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NewsBytes: June, 2003
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
National bullying guidelines will affect many nonprofits
June 30, 2003
The federal government is funding the development of a new national strategy on bullying that will reach well beyond the schoolyard. Debra Pepler, a York University psychology professor and one of the country's leading experts on childhood violence, will develop policies that will be applied to a number of children's organizations, including Girl Guide troops, summer camps, and hockey teams. "We see this as a community problem - we don't see it as a school problem," she says. "We are identifying all of the major national organizations involved with children or youth." Researchers are also expanding the definition of bullying to include everything from physical abuse, to social and verbal bullying. The national strategy will include awareness campaigns and guidance for schools and youth groups on when to intervene if a child is being bullied. Pepler also hopes to compile a national database on bullying.
June 30, 2003
The Foundation for Rural Living is calling for nominations for its 5th Annual Awards of Rural Excellence program. Each year the program honours and celebrates the excellence emerging from rural Ontario. Accomplishments are recognized in seven categories: community leadership, rural cooperatives, economic development, partnerships with business, rural youth achievement, philanthropy, and volunteerism. The deadline for nominations is August 15. For more information, visit: www.frl.on.ca/frl/RuralAwards/2003/2002awards1.htm.
Fast Fact: Fundraisers' outlook on giving drops significantly
June 30, 2003
The Summer 2003 Philanthropic Giving Index by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University reveals that fundraising professionals' outlook on giving fell almost 19% in the past year. More than 85% of nonprofit fundraisers surveyed said the economy was having a negative or very negative impact on fundraising efforts compared to six months ago. In addition, 57% said that uncertainty about the war in Iraq also had a negative impact. Looking to the future, 45% of respondents believed the economy would have a negative impact on fundraising in the next six months, while 36% thought it would have a positive effect. -- Center on Philanthropy
June 30, 2003
A new research project at McMaster University will study which assessment approach is the most effective in identifying and intercepting a woman abuse problem. The project was made possible thanks to a $3 million research grant from the Ontario Women's Health Council (OWHC). "Woman abuse is a serious healthcare issue which can result in severe physical and psychological harm to women and children," said Jane Pepino, chair of the OWHC. "This important research will further women's healthcare by determining how healthcare providers should respond to woman abuse most appropriately and effectively." For more information, visit: www.womenshealthcouncil.on.ca.
June 30, 2003
Some American NGOs working in Iraq must adhere to new conditions that have been imposed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). As part of a $70 million USAID community action program in Iraq, certain organizations are now required to seek clearance from USAID before they have dealings with the media. USAID administrator Andrew Natsios believes nongovernmental organizations should publicize the U.S. government financial contribution to their activities. "This is an issue that we feel very strongly about," added Jeffrey Grieco, a senior USAID official. Natsios created controversy last month when he told NGO leaders that aid agencies in the field should identify themselves as recipients of U.S. funding to show a stronger link to American foreign policy. "If this does not happen more often, Natsios threatened to personally tear up their contracts and find new partners," said the NGO consortium InterAction. "NGOs...are an arm of the U.S. government," it quoted him as saying.
June 30, 2003
A study of the UK's top 500 fundraising charities shows a "marked reliance" on government sources and contracts with the public sector for income growth. Voluntary income among the top charities reached £3.3 billion in 2001-02, representing modest growth of 2.2% growth in the two years between 2000 and 2002. However, income from non-voluntary sources increased by 9.4% between 2000 and 2002, to reach £2.7 billion in the financial year 2001-02. Government funding for service delivery or program development accounted for the biggest portion of new income for the top 500 fundraising charities (42%), compared with 36% that came from voluntary sources. The proportion of total income from non-voluntary sources among the major fundraising charities grew from 43.7% to 45.3% between 2000 and 2002, with voluntary income shrinking back to 54.7%. -- Charities Aid Foundation
June 30, 2003
Report on Business magazine released its annual Power Book last Friday, ranking the top 1,000 businesses in Canada, among other things. "The Report on Business magazine's Power Book cuts through the spin-cycles and smoke screens to expose the hard numbers at the heart of Canada's major companies," said Laas Turnbull, editor of the magazine. "For those companies that are riding high, the Power Book offers new bragging rights. For those who are struggling, it's a very public reminder." This year's top corporation was the Royal Bank of Canada, followed by BCE Inc. in second place. Familiar faces from the bottom of the list include Air Canada and Bombardier Inc. For more information, visit: www.robmagazine.com.
