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This is an archive of CharityVillage NewsWeek. To find a word on the page,
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at their publishing date, the quick-changing nature of the web means that some
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To view other articles in the archive, use our Chronological Index.
NewsBytes: December, 2005
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Season's greetings from the CharityVillage team
December 19, 2005
The CharityVillage.com team wishes all of our visitors a joyful holiday season and peace in the New Year. And a special thank you to all those in Canada's nonprofit community and around the world who are working over the holidays to make life a little better, or a little safer, for someone else. We look forward to seeing you again in 2006. Check out a few holiday classics with a nonprofit twist at: www.charityvillage.com/cv/charityvillage/greeting.html.
December 19, 2005
The second edition of the Satellite Account of Nonprofit Institutions and Volunteering: Economic Contribution is now online. The report finds that between 1997 and 2001, GDP for the core nonprofit sector increased at an annual average rate of 7.1%, slightly faster than the average of 6.1% for the economy as a whole. At the same time, economic activity generated by hospitals, universities and colleges grew at a slower pace of 5.4%. The GDP of the core nonprofit sector, estimated at $25.4 billion in 2001, accounted for 2.5% of the overall economy. When hospitals, universities and colleges are included, this share increased to 6.8%. For more information or to access the full report, visit the Voluntary Sector Initiative web site at: www.vsi-isbc.ca. To view a summary of the findings, visit: www.statcan.ca.
Fast Fact: Americans donate twice as much as Canadians
December 19, 2005
Manitoba is once again Canada's most generous province, according to Charitable Giving in Canada and the US: The 2005 Generosity Index, released by The Fraser Institute. Manitoba has the highest percentage of tax- filers donating to charity (28.3%), followed by Ontario (27%) and Saskatchewan (26.7%). These provinces also top the list for donating the highest percentage of aggregate income to charity. Manitoba donated 0.99% of aggregate income to charity, followed by Ontario (0.87%) and Saskatchewan (0.83%). Quebec donates the least, with 0.33% of aggregate income. As a whole, Canada's generosity appears to lag behind the United States, where 29.4% of all tax-filers made donations, compared to 24.9% of Canadians. As well, the United States donated 1.57% of aggregate income to charity in 2003, more than twice that of Canada (0.70%). -- Fraser Institute
December 19, 2005
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is once again reminding registered charities that there are limitations on certain types of political activities. Partisan political activities are those that involve direct or indirect support of, or opposition to, any political party or candidate for public office. Registered charities are prohibited from partisan political activity, because supporting or opposing a political party or candidate for public office is not a charitable purpose. Charities engaging in partisan political activities, which are clearly not in compliance with the law, risk losing their charitable status. For complete information and guidelines, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
December 19, 2005
CIBC World Markets raised $10,543,783 worldwide to benefit children's charities during its recent Miracle Day fundraising event. In Canada, Miracle Day generated $3.7 million to benefit more than 400 children's charities that are dedicated to improving the health, well-being and education of children in communities across the country. Each year on Miracle Day - this year held on December 7 - sales and trading staff at CIBC World Markets and CIBC Wood Gundy donate their fees and commissions to benefit children's charities. Since its inception in 1984, Miracle Day has raised more than $168 million worldwide. For more information, visit: www.childrensmiracle.com.
December 19, 2005
nfpSynergy, a UK-based nonprofit sector think-tank, released a new report entitled The 21st Century Volunteer. The report looks at the current state of volunteering, and the socio-economic trends that may influence volunteering. Its aim is to help voluntary organizations understand the current volunteering environment and to anticipate how volunteering will change over the coming years. In particular, it identifies the rise of what nfpSynergy calls the selfish or self-interested volunteer, who wants to know as much about what they will get out of volunteering as about what they will put in. The objective of the report is to disseminate the ways in which volunteer management will need to develop in order to accommodate these changes in the external environment. To download the report, visit: www.nfpsynergy.net.
