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NewsBytes: March, 2004
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Supreme Court finds church liable in sexual assault case
March 29, 2004
Last week, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that a Roman Catholic diocese in Newfoundland is liable for hundreds of sexual assaults committed over a 30-year period by one of its priests. In a unanimous decision, the court concluded that the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corp. of St. George's is both directly and vicariously liable for the failure of two successive bishops "to properly direct and discipline" Rev. Kevin Bennett during his prolonged sexual abuse of young boys in the community. "All temporal or secular actions of the bishop are those of the corporation," Madam Justice Beverley McLachlin wrote. "This includes the direction, control and discipline of priests, which are the responsibility of the bishop."
This ruling will have profound implications for nonprofit and volunteer organizations across Canada, as well as for more than 30,000 individuals who are suing various churches and the federal government for abuse they suffered in native residential schools. Chief Justice McLachlin made it clear that these organizations do not enjoy special immunity.
March 29, 2004
CIBC expanded its support of amateur sports with the announcement of a major $4.3 million, five-year sponsorship agreement benefiting both the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and the sport of soccer in Canada. "Soccer is the number one participatory sport in Canada with participation rates growing steadily each year," said Stephen Graham, CIBC's executive vice president of personal and small business banking and chief marketing officer. "We are proud to support a sport that is so widely embraced by Canadians and provides such positive influences for young people." The sponsorship agreement secures CIBC as the exclusive Diamond Sponsor of the CSA. For more information, visit: www.cibc.com.
March 29, 2004
The Alberta government has laid 47 charges against Gold Medal Project Inc. The company sold discount cards door-to-door, telling consumers the proceeds would go to Child Find, Block Parent or the Missing Children's Society. However, none of the charities were directly affiliated with the program. Gold Medal Project is charged with 40 counts under the Fair Trading Act, and with seven counts under the Charitable Fundraising Act for representing that a portion of discount card proceeds would be donated to a charity - without that charity's consent - and unlawfully using emblems associated with a charity without consent. Penalties under both acts include fines of up to $100,000 or up to three times the amount obtained by the offence and/or up to two years in prison. For more information, visit: www.gov.ab.ca/gs.
Fast Fact: Majority of fundraisers say giving rebounded in 2003
March 29, 2004
More than half of respondents (53%) to the AFP's third annual State of Fundraising Survey reported that their organizations raised more in 2003 than they did in the previous year. Another 20% of respondents reported raising approximately the same amount as in 2002, and 27% said their organizations actually raised fewer funds in 2003 than in 2002. The average overall increase was 5.74%. Education charities faired the best last year, increasing their fundraising on average by almost 12%. Environmental (6.59%), religious (6.25%), healthcare (4.44%), and social service organizations (4.16%) also reported moderate increases. However, arts and cultural organizations did not perform as well, with an average increase of only 0.82%. -- Association of Fundraising Professionals
March 29, 2004
A study commissioned by the UK-based Giving Campaign offers new insight into the decision-making process of rich individuals when determining how much to give to charity. It also provides tips on how charities can target affluent donors more effectively. A Wealth of Opportunity: How the Affluent Decide the Level of Their Donations to Charity found that the 'ask' from the charity is crucial. For example, respondents assumed that if they were asked for £3 a month, that was how much the charity needed. The study also found that donors want reassurance that their donation will make a difference and that the funds will be spent wisely. Affluent individuals revealed that charitable giving comes out of the 'end of the month' pot of money, after nearly all other expenditures are taken care of. For more information or to request a copy of the report, visit: www.givingcampaign.org.uk.
March 29, 2004
The University of Waterloo (UW) announced a $260 million fundraising initiative called Campaign Waterloo: Building a Talent Trust. As its name suggests, the campaign aims to increase the concentration of talented people at UW and enhance Waterloo's ability to educate future leaders of Canada. The university hopes to reach the fundraising goal by 2007, its 50th anniversary year. Already, $183 million has been raised from private sector sources such as alumni, students, faculty, staff, retirees, friends, corporations, and foundations. For more information, visit www.campaign.uwaterloo.ca/.