June 30, 2003
Clarica, a Sun Life Financial company, recently awarded grants totaling $1 million to 38 charities across the country. The grants will support innovative programs designed to give children access to community benefits they might otherwise miss out on because of money, health, special needs, or other factors. It is the second year of Clarica's Contribution to Canada's Children program, which focuses on promoting equal access for children aged six to 18 years to developmental opportunities related to education, sports and recreation, the arts, technology, social skills, healthy living, and relationship-building. For more information, visit: www.clarica.com/E/about/media/news.asp.
June 30, 2003
A new study reveals that the vast majority of urban and rural youth (96%) used a computer during a 12-month period, with schools playing an important role in access. Twenty-nine percent of students who lived in rural villages reported that they used a computer at school almost everyday, compared with 19% of students in cities. In addition, 8% of rural youth reported almost daily computer use at libraries, compared with 4% of students in cities. While schools are helping to close the technology gap between rural and urban youth, the study found that high school students who live in rural areas are less likely to have a computer in their home than their counterparts in urban areas. Only 8% of households with students aged 15 and 16 in cities with a population of 100,000 or more had no computer at home. The proportion was twice as high, around 18%, among students in villages with a population of less than 3,000. -- Statistics Canada
June 30, 2003
Canada's dairy farmers showed their support for future Olympians last week by handing out $200,000 in grants. Through the Pure Determination Fund, an initiative of Dairy Farmers of Canada in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee, $10,000 grants were awarded to 20 promising Canadian athletes. The money will be used to help cover training, competition, and equipment costs. The Pure Determination Fund is a four-year, $800,000 initiative that is awarding 80 development grants to promising athletes pursuing their Olympic dreams. For more information, visit: www.dairyfarmers.org/engl/media/1_1.asp.
June 30, 2003
Reader's Digest Canada announced that its inaugural Canadian Hero of the Year for 2003 is Christine Wandzura, founder of the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta (KCCFA). The magazine created the annual award to celebrate the many Canadians whose heroic efforts make a real difference in their community and in the lives of others. "I was absolutely shocked when I was told that I would be the first Reader's Digest Canadian Hero of the Year," said Wandzura. "I hope that I can inspire others to dedicate themselves to a cause or effort and make a difference in their communities." For more information about the Kids Cancer Care Foundation, visit: www.kidscancercare.ab.ca. To read the feature story about Christine Wandzura, visit: www.readersdigest.ca/heroes/heroes_story.html.
June 23, 2003
The Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) released a new study that examines how the voluntary and nonprofit sector in Canada is coping after a decade of cost-cutting and restructuring by governments. The study finds that organizations are under major financial strain because of the short-term, project-based funding often favoured by governments and many other funders. Funding Matters: The Impact of Canada's New Funding Regime on Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations offers details of many organizations' day-to-day struggle for survival and questions how long the status quo can continue before the foundation gives way and the nonprofit/voluntary sector begins to crumble. For more information or to view the report, visit: www.ccsd.ca/pubs/2003/fm/.
June 23, 2003
This year's Camp Day, an annual Tim Hortons fundraiser, raised an impressive $5.5 million from coffee sales on June 11th. Approximately 2,200 Tim Hortons stores across Canada and 160 stores in the United States donated 100% of their coffee proceeds to the Tim Horton Children's Foundation, which sends deserving kids to camp. "I want to thank everyone for buying a cup of coffee and participating in the many Camp Day festivities this year," said Don Schroeder, president of the foundation. "It's because of our customers' generosity, the dedication of Tim Hortons store owners and their staff, and the participation of many special guests and the media that the foundation will send more than 9,000 children, who could otherwise not afford it, to camp this year." Since 1974, more than 54,000 children and youth have attended the foundation's six camps - at no cost to them or their families. For more information, visit: www.timhortons.com/english/content_4100.html.