December 19, 2005
According to the most recent survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, more than 26 million Americans have, at some point, made a charitable gift online. Following September 11th, 2001, approximately 10% of Internet users, or about 11 million Americans, indicated they had at one time made an online donation. Following the Southeast Asia tsunami, that figure increased to 13%, or about 17 million Americans, and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 18% of Internet users - more than 26 million Americans - indicated they had made a gift online. Since the beginning of 2005, the number of people who say they have made an online donation has increased by 53%, and 24% of survey respondents went online to determine where to make contributions to relief efforts. -- Pew Internet & American Life Project
December 19, 2005
The Raincoast Conservation Foundation recently paid $1.35 million to acquire the guide-outfitting rights to five hunting regions along the central BC coast. It is the first time in BC history that an anti-hunting group has bought the guide-outfitting rights with a view to permanently ending the commercial killing of all animals in the area. The commercial license covers an area of more than 20,000 square kilometres of wildlife-rich habitat, including grizzly bear, black bear, and the rare white Spirit or Kermode bear, along with wolf, cougar and wolverine populations. "Buying the commercial trophy hunting rights is a major first step toward shutting down the carnivore trophy hunt on the coast of BC," said Ian McAllister, conservation director for Raincoast. "The next move is in the hands of the province." For more information, visit: www.raincoast.org.
December 19, 2005
Les and Irene Dubé recently presented a $1 million donation to the University of Saskatchewan's St. Thomas More College. It is the largest single donation in STM's history and will help develop a visionary service learning program at the college. The Les and Irene Dubé Service Learning Program incorporates community service with academic pursuits, bringing together active reflection and academic learning while meeting real-life needs that exist in the community. "We come into this world with nothing, and we leave this world with nothing," said Les Dubé. "In the end, money doesn't mean anything unless its been used to make a difference in the world." Eighteen $2,000 Les and Irene Dubé Service Learning Scholarships will be disbursed annually to Catholic high school students across the province. For more information, visit: www.stmcollege.ca.
December 19, 2005
Last week, UNICEF released its 2006 report on The State of the World's Children (SOWC). According to the annual global assessment of the well-being of children, millions of children literally disappear when trafficked or forced to work behind closed doors in domestic service. Others, such as street children or orphaned children heading up households, live in plain sight, but like their "hidden" peers are also excluded from school, healthcare, and social services to protect them from harm.
"This report confronts us with the stark reality that despite significant progress in saving and improving children's lives, there are still millions living in miserable conditions because they don't have the protective safety net that every child needs and deserves," says Nigel Fisher, president and CEO, UNICEF Canada. "These children are excluded from school, health care and their right to have a childhood. Millions of children are living a nightmare, suffering not only from neglect, but from outright abuse." For more information or to view the full report, visit: www.unicef.ca.
December 19, 2005
The latest data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that 29% of Americans volunteered in the past year, a rate that has remained unchanged for two years. The survey also found that volunteers spent a median of 50 hours volunteering in 2004-2005, down slightly from a median of 52 hours reported in the three years prior. Most people volunteer for one charity, with about 35% volunteering with religious organizations, a higher percentage than for any other type of organization. The second-most popular type of organization was educational or youth charities, attracting about 26% of volunteers. -- Bureau of Labor Statistics
December 19, 2005
The Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO) recently released a study that reviews the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Southern Alberta's Charity Review Program and its related publication, The Giving Guide: Your Resource for Charitable Giving. The study's findings identify and support concerns raised by charities about the BBB's review process, the information presented in the BBB's Giving Guide publication, and the limitations of the evaluation criteria. Beyond these specific concerns raised about the BBB's Charity Review Program, this program also highlights the perceived need for an external evaluator for charities and the lack of public awareness about the rigorous accountability and reporting structures already in place in the voluntary sector. To download the full report, visit: www.calgarycvo.org.
December 12, 2005
Finance Canada has recommended to the Minister of Finance that the proposed "due diligence" requirements in Section 248(40) of a recent tax technical bill be withdrawn. The proposed language would have required charities to make reasonable inquiries into all gifts in excess of $5,000 before a receipt for the contribution could be issued. However, the term "reasonable" was not defined in the proposal, and charities could have faced financial penalties for failing to meet the requirement.
The recommendation comes in response to submissions from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and other organizations. AFP concluded that subsection 248(40) would overly burden charitable giving, hurt donor relations, and do little to combat fraud and abuse. It argued that charities should not be required to perform these duties and that they should fall into the province of charity regulators. For more information, visit: www.afpnet.org.