March 29, 2004
A recent study finds that young people from lower-income households are no more likely to commit crimes than their middle and upper class counterparts. Using data collected from government and community agencies on demographics and crime rates in cities, Doug King, chair of justice studies at Mount Royal College in Calgary, debunks the myth that poverty is the main factor in youth crime. "Everyone thinks that youth at risk relates to issues of poverty, but kids who grow up in upper-middle class homes have about the same crime rate as kids who grow up in lower-class homes," he said. "There is no correlation between poverty and youth crime." For more information about justice studies at Mount Royal College or to contact Doug King, visit: www.mtroyal.ab.ca/healthcomm/justice.htm.
March 29, 2004
Sears Associates raised more than a million dollars in 2003 to donate to 655 charities across Canada. The money was raised through the Sears Employees Charitable Fund, a registered charity that is funded by voluntary payroll deductions of Sears staff. Some of the various charities that received employee-directed donations include the Canadian Cancer Society, United Way, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation, the Canadian Diabetes Association, and the Children's Wish Foundation, as well as hundreds of others. For more information about Sears' community involvement, visit: www.sears.ca.
March 29, 2004
Making IT Work For Volunteers is now accepting submissions for the 2004 Showcase Ontario Voluntary Sector IT Awards. The awards recognize voluntary organizations that demonstrate innovation in their use of the Internet and information technology. The top winner will receive the Diamond Award of Excellence and three Merit Award winners will receive a medal. Winning projects will be featured on the Showcase Ontario, IT World Canada, Ministry of Citizenship, and ITAC Ontario web sites. The deadline for nominations is May 14. For more information or to apply, visit: www.volunteersonline.ca/apply.
March 29, 2004
A survey of US colleges and universities found that alumni donations increased 11.9% last year. However, overall voluntary support of higher education (including gifts from corporations, foundations and other individuals and organizations) remained at $23.9 billion in 2003, the same as the year before. Alumni gave $6.6 billion, or 27.6%, of total voluntary giving but there was a 15.7% drop in donations from non-alumni individuals. The average alumni gift was $965 last year, up 9.5%. -- Council for Aid to Education
March 29, 2004
STAPLES Business Depot's annual "Give a Dollar. Share a Dream" fundraiser brought in more than $380,000 for Special Olympics Canada and athletes who attend the 2004 National Winter Games in Prince Edward Island. "The campaign has been a dream come true," said Jim Jordan, president of Special Olympics Canada. "Our athletes, coaches and Games personnel join me in congratulating [STAPLES Business Depot] for making this an outstanding success." The "Give a Dollar. Share a Dream" campaign ran from January 18 to February 8, giving customers the opportunity to add a dollar to their purchase at the checkout. For more information about Special Olympics, visit: www.specialolympics.ca.
March 29, 2004
Most Internet users are familiar with 'Nigerian Fraud' scams that promise a percentage of a huge sum of money if the recipient helps transfer funds to a foreign bank account. Now charities are being targeted by a similar scam. Recently, the UK-based World Land Trust received an e-mail purporting to come from a representative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Direct Impact Grant Program, saying they would like to consider the charity for its next round of funding. The e-mail requested copies of recent accounts, new projects, web address, etc. After sending this information, the WLT received a second e-mail indicating that they had been awarded $5 million. At this point they realized it was a scam and notified authorities. For information on Nigerian Fraud, visit: www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/419how.htm.
March 22, 2004
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) received a special gift last week for its 90th birthday. The Hon. Hilary M. Weston, chair of the Renaissance ROM Campaign, announced a donation of $20 million, consisting of $10 million from Hilary and Galen Weston and $10 million from the W. Garfield Weston Foundation. This brings the $200 million campaign's current total to $150 million, which includes $90 million in private sector donations and $60 million in combined federal and provincial support. For more information, visit: www.rom.on.ca.