June 23, 2003
A new report finds that 26% of American college seniors studying liberal arts or social work are very seriously considering working in public service, while 36% are somewhat considering it. Among both groups, 42% said they would prefer the public service job to be in the nonprofit sector, compared to 37% for government, and 19% for a contractor. The report also revealed a link between a student's previous volunteer experience and his or her desire to work in public service. Fifty-four percent said they had volunteered, interned, or worked for nonprofits in the past, and 68% of this group said they had very much or somewhat considered a public service job. Despite the fact that students are interested in the sector, only 2% felt it offered the best salaries, and only 5% said the sector provided the best benefits. -- The Brookings Institution
June 23, 2003
The Vancouver Foundation is now accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations to provide specialized tools, services, and workplace accommodations to help people with disabilities overcome barriers to employment. The new Disability Supports for Employment Fund was established with a $20 million permanent endowment from the BC provincial government. Approximately $1 million in income generated by the fund will be distributed annually through grants to registered charitable organizations. "Removing obstacles to employment for people with disabilities is what this new endowment fund is all about," said Richard Mulcaster, Vancouver Foundation president and CEO. "We are pleased to be working with the Government of British Columbia and nonprofit organizations across the province to do just that." For more information or a funding application, visit: www.vancouverfoundation.bc.ca.
June 23, 2003
The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) recently announced $43.5 million in funding, under the New Opportunities Fund, for research infrastructure that will support 282 new faculty appointments in 46 universities across Canada. "Besides helping attract new, high-calibre talent to Canada, the New Opportunities Fund has enabled universities across the country to preserve our most important resource - our intellectual capital," said Dr. David Strangway, president and CEO of CFI. "Today's investment will help Canadian universities to recruit and retain the best and brightest research minds." For more information, visit: www.innovation.ca/media/index.cfm?websiteid=275.
June 23, 2003
Software company Affirmative Technologies is offering a software license for the NFP Toolkit (value $2,500) to one organization in each Canadian municipality with a population of 10,000 or greater, on a first come first served basis. The toolkit is a Canadian-made volunteer management software program that assists volunteer managers with recruiting volunteers, recording volunteer information, matching the right volunteers to each job, scheduling and communicating with volunteers. "We thrive on win-win propositions and we are thrilled with this one," says Tony Goodrow, president of Affirmative Technologies, the creators of the software. "We get great exposure in the voluntary sector and volunteer-based organizations get helpful software that they might not be able to otherwise afford." The NFP Toolkit is currently being used in Canada and the United States by organizations ranging from 75 to 2,500 volunteers. For more information or to apply, visit: www.nfptoolkit.ca.
June 23, 2003
A Chronicle of Philanthropy survey of 135 big U.S. nonprofits found that many experienced an increase in online donations last year, despite a slumping economy. Together, the 135 organizations raised $124.5-million through online fundraising in 2002. Forty-six saw their online fundraising more than double, and another 31 had gains of more than 50%. Seventeen of the 135 faced a decline in online giving, primarily because they did very little to promote it. Despite the overall gains in this type of fundraising, only 12 of the charities surveyed raised 1% or more of their total revenue online in the 2002 fiscal year. -- Chronicle of Philanthropy
June 23, 2003
The totals are in and it was another very successful year for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada's oldest fundraising campaign. The MS Carnation Campaign raised $1.4 million dollars in communities across Canada during May - MS Awareness Month. Money raised will support research to help find a cure and to provide services to people who have MS, the most common neurological disease of young adults in Canada. "This is a grassroots program and volunteer involvement is the key to our annual success, " said Ken Mayhew, vice president of fundraising for the MS Society of Canada. "This year, after a long, challenging winter, it was truly inspiring to see so much community support for those Canadians facing MS." In its 27-year history, the campaign has raised more than $37 million for research and support services. For more information, visit: www.mssociety.ca.
June 23, 2003
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is once again seeking entries for 12 annual awards. These awards recognize and honour exemplary fundraisers, volunteers, and organizations whose achievements have made an impact on society, both nationally and internationally. All award honorees will be recognized at AFP's 41st International Conference on Fundraising, which will be held in Seattle on March 14-17, 2004. The nomination deadline is September 15. For more information or to download a nomination form, visit: www.afpnet.org.
June 23, 2003
Of the top 500 fundraising charities in the UK, international aid attracted the greatest support in 2002 (£486m), followed by cancer (£442m), and children's causes (£255m). The biggest increase by sector was for blindness and visual impairment charities, whose income rose by a quarter between 2000 and 2002 to £127m. Heritage and environmental causes was the only cause in the top ten to experience a decrease, with voluntary income falling 3% last year. -- Charities Aid Foundation
June 23, 2003
The Sainte-Justine Hospital Foundation received a donation last week of $2.5 million from BMO Financial Group. It is the largest philanthropic donation ever made by a bank in Quebec and will be used to fund a state-of-the-art educational and scientific conference centre in Sainte-Justine's future university teaching building. The new conference centre will help the hospital achieve its mission of providing highly specialized mother-child care, educating mother-child healthcare professionals, and conducting research and awareness activities. For more information, visit: www.ste-justine.net/en/bmo.html.