December 12, 2005
IMPACS, the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society, has prepared an election kit for use by charitable and nonprofit organizations that wish to raise the issue of charities and advocacy with candidates. The kit is full of practical ideas that can be adapted to discuss a wide variety of issues and includes a summary of the rules affecting registered charities during an election. To download the kit in PDF format, visit: www.voluntary-sector.ca.
December 12, 2005
The Sainte-Justine Hospital Foundation announced last week that it raised $125.4 million through the Growing Up Healthy campaign, exceeding the initial goal of $100 million. Donations from companies, private foundations, and individuals will go toward the development of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre (UHC). "Through this major - and innovative - expansion project, the Sainte-Justine UHC will be equipped with new facilities at the leading edge of technology, allowing it to deliver the best healthcare to children and future mothers in all of Quebec," said Khiem Dao, general director of the Sainte Justine UHC. The project includes the expansion of the cancer centre, as well as the construction of specialized care units, a new research centre, and a wing dedicated to teaching. For more information about the foundation, visit: www.fondation-sainte-justine.org.
December 12, 2005
According to a recent survey of 350 American chief executives who lead fast-growing businesses, 73% are involved in corporate philanthropy. More than half of the CEOs (55%) said they did not consider charitable activities a factor in helping their businesses grow, but 56% cited philanthropy as a way to attract and retain staff members, and 54% said it enabled them to make connections with other business leaders. Despite the perceived benefits of philanthropic activity, only 5% of those polled have sought professional advice for their giving, and just 15% have a formal plan. More than a third (36%) said they participated in charitable activities on an "ad hoc" basis. -- PricewaterhouseCoopers
December 12, 2005
The Auditor General of Ontario released his annual report last week, which found that charities may not be getting all the money they are owed from raffles and bingos. According to Jim McCarter's report, the government does not properly oversee how organizers run these games. "If I was a bingo player, I want to make sure that the charities are getting the money that they're entitled to and quite frankly, it's not going into the bingo operator's pocket," McCarter said. Although the provincial Alcohol and Gaming Commission regulates gambling, municipalities issue most of the charitable gaming licences in Ontario. The auditor's report states that the commission believes it does not have authority to oversee municipalities and their licensing activities. However, the report says that assumption is incorrect and the commission cannot determine whether bingo operators or raffle organizers are pocketing money that was supposed to go to charities without doing more checks. To download the auditor general's report on charitable gaming, visit: www.auditor.on.ca.
December 12, 2005
Last week, the BC Court of Appeal dismissed the case of Kimberly Nixon, a transsexual woman who is fighting for her right to volunteer as a peer counsellor at Vancouver Rape Relief. Nixon wasn't allowed to volunteer with the agency because she wasn't born female. She originally won her claim of discrimination at the BC Human Rights tribunal, but the BC Supreme Court overturned that decision. The Court of Appeal agreed that Vancouver Rape Relief did discriminate against Nixon on the basis of gender, but said it was permissible in this case because the organization serves a specific group of women and may define who is a woman and who can volunteer there. Nixon says she hopes to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada. To view the decision by the BC Court of Appeal, visit: www.courts.gov.bc.ca.
December 12, 2005
William Osler Health Centre Foundation's recent Better Health Radiothon raised $2.3 million in pledges for the new Brampton Hospital, opening in the fall of 2007. During November, 24 local, predominately Punjabi-speaking radio programs participated in this first time event. Broadcasters discussed the importance of the new hospital with local residents and appealed to listeners for support of this community resource. "We had calls coming in from across the GTA, London, Cambridge and Ottawa," said Maureen Flanagan Pool, director of development and new initiatives for the foundation. "It truly was a tremendous outpouring of generosity from listeners in the Canadian Sikh community. Word spread quickly and we have had inquiries about support for our new hospital from as far away as Vancouver and Texas." For more information about the William Osler Health Centre Foundation, visit: www.williamoslerhc.on.ca.