March 22, 2004
Vancouver may soon join other Canadian cities in introducing a "charity key" program as an alternative to street begging. A recent survey conducted by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) indicated overwhelming support for the program, which allows people to purchase charity keys to give to street people. Keys are bought from local businesses for $1 each and can then be redeemed at local charities for a meal, a shower, or change of clothes. "It's about changing people's giving habits and encouraging people to give in a different way - a way that shows compassion for the needs of street people and helps ensure that the money collected goes to charities that help these individuals with essential services such as food, clothing, grooming and laundry, rather than on illegal drugs and alcohol," said Dave Jones, director of crime prevention services for the DVBIA. For more information, visit: www.downtownvancouver.net.
March 22, 2004
A survey of almost a 1,000 people in the UK found that the majority consider direct mail to be the most "off-putting, irritating or concerning" fundraising technique (68%), followed by telephone fundraising at 43%. Surprisingly, only 12% of respondents felt the same way about face-to-face fundraising on the street. Aside from fundraising tactics, 68% of those surveyed also expressed concern about the amount of money that actually goes to charity. Only 5% of respondents said that nothing irritated or concerned them about charities or the work they do. -- nfpSynergy
March 22, 2004
For the third consecutive year, Scotia Capital hosted Invest in Kids Day, raising $1,031,000 from trading commissions. The funds will go to Invest in Kids, which helps Canada's children get the best possible start in life. "We are once again delighted with the support of the institutional investment community in helping us secure more than $1 million," says Jim Mountain, managing director and head of institutional equities for Scotia Capital. "The funds raised will go a long way towards helping ensure that all children, no matter their socio-economic background, have the opportunity to grow to be emotionally, socially, and intellectually healthy," said Nancy Birnbaum, president and CEO of Invest in Kids. For more information, visit www.scotiabank.com.
March 22, 2004
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is calling on the Ontario government to shut down a telephone fundraising campaign by the Police Association of Ontario, claiming that it is "inherently intimidating". Alan Borovoy, association general counsel, said his group asked the province to act after receiving complaints from people who felt intimidated when called by telemarketers seeking donations for the Police Association of Ontario. Bruce Miller, the provincial association's chief administrative officer, rejected the criticism, saying its telemarketers don't use intimidation tactics. Borovoy disagrees, noting that the telemarketing calls begin with notification that the conversation is being taped. "I think this kind of activity has clearly gone over the line," Borovoy said. For more information about the CCLA, visit: www.ccla.org.
March 22, 2004
A recent survey of nonprofit environmental organizations in western Canada and the United States finds that many are feeling the effects of a struggling economy. Of the 127 organizations that participated in the survey, 35% laid off employees in 2003, and nearly 15% decreased their employees' benefits packages. The survey also found that the median salary for executive directors was $48,585 (USD), with the highest overall salaries going to leaders of Canadian groups and organizations with budgets over $2 million. -- Training Resources for the Environmental Community
March 22, 2004
The Woodstock General Hospital is one step closer to reaching its $10 million campaign goal, thanks to a donation from Marilyn Booth, wife of Timberland Equipment owner Walter Booth. A cheque for $750,000 was presented to the hospital's Building the Vision committee to help fund the construction of a new facility. "Everybody's just been wonderful," said Booth, who has also volunteered at the hospital. "This is a way to give back to the hospital where it's needed most." For more information about WGH, visit: www.wgh.on.ca.
March 22, 2004
Claudette Bradshaw, the federal minister responsible for homelessness, was in Sydney, NS last weekend to announce $1.4 million in funding over the next three years to help address homelessness in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. The funds will support the Cape Breton Community Plan on Homelessness. The objectives of the plan include intervention and preventative measures, further development of housing and facilities, partnership development, and creating awareness of homelessness in the area. "I would like to congratulate the nonprofit organizations, community groups, the private sector, and all levels of government for their hard work in addressing and alleviating homelessness in the CBRM," said Bradshaw. "You've got $1.4 million - you decide what your priorities are."