June 23, 2003
For the first time, a ranking of Canada's most well rounded corporations is now available, thanks to the efforts of Corporate Knights. The 2002 Corporate Knights Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada Annual Ranking considered such things as dedication to the community and the environment, employee relations, safety, corporate governance, and share performance. The top ten companies include four major banks (BMO, CIBC, Royal Bank, and Scotiabank) as well as several energy and communications corporations. Corporate Knights works to promote and support responsible business in Canada. For more information, visit: www.corporateknights.ca/best50/intro.asp.
MPs pass bill to limit corporate donations
June 16, 2003
Despite opposition by PC and Alliance members, the federal Liberals passed a bill last week to reform political financing. The bill, which was also backed by the NDP and the Bloc Québecois, limits corporate and union donations to political parties to $1,000 and allows them only at the riding association level, not to federal parties directly. The bill also limits donations from individuals to $5,000. In a move to compromise with MPs who were disgruntled by the bill, the Prime Minister increased the taxpayer subsidy portion of the bill to $1.75 per vote per party, based on the previous election, up from $1.50. The bill now goes to the Liberal-dominated Senate where it is expected to pass easily. For more information, visit: www.parl.gc.ca.
June 16, 2003
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and its partners will invest nearly $1.7 million to address the causes and control of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). "The outbreak of SARS in China, Canada and many other countries has served to highlight the willingness of the Canadian health research community to work effectively together," said Dr. Alan Bernstein, president of CIHR. "The research projects we are announcing will support the best research into important issues around SARS, including modes of transmission and the development of diagnostic tests, therapies and vaccines against SARS." Research teams will be led by doctors at McMaster University, the University of British Columbia, the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute and University of Toronto, and the Centre hospitalier de l'Université Laval. For more information, visit: www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
June 16, 2003
For the first time in 15 years, government funding has increased at a faster rate than tuition, fees, and other sources of private funding. According to a Statistics Canada report, the federal government increased its funding by almost 16% in the 2001-2002 academic year, while the provinces contributed 2.6% more on average. In that same period, private funding increased by only 6.5%. Students contributed 20% of total revenues, up from 13% a decade earlier. -- Statistics Canada
June 16, 2003
It was another successful year for the Firkin Golf Classic, which raises funds for medical education at Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. Hosted by the Firkin Group of Pubs, the charity tournament has generated more than $750,000 in the past six years. The event was conceived as part of the organization's philanthropic vision, and the majority of the Firkin community play a part. "We have participation from franchise managers, our suppliers, patrons, even the construction companies that build our pubs," said marketing director Larry Isaacs. "It is understood that everyone involved in our business contributes to our event." For more information about Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, visit: www.sunnybrookandwomens.on .ca.
June 16, 2003
A Toronto agency that has helped homeless clients replace lost or stolen identification for the past 14 years is adding a new component to their service. Last week, the Street Health Community Nursing Foundation launched the ID Safe program to provide safe storage of identification documents and cards. "Without identification, survival is difficult and getting off the street and on with one's life is nearly impossible," said project coordinator Jane Kali. "ID Safe gives homeless people a place to store and access their identification." So far, the program has made more than 1,000 referrals and currently stores identification for 33 people. "By having a physical location and process for homeless people to store their identification, one more barrier has been removed," said councillor Kyle Rae (Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale). For more information, visit: www.homelessness.gc.ca/news/scrShowRelease_e.asp?id=312.
