb 15 | online
REGISTER
University of Calgary Virtual Volunteer Fair
The University of Calgary will be hosting a virtual volunteer fair on March 12 from 1-3:30pm. The event will include a panel, introductions and open networking. Nonprofits and charities can participate for free. Register online here.
Funding & Grants
City of Calgary Arts and Culture Microgrant
The Arts and Culture Microgrant funds local nonprofits to activate culturally vibrant neighbourhoods in Calgary. Initiatives can include new arts and culture projects, programming, temporary installations, place keeping, workshops and events that enhance cultural learning and arts appreciation. Two tiers of funding are available.
Tier 1: This tier is for smaller initiatives. Applicants can receive up to 100% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $5,000. Applications are due a minimum of 30 days before the initiative start date. Funds are awarded on a rolling basis. Initiative must be completed by December 31.
Tier 2: Applicants in this tier can receive up to $30,000 to cover 50% of eligible expenses. Applications for initiatives taking place between June and November are due by March 3. Applications for initiatives taking place between December 2024 – May 2025 are due by September 1.
Find project ideas and application information here.
Canadian Women's Foundation Community Needs Grant
The Community Needs Grant provides short-term support for organizations doing gender justice work. Applicants may apply for up to $20,000 to cover existing program costs, to pilot new projects, to undertake timely policy or advocacy initiatives, to support organizational capacity-building or professional development, to build networks, and/or to cover core operational and administrative expenses.
Applicants must be an incorporated non-profit organization with a valid charitable number or be a First Nations Band or municipality. Organizations must have an operating budget of less than $1 million per year or be a shelter or housing provider with an operating budget of less than $2 million per year. Gender-based programming, services, and/or advocacy must be central to the organization. Find more information and apply here.
ParticipACTION Community Challenge Grant
The Community Challenge Grants support municipalities and community organizations to remove barriers and increase physical activity and sport participation for equity-denied groups. Initiatives must start taking place in the month of June and must be located in Canada. Organizations must track participants using the ParticipACTION website. Grants range from $500-$1,500. Applications are open until February 13 and organizations will be notified if they are successful by March 22. Nonprofits, schools, Indigenous communities, and municipalities are eligible to apply. See the grant application here.
Anti-Racism Grant
The Government of Alberta's Anti-Racism Grant funds projects that increase public education and enable Albertans to recognize and value cultural differences and heritage. There are two program objectives.
Objective 1: Educate Albertans on racism and the impacts of racism faced by Indigenous and racialized groups.
Objective 2: Enable community organizations to develop their ability to support anti-racism projects
Projects addressing one of the objectives are eligible for up to $5,000 in funding, and projects that address both objectives are eligible for up to $10,000 in funding. Applications are open to Alberta nonprofits and Indigenous groups. Applications are due by February 9. Find out more information and apply here.
Blogs & More
Taking On Tech Governance
Alethea Hannemann, Aaron Hurst & Erin Baudo Felter, Stanford Social Innovation Review
Historically, nonprofits have prioritized leaders with legal and financial expertise on their boards. But modern board design was developed long before technology was integral to business operations and decision-making, and today the lack of tech expertise is a glaring gap.
While there are certainly some tech leaders already serving on nonprofit boards, most of the ones we spoke to felt valued more for their ability to leverage their tech networks for donations than for their technical expertise. Nonprofit CEOs often feel the same way; while they might have tech industry representation on their board, they aren’t taking advantage of their unique skills. For the most part, this is due to not having a clear model for tech board leadership. Read more→
Lessons Learned: Forty Years on the Back Line of Policy Advocacy
Peter R. Elson, Philab
By quiet diplomacy I mean meeting with bureaucrats, building support within networks, sitting on committees, and providing background research to policy makers and decision takers. This policy approach can be effective if there are active discussions about an issue and various policy options are being explored. It can also be effective at the outset of a policy discussion where the implications of an issue are being explored and are either underestimated or unknown. The real value of quiet diplomacy, in my view, is the early establishment of the credibility of the issue, a demonstration of the value of evidence-based research, the societal implications of acting, and the representative nature of your voice. Read more→
Major Victory’ or Disappointment? Mixed Reviews on Whether New CRA Guidance Will Spur More Granting to Non-qualified Donees
Gabe Oatley, Future of Good
Charity and foundation sector associations are split over whether long-awaited guidance from the CRA makes it easier for non-profits and other non-qualified donees to be granted money.
Andrew Chunilall, CEO of Community Foundations of Canada, said the federal legislation and guidance have failed to address the “heart of the concern” raised by charity sector advocates who pushed for the policy change because the new granting approach maintains some of the “feeling” and “infrastructure” of the so-called direction and control regime. Read more→