March 22, 2004
Despite the introduction of national anti-spam legislation in the US, 29% of American e-mail users have reduced their use of e-mail because of spam. Sixty-three percent say that the flood of spam makes them less trusting of e-mail in general, and 77% report that spam is making the act of being online unpleasant and annoying. Overall, 86% of e-mail users report some level of distress with spam. -- Pew Internet & American Life Project
March 22, 2004
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada (RMHC) announced grants of more than $1.2 million to Canadian Ronald McDonald Houses and other children's charities across the country. This grant allocation represents the largest in the history of RMHC. Grants are issued three times each year to support Canada's 12 Ronald McDonald Houses and other programs that assist children with serious or life-threatening illnesses or disabilities and their families. Since its inception in 1981, RMHC has awarded almost $30 million in grants. For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities, visit: www.rmcc.ca.
March 22, 2004
The Faculty of Science at McGill University announced a donation of $300,000 from Shell Canada. The funds will go towards the establishment of the T.H. Clark Chair in Sedimentary and Petroleum Geology. It is the largest corporate pledge toward creating the $1.5 million chair, which is named after Thomas H. Clark, one of McGill's leading educators in earth and planetary sciences. For more information about McGill, visit: www.mcgill.ca.
March 22, 2004
ITL Solutions is holding a draw for a free software package. The contest is open to all Canadian nonprofit organizations and there is no purchase necessary to enter. The company is giving away up to 250 copies of QMember, its database management software for nonprofits. The draw is limited to 1,250 entries and the chances of winning are 1 in 5. Winners will be selected on April 1. For more information or to enter online, visit: www.qmember.com.
March 15, 2004
Easter Seals Month kicked off in style recently with the Easter Seal Society's annual telethon, which was broadcast across Ontario on March 6-7. This year's event raised more than $6.3 million for disabled youth. Funds will go toward essential communication and mobility equipment, providing summer camping experiences, and funding recreational activities such as day camps, swimming, and art classes. For more information about the telethon, visit: www.easterseals.org.
March 15, 2004
A report released by Cohn & Wolfe reveals that both companies and nonprofits want measurable returns on their investment in partnerships. "Partnerships between corporations and nonprofit organizations have evolved significantly in the last five to ten years," says Carol Panasiuk, executive vice president and general manager of Cohn & Wolfe. "While still important, traditional donations and sponsorships have given way to more sophisticated, multilayered relationships in which both parties bring significant contributions to the table." Key findings from the Cohn & Wolfe Partnership Report include:To request a copy of the Cohn & Wolfe Partnership Report contact Andrea Reed, Senior Counsellor, Cohn & Wolfe at 416-924-5700, extension 4052 or by e-mail at andrea_reed@ca.cohnwolfe.com.
- Voluntary organizations are evaluating their assets and marketing themselves in an increasingly business-like fashion.
- Program measurement and evaluation are of growing importance, particularly to corporations partnering with nonprofit organizations.
- Organizational culture gaps represent a significant challenge in partnerships, resulting in differences in decision-making processes, timelines and performance expectations.
March 15, 2004
Joey Tanenbaum, one of the Art Gallery of Ontario's (AGO) most generous donors, resigned from the organization's board of directors last week, protesting what he called "the needless destruction" of spaces within the gallery. Tanenbaum voiced his displeasure with plans for the gallery's expansion that will include altering several existing gallery spaces, including the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Sculpture Atrium. Tanenbaum has given more than $93 million to the gallery over the past 35 years. For more information about the AGO, visit: www.ago.net
March 15, 2004
Last week, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary received a $1 million donation from the Calgary Foundation. This latest gift brings the Clubs to 85% of their $8.5 million fundraising goal to rebuild five of their eight clubhouses. "We're very happy, it's certainly a big boost to our campaign," said Jolayne Davidson, director of development for the Boys and Girls Clubs. A spokesperson for the Calgary Foundation said the donation is in part thanks to an anonymous donor who asked that the charitable cash go to the Clubs. For more information about the Calgary Foundation, visit: www.thecalgaryfoundation.org.