June 16, 2003
A new report, entitled E-mail Marketing: What the Future Holds, found that Canadian Internet users receive an average of 123 e-mails per week, with 52% being spam - double what it was a year ago. However, despite the increase in spam, users continue to subscribe to permission-based e-mails. Eighty-three percent have registered to receive e-mails from at least one web site, with the average user registering at 7.1 web sites, a 39% increase from December 2001. More than half (57%) of Internet users say they are willing to provide their e-mail address to retailers, web sites and other companies when requested, but among those who are unwilling to provide their address when requested, fear of receiving spam is the reason most commonly cited (70%). -- Ipsos-Reid
June 16, 2003
The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Auxiliary recently presented the Ottawa Hospital with a donation of $1.765 million to improve patient care and fund research. One million dollars will support the expansion of the emergency department at the Civic campus, while the remaining money will support research at the Ottawa Health Research Institute (OHRI). Funds were raised through lotteries and shops run by the volunteers at the Civic campus. "The Ottawa Hospital is fortunate to have such dedicated and committed volunteers such as the Civic Auxiliary," said Dr. Jack Kitts, president and CEO of the Ottawa Hospital. "Our volunteers are an integral part of the healthcare team, and they provide invaluable support to healthcare providers, patients, and their families in all areas of the hospital." For more information, visit: www.ohf oundation.ca/foundation/media/index_e.asp.
June 16, 2003
Funding for the arts in the US dropped by 3.5% to an estimated $4.05 billion in 2002, according to a new report by the Foundation Center and Grantmakers In the Arts Foundation. The report, Arts Funding IV: An Update on Foundation Trends, focuses on trends in foundation arts grantmaking and analyzes changes in foundation funding compared with changes in other sources of support. The report also breaks down giving patterns by arts discipline and by region, and examines shifts in the types of support awarded. It reveals that arts funding accounted for 11.8% of overall foundation grant dollars in 2001, with museum activities receiving the largest share of grant dollars, followed by the performing arts. For more information, visit: fdncenter.org.
June 16, 2003
The Canadian E-Business Leadership Program is now accepting submissions from businesses and organizations for its annual recognition program. The program is designed to showcase Canadian organizations' innovative use of e-business, e-commerce, e-learning and Internet technologies and techniques. "E-business is something that firms of all sizes in all sectors must adopt in order to remain innovative and competitive in the global economy," said Nancy Hughes Anthony, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. "By supporting this program, we are recognizing those businesses that have successfully adopted e-business activities, and we are demonstrating to others that e-business is good for their business." Aside from several national awards, one award will be presented in each region for wireless ebusiness success, one for e-learning, one for technology innovation, and two in the not-for-profit sector. The deadline for entries is June 30. For more information, visit: www.eleaders hip.ca.
June 16, 2003
Seventy-three percent of Canadian "C-level" executives are investing more in security than they were 18 months ago, and 61 % said that security was among their top five corporate priorities. According to a new survey conducted for security specialists at Symantec and the RCMP, the top three security investments are firewalls, antivirus software, and security standards, yet findings also indicate that few executives see their organizations as being at significant risk of attack. However, a report published by Symantec in February found that companies all over the world were attacked on average 30 times per company per week. -- Branham Group
June 16, 2003
Nonprofit organizations in BC's Fraser Valley are invited to submit community projects for the United Way of the Fraser Valley Day of Caring. The goal of the program is to mobilize teams of employees from local businesses to volunteer on special, one-day projects with nonprofit agencies. Any organization that would like to participate must complete an application form. Projects must meet certain criteria, including time allowances, safety, and program purposes. The deadline for project applications is August 15. For more information or to apply, visit: www.uwfv.bc.ca/doc/20 03/Apply.html.
June 9, 2003
The University of British Columbia received one of its largest donations ever, last week. BC forest industry leader Dr. William L. Sauder endowed UBC's Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration with a gift of $20 million. To commemorate the gift, the faculty will be renamed the Sauder School of Business. "I am very proud to be able to give something significant back to UBC - the institution that provided me with the knowledge to help me establish my business career - and to British Columbia, which I have called home all my life," said Sauder, a 1948 BCom graduate of UBC who is Chair of International Forest Products Ltd. and Sauder Industries Ltd. Sauder's gift is the largest single private donation ever made to name a Canadian business school. For more information, visit: www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca.
June 9, 2003
Canadians showed their support by giving generously to Children's Miracle Network Telethons, which were held recently in cities across the country. In the Maritimes, the IWK Telethon raised more than $4 million which will be used, in part, to purchase new incubators and monitors for hospitals. The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) annual telethon in Ottawa set a new record by raising a total of $3.7 million. And in London, the Children's Health Foundation Celebration Telethon generated $3 million in donations, up from last year's $2.7 million. The BC version of the CMN telethon also exceeded its goal for this year, raising a record $7.5 million for BC's Children's Hospital. In 2002, the CMN Telethon raised $230 million for 170 hospitals across North America. For more information, visit: www.cmn.org.