December 12, 2005
Canadian Business magazine recently released its annual ranking of Canada's wealthiest individuals. The Rich 100 have a collective net worth of $141.6 billion, 9% over the previous year and the highest since the magazine began its rankings in 1999. Kenneth Thomson once again topped the list, with a net worth of $22.16 billion. In a distant second place was Galen Weston ($9.28 billion), followed by James (J.K.) Arthur and John (Jack) Irving ($5.36 billion), Jeff Skoll ($5.07 billion), and James (Jimmy) Pattison ($4.5 billion) rounding out the top five. -- Canadian Business
December 12, 2005
Microsoft Corporation recently announced a $4.5 million commitment to Microsoft Canada's Partners in Learning (PiL) and Unlimited Potential (UP) programs. Through these programs Microsoft offers grants to foster digital inclusion by providing access to the latest computer technologies and training to Canadian community organizations, students, and lifelong learners. There will be several components to the investments in Canada, including cash contributions for research, teacher training and development, curriculum repositories and student achievement programs, as well as software donations made to schools and community learning centres across the country. For more information, visit: www.microsoft.com.
December 12, 2005
At a diplomatic conference in Switzerland last week a Third Additional Protocol was added to the Geneva Conventions, and a third emblem was adopted for use by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. More than 190 countries currently use either the red cross or the red crescent emblems. However, these emblems are sometimes perceived as having religious, cultural or political connotations, thereby diminishing the protection they offer to victims, humanitarian, and medical personnel. The new emblem, to be known as the red crystal, will appear as a red frame in the shape of a square on edge, on a white background. The red crystal, which is perceived to be free from any religious, political, ethnic or other connotation, will have the same status as the existing red cross and red crescent emblems recognized by the Geneva Conventions. For more information, visit: www.redcross.ca.
December 5, 2005
The University of Waterloo recently received a gift of $25 million to support teaching and research in computer science. David R. Cheriton, now a professor of computer science at Stanford University, donated the funds to establish the David R. Cheriton Endowment for Excellence in Computer Science, which will support research chairs, faculty fellowships, and graduate scholarships. "I am delighted to be in a position to give back to Waterloo and excited by what this gift may enable, building on Waterloo's strong faculty, students and reputation," said Cheriton. "Education is the best investment one can make, as I thankfully figured out early on." In recognition of his gift, the school will be named the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. For more information, visit: www.newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca.
December 5, 2005
Bill C-37, the do-not-call bill, is now law in Canada. The Senate fast-tracked the bill in late November, granting it the necessary approvals. Supreme Court Justice Michel Bastarache gave it royal assent on November 25th, however, the law will take effect only once a date is set by the Governor in Council. The Canadian Marketing Association expects the national do-not-call service to be up and running by the summer or fall of 2007. For more information about Bill C-37, visit: www.parl.gc.ca.
December 5, 2005
The BC Human Rights Tribunal ruled last week that a Roman Catholic men's group, the Knights of Columbus, was entitled to turn away a lesbian couple who wanted to hold a wedding reception in their facility. However, the tribunal also decided that the Catholic group had affronted the same-sex couple's dignity, feelings and self-respect. The group was ordered to pay $2,000 to the two women to compensate for their injuries. George Macintosh, the lawyer for the Knights, said he was pleased that the tribunal upheld the group's religious freedom. He added that the tribunal does not have jurisdiction to deal with how the Knights acted after refusing to provide space for the couple's event. So far, the group has not decided whether to seek a judicial review of the ruling. The couple may also seek a judicial review, saying "[this case] was not about being polite while they deny us our rights. It was about discrimination." For more information about the decision, visit: www.bchrt.bc.ca.
December 5, 2005
According to a survey of 2,200 executive directors in the United States, 73% are members of the baby boom generation and will reach retirement within the next two decades, with the majority leaving by 2009. Twenty-three percent of the nonprofit leaders said they would leave their jobs before 2007, and another 42% said they expected to leave their positions by 2009. Of those surveyed, only 36% report having a deputy director or a person whom they consider to be second in command. -- Annie E. Casey Foundation
December 5, 2005
A group calling itself the Swords of Righteousness Brigade is threatening to kill four captors in Iraq, including two Canadians, unless all prisoners in US and Iraqi detention centres are released by Thursday, December 8th. The brigade kidnapped the four men more than a week ago, accusing them of being "spies working for the occupying forces" under the guise of a Christian humanitarian group. All four are peace activists with Christian Peacemaker Teams, one of the few aid organizations that has remained in Iraq. Prime Minister Paul Martin called the hostage-takings "a callous act of terrorism against innocent people" and said the government is working with Iraqi, British and US officials to secure the safe release of the men, including James Loney, a community worker from Toronto, who joined the group in 2000 after working for years with the homeless, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, a former Montreal resident and engineer. For more information, visit: www.cpt.org.