March 15, 2004
According to a recent survey of affluent Canadians, 57% of people with at least $1 million in household financial assets are retired. Almost one third (31%) of these millionaires own a business or someone in their household does. Encouragingly, 87% of Canada's millionaire households expect to make a financial contribution to a charity or local community organization in the next year, and 52% intend to volunteer their time as well. The majority (92%) of those who intend to make a donation mentioned charities that fund healthcare. Two-thirds (65%) plan to donate money to a national charity that funds local community needs, while 61% intend to donate to specific funding drives for local hospitals or community organizations and 57% to a church or religious organization. -- Ipsos-Reid
March 15, 2004
The Capacity Joint Table Advisory Committee of the Voluntary Sector Initiative released a new report last week that aims to help nonprofits gain a voice in public policy development. The 70-page guide Participating in Federal Public Policy: A Guide for the Voluntary Sector is broken down into several modules that look at the importance of policy work, how to navigate the system of policy development, as well as how to implement a strategy to influence public policy. Download a free copy of the report at: www.vsi-isbc.ca/eng/policy/policy_guide/index.cfm
March 15, 2004
A recent concert gala in Vancouver raised $810,000 for the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. The black-tie benefit and charity auction featured performances by Diana Krall, Elton John, and Elvis Costello, including a grand finale with the trio performing together on stage. "This event is the result of months of hard work by numerous volunteers and the vision and leadership of the Krall family," said Ron Dumouchelle, president & CEO of the foundation. Proceeds from the event will support the Vancouver General Hospital's Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplantation (L/BMT) Program. "I am thrilled with what we were able to achieve this year and so very thankful for the generosity and support my family and friends have extended to the event," said Diana. For more information, visit: www.supportvgh.ca.
March 15, 2004
A recently published report by the Canadian Policy Research Network (CPRN) looks at the organizational change processes, strategies, and tactics that promote healthier and more productive working conditions for employees. Healthy Workplace Strategies: Creating Change and Achieving Results offers an action model as a tool for achieving healthy organizations. It highlights the importance of making an organization change-ready, then designing a process that engages all stakeholders in actively shaping the healthy workplace. It suggests removing the barriers to organizational change, spreading new practices through learning and innovation, engaging all employees in the process, and monitoring progress. For more information or to download the full report, visit: www.cprn.org/en/doc.cfm?doc=536.
March 15, 2004
The results are in and the inaugural Caring For Kids Radiothon finished with the largest ever first-time radiothon total in Canada. The event raised $1.2 million for the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation (MCHF). It was the first such event to benefit a children's hospital in Quebec. All funds raised will go towards meeting the hospital's most urgent needs, including the purchase of medical and surgical equipment and funding for innovative research projects. For more information about MCHF, visit www.childrenfoundation.com.
March 15, 2004
Saskatoon natives Irene and Leslie Dube have donated $1 million to the Saskatoon Health Region's City Hospital as part of a $4.4 million capital campaign to create the province's first breast health centre. The Dubes own The Concorde Group of Companies and moved from Saskatoon to Calgary six years ago. For more information about the hospital, visit: www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/ch_sch_home.htm
March 15, 2004
The Ontario provincial government announced $24 million in funding last week for new housing for people with developmental disabilities. The money will be divided among 44 projects in 27 communities and should create 178 new housing spaces for people with special needs. Agencies serving people with disabilities welcomed the new funding, but also noted that there is already a housing waiting list of more than 2,000 people in the Greater Toronto Area alone. For more information about the funding announcement, visit: www.cfcs.gov.on.ca/CFCS/en/newsRoom/newsReleases/040310.htm
March 15, 2004
Statistics Canada has released the latest version of its low income cutoffs (LICOs) for 2003 and low income measures (LIMs) for 2001, before and after tax. LICOs are income thresholds, determined by analysing family expenditure data, where low income families will devote a larger share of income to the necessities of food, shelter and clothing than the average family would. To reflect the differences in the costs of necessities among different community and family sizes, LICOs are defined into five categories of community size and seven categories of family size. Find the latest numbers at: www.statcan.ca:80/english/IPS/Data/75F0002MIE2004002.htm
March 8, 2004
The Nova Scotia Liberals are calling on the province to donate 10% of the revenues from lottery sales to sport and recreation programs. MLA Stephen McNeil says a lack of physical activity is contributing to an obesity epidemic in Nova Scotia, and that devoting lottery revenues to combat the problem is the right thing to do. McNeil estimates that the move could translate into $5 million more for sport and recreation programs in the province.