June 9, 2003
A coalition of church groups in Nova Scotia is asking taxpayers to send a $68 million message to the Hamm government by returning $155 rebate cheques that were promised in the last provincial budget. Hilary Fraser, chair of the Face of Poverty Consultation, said that tax-free payments to more than 400,000 Nova Scotians are a thinly veiled attempt to buy votes. The coalition, made up of Christians, Jews and Buddhists, ran an ad in The Herald on the weekend urging the government to "use this money to increase social assistance food allowances to single parents so they can feed themselves and their children adequately." It also encourages readers to "act with justice" and send back their rebates, which will begin arriving in the mail this month.
June 9, 2003
A new poll indicates that most Canadians (74%) strongly believe that media can contribute to religious tolerance. However, 32% of those polled felt matters of spirituality receive too little media coverage, and 63% of those who regularly attend religious services felt the media does a poor job on spirituality coverage, while 50% felt there was too little of such coverage. Sixty-one percent of survey participants said religion plays an important role in their lives, and 21% reported attending religious services at least weekly. -- Centre for Faith and the Media
June 9, 2003
The World Bank's CGAP division (Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest) is making its first microfinance grant to Opportunity International, a global microenterprise network serving poor entrepreneurs. CGAP is pledging US$1 million to the network on the condition that it matches their funds 100% with donations from private donors. In 2002, Opportunity International assisted 397,000 poor entrepreneurs, primarily women, in 25 developing countries around the world by providing small business loans and training. "It is time to recognize that many of those in poverty simply want the chance to change their own lives; and they want credit, not charity," said David Stiller, the Canadian-based chair of the Opportunity International Network board. "I urge individuals looking for a way to end chronic poverty to look into microcredit." For more information about Opportunity International Canada, visit: www.opportunitycanada.ca.
June 9, 2003
Greenleaf Publishing invites contributions for a special issue of The Journal of Corporate Citizenship and a subsequent new book on the topic "Towards better governance: relationships between regulators, corporations and civil society". The special issue of the journal and the book will both aim to aid managers, students, researchers, government, NGO representatives, and consultants in understanding new thinking on corporate governance. The publications are expected to incorporate a mixture of case studies, empirical, and applied theoretical work. The submission deadline for initial expressions of interest in the form of abstracts of approximately 300 words is June 30, 2003. Abstracts should be sent to the guest editor, Professor Istemi Demirag, Queen's University Belfast, at i.demirag@qub.ac.uk. For more information, visit: www.greenleaf-pub lishing.com/calls.htm.
June 9, 2003
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario awarded $3.1 million to Ottawa researchers to try to develop better treatment and prevention of heart disease and stroke. One key recipient is Dr. Anthony Tang, who is researching the effects of electromagnetic interference (EMI) from cellphones on implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Dr. Tang will receive $45,000-$50,000 from the foundation in order to determine the effects of five types of cellular phones from four specified distances on heart patients. Once completed, the project will establish cellphone safety guidelines for patients with ICDs. For more information about the Heart and Stroke Foundation, visit: www.heartandstroke.ca.
June 9, 2003
The Toronto Youth Cabinet has launched a new awards program that will recognize the contributions of energetic and influential youth from across Toronto. The Identify 'N' Impact Youth Awards will honour five young people between the ages of 16 and 24 with $750 cash awards in the following categories: Amazing Young Activist; Dedication to Youth Advocacy; Youth Building Community through the Arts or Athletics; Entrepreneurship and Social Cause; and the Newcomer Youth Award. Youth are encouraged to apply themselves, and also to nominate their peers for these awards. The deadline for submissions is July 22. For more information or to apply, visit: www.toront oyouth.com/youth_cabinet/issues.asp.
June 9, 2003
According to a Statistics Canada study, students from lower income families who live out of commuting distance to university are far more likely to attend college instead. Among students from the poorest one-third of families, 13% attended university when one was nearby, and 19% attended college. When no university was within commuting distance, but a college was, only 3% attended university, and 30% attended college. Among students from the richest one-third of families, 25% attended university when one was nearby, while 21% attended college. These proportions remained fairly constant when no university was within commuting distance, but a college was. About 19% attended university, while 21% attended college. -- Statistics Canada
June 9, 2003
The David Suzuki Foundation has researched the ten most effective ways people can protect nature and is now asking people to sign up for the Nature Challenge. The challenge is to pick at least three of these actions and promise to do them over the next year. Actions include such things as eating a meat-free meal once a week, reducing energy costs by 10%, or carpooling to work. The goal is to show people how small changes can make a difference, and how individuals acting together can have a major impact. Already, tens of thousands of Canadians are taking the Nature Challenge, including celebrities such as Nelly Furtado, Bruce Cockburn, Margaret Atwood, and Ron MacLean. For more information, visit: www.davidsuzuki.org/WO L/Challenge.