December 5, 2005
Bell Canada, in partnership with the True Sport Foundation, announced the final group of grant recipients of the Bell Community Sport Fund. "We are very pleased to announce the awarding of $1 million to community hockey and soccer programs in 152 communities across Canada in 2005," said Mary James, Associate Director Community Investment, Bell Canada. "Through the Bell Community Sport Fund we have been able to help young Canadians across the country get involved in local sport programs, and have helped create programs that will strengthen communities and their young people for decades to come." In Phase III the fund distributed a total of $340,000 to 52 Canadian communities. Forty-eight communities were awarded $5,000 grants and four additional communities received grants of $25,000 each for projects that showed legacy potential (Vancouver, BC; Vulcan, AB; Killaloe, ON; Sudbury, ON). For more information, visit: www.truesportpur.ca.
December 5, 2005
A new web site, Homelessnation.org, was recently launched in Montreal as a means for street people to connect, share their stories, and raise awareness about the issue of homelessness. Daniel Cross, a film professor at Concordia University, created the Homeless Street Archive to allow homeless people to chat with a network of people across the country, create their own profiles, and learn about current events. Beginning in Montreal, two mobile video crews, equipped with wireless Internet connections, laptops and digital video cameras, will travel to 30 cities across Canada over the next four years interviewing people and teaching them how to use the web site. "Most of the people that we're recording, they're nameless, they're faceless, they're voiceless, they're voteless, they don't really participate in the democracy," said Cross. He believes the archive will have a strong political and social message and motivate "a dialogue from city to city, from region to region." For more information, visit: www.homelessnation.org.
December 5, 2005
The MS Society of Canada's Super Cities WALK for MS program raised a record $11 million in 2005, breaking the $10 million threshold for the first time in its 15-year history. "Thanks to participants, sponsors and volunteers, we have broken new ground in raising awareness of MS and funds for the cause," said Alistair M. Fraser, president and chief executive of the MS Society of Canada. "The record levels of giving coincide with an increased sense of hope. We will conquer this disease, it is only a matter of time." The community fundraiser involves more than 70,000 participants and takes place in 156 cities across Canada in the spring and early fall. For more information, visit: www.mssociety.ca.
December 5, 2005
Private donors have contributed more than $1 million toward a new concert hall in Ottawa. The Ottawa Chamber Music Society announced last week that it has raised more than $1 million for the project through private donations, including $400,000 pledged by the members of the organization's volunteer board. The plan is to build a 925-seat, $27.6-million concert hall that will offer performance and rehearsal space for the city's jazz, blues, chamber music and folk festivals, and area choirs and orchestras. For more information about the Ottawa Chamber Music Society, visit: www.chamberfest.com.
December 5, 2005
Seven Ontario not-for-profit organizations were honoured last month with the Ontario Trillium Foundation's 2005 Great Grants Awards, which recognize the leadership of community organizations and the difference they are making. "Great Grants Awards shine a light on the work of OTF grants across Ontario," said Helen Burstyn, chair of the OTF. "They recognize the great work of outstanding people that have stepped forward to help build healthy and vibrant communities throughout the province. "The seven recipients for 2005 are: the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA); Community Environment Alliance - Share-IT; Sketch; Francoscénie; Tobermory's 2004 Provincial Envirothon; St. Joseph Immigrant Women's Centre's; and Lakehead Canoe Club. For more information, visit: www.trilliumfoundation.org.
December 5, 2005
A new national partnership between the Canadian Child Care Federation and the Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network will leverage nearly $500,000 in shared funding to develop and distribute a language and literacy resource kit to 15,000 Canadian early learning and child care practitioners by August 2007. The resource kit will contain a research-based background paper, resource list, poster, presentation0 materials, resource sheets based on five research theme areas, and a web-based public education component. "Those who work with young children on a daily basis can have a significant impact on learning, so they need evidence about what works and why," said Dr. Don Jamieson, scientific director and CEO of the Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network. "By organizing the evidence to make it easy to access, understand and update, this resource kit can make a big contribution to improving the early language and literacy skills of Canadian children." For more information, visit: www.cllrnet.ca.
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