March 8, 2004
Imagine, an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, is now accepting nominations for the 2004 "New Spirit of Community" Partnership Awards program. Started in 1996, the awards recognize and celebrate outstanding partnerships between business and nonprofits that strengthen and support Canadian communities. For this year's awards, Imagine is placing an emphasis on social innovation, responding to a new public focus on the need to renew Canada's social foundations. Winning partnerships must: demonstrate creative and sustainable solutions to meeting a community need; have the active participation of all partners in the design and implementation of the program; engage a wide spectrum of resources from each partner; and provide a measurable benefit to the community. The deadline for entries is March 19. For more information, visit: www.imagine.ca.
March 8, 2004
A survey of chief executives of large US foundations found that most believe governing boards that are highly engaged in strategic planning and evaluating the impact of grantmaking are the most effective. In addition, the executives felt that boards made up of several members of the same family tend to be less effective than boards with a more diverse membership. Family foundations also appear to be less concerned about accountability. Only 48% of family foundations had an audit committee, compared with 70% of independent private foundations, and 72% of community funds. -- Center for Effective Philanthropy
March 8, 2004
As the seven-time world champion Women's National Hockey Team geared up for the 2004 World Women's Hockey Championship in Halifax/Dartmouth last week, Molson showed its support by making a $100,000 donation to the team. Each player will receive $5,000 to assist in offsetting their personal training expenses during the season. "The National Women's Hockey team performance and success on the international stage has been an inspiration for Molson and Canadians across the country," said Daniel J. O'Neill, president and CEO of Molson Inc. "We are proud to be associated with such a wonderful group of athletes and I invite other Canadian companies to get involved and to support our athletes and national teams." For more information, visit: www.molson.com.
March 8, 2004
RBC Financial Group is inviting charities across Canada that offer after-school programs to apply for grants of up to $40,000 for the 2004-2005 school year. Charities requesting funding should offer activities such as computer instruction, sports, literacy tutoring, music and art lessons, nutrition guidance, and help with homework. RBC believes that these activities provide children with opportunities to gain an area of competence outside of academics and ultimately benefit their self-esteem. It has committed up to $600,000 in new funding for 2004 through the RBC Foundation. The deadline for proposals is Monday, April 26. For more information, visit www.rbc.com/community/donations.
March 8, 2004
A new national network of environmental organizations is questioning why politically active sport-hunting groups are being recognized as charities, while some animal-welfare and anti-gun organizations are being denied charitable status. Last week, the Charity Action Team launched a campaign and submitted a report to the federal government that questions the situation. Anita Krajnc, an environmentalist and member of the Charity Action Team, called the system "incredibly unjust." "The public would be amazed at how the federal government is currently subsidizing special interest groups yet undermining groups the public would consider legitimate charities that are doing great work protecting the public interest." For more information, or to view the full report, visit: www.pronature.on.ca/catnews.html.
March 8, 2004
Independent Sector recently released a study on the major factors and characteristics that influence philanthropic activity across the United States. A Nation of Givers: Regional Patterns in American Giving and Volunteering, examined ten different characteristics to determine what role each played in philanthropy in different regions of the country. According to the report, homeownership, volunteering, and attending religious services weekly are the three key factors that determine how much an individual gives. However, regional differences do exist. For example, households in the northeast give the most when they volunteer as a family, while weekly attendance at religious services influences how much households in the south give. Marital status plays a major role in charitable giving among Midwesterners, and in the west, homeownership influences annual giving more than in the other three regions of the country. For more information, visit: www.independentsector.org/media/nationPR.html.