June 9, 2003
On June 14th, Deborah Landry will depart from Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto on a one-woman 18,000km cross-country motorcycle ride to raise awareness and funds for ovarian cancer. Inspired by the devastating diagnosis of her dear friend Kim Perkins and the recent passing of Kim's mother, Edith Grech, both victims of ovarian cancer, Deborah decided that not enough is being done to raise awareness and funds for this "silent killer". During the next three months she will visit more than fifty cities and sites on the "Dare to Dream" for Ovarian Cancer tour and will return to the Princess Margaret Hospital on September 6, 2003. Funds raised will go to participating cancer centres nationwide. She is hoping to raise up to $1 million for ovarian cancer across the country. For more information, visit: www.daretodreamforova riancancer.ca.
June 2, 2003
George Radwanski, the privacy commissioner of Canada, expressed concerns recently about new privacy legislation introduced in British Columbia and Alberta. The federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) takes effect for all organizations on January 1, 2004 and unless provinces have approved "substantially similar" privacy legislation by that time, they will have to comply with PIPEDA. Radwanski sent letters to the governments of BC and Alberta stating that their proposed privacy legislation "has a number of very grave deficiencies that would in my view make it impossible for the Government of Canada to recognize this legislation in its current form as substantially similar to [PIPEDA]." These "deficiencies" relate to privacy rights in employment and the ability of individuals to review what information organizations have about them.
Of particular note is British Columbia's Bill 38, which would expand the privacy standards for charities beyond what was required in PIPEDA. PIPEDA only affects charities in their commercial activities, for example the selling of donors lists, but not in their fundraising operations. Bill 38 is more all encompassing, covering all of a charity's activities - philanthropic, commercial or otherwise. Therefore, charities would be required to obtain consent before gathering and using information about individuals for fundraising purposes, other than business contact information. For more information, visit: www.privcom.gc.ca/med ia/nr-c_e.asp.
June 2, 2003
Prime Minister Chrétien announced last week that the government will spend $50 million in the next five years to develop a new national museum in Ottawa. The Canada History Centre will provide access to the country's political and civic history and will highlight important roles played by Aboriginal peoples, settlers, and later immigrants. The facility will incorporate interactive technologies for exhibits based on Canada's political leaders, processes, and institutions. However, some critics in Canada's museum community feel the funds should be invested in existing facilities. The Canadian Museums Association says the country's facilities are suffering from decades of federal budget cuts. For more information, visit: www.pch.gc. ca/pc-ch/news-comm/CS030269_e.cfm.
June 2, 2003
Canada Post is being drawn into the government-wide audit of federal sponsorships and advertising activities, which have been plagued by scandal in recent years. According to reports in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, auditor general Sheila Fraser was asked by a cabinet order-in-council to examine the Crown corporation's sponsorship activities between January 1, 1996, and May 15, 2003. A spokesperson for Canada Post said the audit is simply part of the government-wide examination by Fraser of sponsorship and advertising activities and the Crown corporation is no different than other departments and agencies.
June 2, 2003
A new study by consulting firm Towers Perrin reveals that only 20% of employees in Canada and the United States are highly engaged in their organizations and willing to contribute to their success. Almost the same amount (17%) are disengaged and have "checked out" in many respects. The remaining 63% are moderately engaged. However, the percentage of highly engaged employees in the nonprofit sector was two to three times higher than in any other industry group. As well, the percentage of highly engaged executives (63%) was more than twice that for the next level down (managers/directors - 29%), and three to four times that for non-management employees. -- Towers Perrin
June 2, 2003
In an effort to find solutions to deal with issues of poverty, violence, and alienation the United Way of Greater Toronto is embarking on a new initiative. Mapping the Way is a one-year public consultation process that will help the organization better understand the changing nature of Toronto's neighbourhoods. It will collect information and ideas from several sectors and the information will be used to guide United Way funding decisions. For more information, visit: www.unitedwaytoronto.com.