March 8, 2004
A survey conducted by The Giving Campaign found that 67% of employees in the UK believe that employers should offer staff the option of donating a portion of their salary to the charity of their choice. In addition, 41% of salary earners say they would consider giving two hours of their salary each month to a cause that they cared about, yet at present, only 1% of companies and 2% of employees participate in payroll giving. -- The Giving Campaign
March 8, 2004
The Tech Museum Awards is a unique and prestigious program that honours and awards innovators from around the world who use technology to benefit humanity. Twenty-five 'Tech Laureates' will be selected in each of the following categories: education, equality, environment, economic development, and health. One laureate in each category will be granted a $50,000 cash prize. The deadline for nominations is April 5. For more information, visit: techawards.thetech.org.
March 8, 2004
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada (BGCC) has teamed up with Future Shop to launch Future Grants, a new nationwide initiative to strengthen Boys and Girls Clubs across the country. The Future Grants program will offer local clubs the opportunity to apply for grants, valued at up to $1,000 each, to receive Future Shop products for use in club programs or for specific fundraising activities. Recipients will be announced on May 1, 2004. Future Shop also renewed its commitment to the Future Leaders national scholarship program. This year, 55 Boys and Girls Club members from across Canada will be awarded scholarships, valued at $3,000 each, to attend the post-secondary institution of their choice for the September 2004 term. For more information, visit: www.bgccan.com.
March 8, 2004
A report released in late February suggests that Australia's not-for-profit sector is riddled with inconsistencies and needs major regulatory reforms. In the report, A Better Framework: reforming not-for-profit regulation, University of Melbourne researcher Susan Woodward says that relevant laws and regulatory bodies need to be fair, consistent, and clear in order to promote NFPs that are transparent, accountable, and credible. "By getting the underlying regulatory framework right, accountability and confidence in the sector generally will be improved, leaving not-for-profit organizations more time to concentrate on the important services they provide to the community." For more information or to download the report, visit: cclsr.law.unimelb.edu.au.
March 1, 2004
Volunteers and rental property owners joined forces across Ontario recently for a massive food drive. The province-wide door-to-door canvassing effort brought in more than 400,000 pounds of food for local food banks, including the Ottawa Food Bank, which received 100,000 pounds of donated non-perishable food items. In total, more than 1,000 rental properties with more than 1,000 suites across the province participated in what was one of the largest-ever food drives.
March 1, 2004
CIBC announced a $1 million donation to the Friends of The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the private sector fundraising arm of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The museum, to be located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, will seek to address Canadian and worldwide issues of tolerance and respect for human rights across many boundaries including ethnicity, race, politics, religion, and gender. "This donation will support the museum's youth initiatives," said John Hunkin, CIBC president and CEO. "The museum's objectives speak to the enlightenment and education of our youth and others globally. We wholeheartedly support this extraordinary vision and noble goal." For more information, visit: phx.corporate-ir.net.
March 1, 2004
According to a recently published article in The Wall Street Journal, people trust nonprofit organizations more than companies. This finding is based on results from an annual reputation study conducted by Harris Interactive and the Reputation Institute. The survey reveals that 15% of people trust the information they receive from NGOs on such global issues as the environment, poverty, and human rights, while only 3% trust information coming from companies. The other 82% of survey respondents said their level of confidence depends on the issue and the specific company or nonprofit providing the information. Overall, trust in nonprofit groups was highest among women and people under the age of 40. -- The Wall Street Journal
March 1, 2004
Toronto Neighbourhood Centres recently released a report that examines challenges facing the city's community-based human services sector. Cracks in the Foundation reveals that organizations are struggling with the restrictive nature of funding that is available to the community-based sector and this is taking its toll on agencies' overall capacity and stability. While the study found that the majority of organizations were in a position of growth, it concluded that issues such as the lack of funding for core costs, the lack of multi-year funding cycles, and inconsistent and cumbersome reporting requirements must be addressed by funders in order to ensure sustainability of the human services sector in Toronto. For more information or to download the report, visit: www.neighbourhoodcentres.ca/publications.htm.
March 1, 2004
Last week, the University of New Brunswick received its largest-ever donation by a living alumnus. The $2.5 million donation from William S. Lewis will create a prestigious fellowship program for doctoral students. "It is my hope that through this commitment and the creation of these fellowships, UNB will be positioned as a leader in Canada," said Dr. Lewis. "It is also my hope that this is just the beginning. My commitment must be seen as a catalyst and incentive to others." For more information, visit www.unb.ca/news/view.cgi?id=471.
March 1, 2004
The Alzheimer Societies of Alberta, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Palliser Region, Lethbridge, Red Deer and Central Alberta, and the Wood Buffalo and Northwest Territories Chapters announced that an amalgamation process that began in 1999 is now complete. The new Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories will provide opportunities to enhance program delivery and to realize administrative efficiencies through shared resources and expertise. Delivery of services will be facilitated through local chapters in Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray and Yellowknife. The Society's head office will be located in Edmonton. For more information, contact the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories at 1-888-233-0332.
March 1, 2004
Research suggests that online fundraising is growing each year by 50%. It is estimated that almost $2 billion was raised online in 2003, 60% more than the amount raised in 2002. There was also a 55% increase in the number of organizations that attempted to raise money online in 2003 compared to 2002. -- NonProfit Times
March 1, 2004
Molson announced a six-year, $500,000 annual commitment to the See You in Athens Fund, a nonprofit organization established to support the development of top-level amateur athletes. "From now until 2010, through a partnership with the See You in Athens Fund, Molson will provide our top athletes with some much needed financial support as they gear up for competition on the international and world stages," said Daniel J. O'Neill, Molson president and CEO. The fund helps ease the financial burdens placed on athletes for their travel, equipment, coaching, and nutritional expenses. For more information about the See You In Athens Fund, visit: www.seeyouinathens.com.
March 1, 2004
According to a new report from the Urban Institute, 60% of charitable organizations in the US have paid staff handling volunteer coordination. However, half of these employees report spending less than 30% of their time on volunteer management. Volunteer Management Capacity in America's Charities and Congregations: A Briefing Report was inspired by research showing that many volunteers quit nonprofit organizations because their time is not being used effectively. This latest report concludes that additional resources devoted to volunteer management would generate more productivity from volunteers, thereby justifying the investment of additional resources. For more information or to download the full report, visit: www.pressroom.ups.com.
March 1, 2004
More than half of rural adults (52%) now use the Internet but they are still lagging behind their urban (67%) and suburban (66%) counterparts. Only about 19% of rural users have broadband connections at home, and 25% say a high-speed connection is not available in their area. When rural Internet users go online, they are more likely than urban users to access religious or spiritual content, or use instant messaging. However, they are less likely than others to engage in online transactions such as banking or online purchases. -- Pew Internet & American Life Project
March 1, 2004
Last week, Report on Business magazine published Canada's first comprehensive corporate social responsibility rankings, identifying the best and the worst among 67 companies in 10 different industries. Each company was evaluated in five categories: community and society, corporate governance, impact on customers, treatment of employees, the environment, and human rights. The technology sector came out on top, while the food distribution industry received the worst evaluation. For more information, visit: www.globeandmail.com/special/robmagazinecover.
March 1, 2004
The New York chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the Salvation Army on behalf of current and former Salvation Army employees. Workers accused the organization of creating a hostile work environment by requiring employees to pledge to preach the Gospel, to identify their church affiliation, and to authorize their religious leaders to reveal private information to the Salvation Army. The Civil Liberties Union says the Salvation Army is overlooking the separation of church and state while accepting millions in government aid.
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