June 2, 2003
Tens of thousands of people in major cities across Canada helped raise more than $3 million to fight global poverty during the 19th annual World Partnership Walk. The Walk, the largest event of its kind in Canada, is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), a registered Canadian charitable organization that supports social development projects in Asia and Africa without regard to race, religion, political affiliation or gender. "There is a tradition in Canada of caring about the world that resonates in the World Partnership Walk," said Nazeer Aziz Ladhani, AKFC's CEO. One hundred percent of the money raised by the event goes to support efforts by AKFC to address the root causes of poverty, finding, using, and sharing solutions that help to end human suffering and improve quality of life at the local level. For more information, visit: www.worldpartnershipwalk.co m.
June 2, 2003
Making IT Work for Volunteers is once again accepting applications for the Voluntary Sector IT Awards. These awards recognize the excellent work that Ontario's community-based organizations are doing with information technology (IT). Winning projects will be featured as a case study in the Lac Carling Governments' Review Magazine in addition to being highlighted on the Showcase Ontario, IT World Cana da, VolunteersOnline.ca, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and ITAC Ontario web sites. The awards will be given out in September 2003 at Showcase Ontario, where IT service delivery expertise from the public, private and voluntary sector is shared. The deadline for submissions is June 18. For more information or to apply, visit: www.volunteersonline.ca/ap ply.
June 2, 2003
A benchmarking survey of the fundraising costs incurred by UK charities yielded some surprising results. Interim data reveals that the majority of major charities run their fundraising departments without incurring any overhead costs, and more than one in 20 don't spend anything on fundraising. Of those charities that did report costs related to their fundraising activities, average administration costs were 5% of total expenditure, and 5% of total income. -- Henley Management College
June 2, 2003
Since taking office, President Bush has championed increased funding for faith-based initiatives, working on the assumption that religious charities can do a better job of providing social services, at a lower cost, than secular organizations. However, a study by researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University suggests that isn't necessarily the case. The study is among the first attempts to compare the effectiveness of faith-based and secular organizations using objective data. Using state-reported statistics on 11 religious and 16 secular job training programs, researchers found no difference between secular and religious programs in job placement rates or starting wages, though clients of faith-based groups worked fewer hours, on average, and were less likely to receive health insurance.
"It's a surprising result," said principle investigator Sheila S. Kennedy, an associate professor of law and public policy. "All the political rhetoric beforehand was: Everybody knows faith-based organizations are better." Still, she warned against drawing broad conclusions from this relatively narrow study. "It's accurate for these kinds of providers in this state. It isn't necessarily accurate for soup kitchens or day-care centers, and the outcomes in other states might be totally different," Kennedy said. For more information, visit: ccr.urbancenter.iupu i.edu/news.html.
June 2, 2003
The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) recently awarded its 2003 International Co-operation Prize for sustainable development to the Canadian Catholic Organization for DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE (CCODP). The award recognizes CCODP for the reconstruction program it undertook in Central America following Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Canadians, and Canadian Catholics in particular, donated $11 million to CCODP to support reconstruction efforts in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The CCIC praised the organization and 20 of its partner groups in the region for the exemplary manner in which the four-year-long program was conceived and administered. For more information, visit: www.dev p.org/testA/news/communiques2003_18-e.htm.
June 2, 2003
Ottawa developer Bill Teron is offering to personally fund a $20 million world-class concert hall if the city donates the downtown land. "One should give back to one's community and it's a tremendous privilege to be in a position to do so, and it's just giving back to the community," said Teron, who developed much of Kanata and helped found the National Arts Centre. Teron hopes to build an $80 million complex that would include shops, restaurants, and condominiums. Profits from the site and Teron's own money would go towards a concert hall that would be part of the complex. The proposed 800-seat hall would be donated to the local arts community and could open by 2006.
June 2, 2003
Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and art collector James D. Fleck is the recipient of the 2003 Edmund C. Bovey Award for leadership support of the arts. The award honours individuals from the business community by presenting them with a cheque for $20,000 to be distributed to the arts. The Council for Business and the Arts in Canada (CBAC) administers the national award which has, to date, flowed more than $260,000 to arts organizations across Canada and honoured a dozen outstanding Canadians. The award will be presented to Dr. Fleck by the CBAC at a special celebration in Toronto this fall. For more information, visit: www.bus inessforarts.org/news_events/05_26_03.asp.
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