NewsBytes: February 2007
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Canadian government teams up with Bill Gates to fund AIDS facility
February 26, 2007
Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates announced a major joint initiative to finance the development of possible AIDS vaccines in Canada.
The federal government is pledging up to $111 million to establish The Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI), while the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will contribute up to $28 million. “The search for an HIV vaccine is one of the greatest scientific challenges of our time,” said Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation. “Canada’s important commitment will support advanced research, and help speed the development of an effective vaccine.”
The initiative will support Canadian researchers and institutions to work with collaborators around the world, including in developing countries, on a range of HIV vaccine research activities, including: discovering new vaccine candidates; strengthening clinical trials capacity; manufacturing promising vaccine candidates for trials; and
addressing policy, regulatory, and social issues related to HIV vaccine development.
For more information, visit: www.pm.gc.ca.
Feds withheld $70 million meant to aid the homeless
February 26, 2007
The Calgary Herald reported that more than $70 million in federal money earmarked for the homeless was never spent. According to an internal draft report, obtained under the Access to Information Act, there was no satisfactory explanation for why government officials appeared to withhold available cash from Canada's soup kitchens and emergency shelters.
"There are substantial amounts of funding ($70 million plus) that were available, but not spent," says the document. "If the need was as large as described...then it would seem that the expenditures should be closer to actual budget allocations. The evaluation team was unable to determine the rationale for this discrepancy."
The apparent shortfall occurred in the National Homelessness Initiative, which is run by Human Resources and Social Development Canada. In 2005, HRSDC ordered a $455,000 evaluation of the initiative by independent consultants Goss Gilroy Inc. Goss Gilroy flagged the $70 million in unspent funds as surprising, given the urgent demands for shelter. However, audit officials at HRSDC said in a written statement that the Goss Gilroy finding "has not been validated with departmental financial information and is subject to change."
Philanthropists, volunteers, activists appointed to Order of Canada
February 26, 2007
Governor General Michaëlle Jean recently appointed 87 people to ranks within the Order of Canada, including a number of philanthropists, volunteers and social activists. Philanthropists Liliane Stewart, Helen Gardiner, Eric Molson, Carol Newell, and Mel Zajac were all appointed to the Order of Canada. Among those recognized for voluntary service were: Bertha Allen, Jan de Vries, Pearl Keenan, Hanna Newcombe, Hartley Richardson, and Robert Stephens. Eric Hoskins, president of War Child Canada, and Craig Kielburger, founder of Free the Children were also recognized for their work. The Order of Canada was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievement and service. It is Canada's highest honour for lifetime achievement. For more information, visit: www.gg.ca.
Fast Fact: American volunteer rates lowest in four years
February 26, 2007
Last year, 61 million Americans reported donating time to a charity. It is the lowest number of volunteers since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began collecting such data in 2002, and represents a drop from the 65.4 million people who said they volunteered in 2005. The median amount of time spent volunteering between September 2005 and September 2006 was 52 hours. Volunteers were most likely to volunteer for one organization (68.5%), though almost one in five who did volunteer supported two organizations (19.8%). -- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Housing issues front and centre in BC budget
February 26, 2007
With the 2010 Olympics less than three years away, British Columbia's Liberal government is taking some action to address the housing and homelessness issues that plague the province. Last week, Finance Minister Carole Taylor released the 2007 budget, which includes $250 million to establish a new Housing Endowment Fund. The fund will generate approximately $10 million a year in interest that will be used to support new projects that may not meet the criteria for established housing programs.
Including the endowment fund, this latest budget provides $2 billion over four years to address housing issues. This includes:
- An additional $27 million over three years to increase the number of year-round shelter beds by almost 30%;
- $38 million in one-time funding to projects that provide housing and support for people who are homeless, or at risk of being homeless;
- An additional $6 million over three years to strengthen support for transition houses for women and children fleeing domestic violence;
- $45 million over four years to convert up to 750 social housing units to supportive housing, to make them more accessible for seniors and others with special housing needs.
For more information, visit: www2.news.gov.bc.ca.
Former volunteer charged with theft in Yellowknife
February 26, 2007
CBC News reported last week that a Yellowknife man has been charged with theft over $5,000 and forgery in relation to a volunteer position with a nonprofit organization. Roy Desjarlais served as treasurer for the Community Television Society in Yellowknife for the past 10 years. Police say they have confiscated approximately $50,000 in cheques allegedly made out to him in the past two years.
Desjarlais works as a funding services officer for Indian and Northern Affairs in Yellowknife.
He has also chaired the public school board in the city and served as chief executive officer of the North American Indigenous Games. Desjarlais is expected to appear in court on March 6th.
Kingston developer donates $2 million to local hospitals
February 26, 2007
Housing developer Brit Smith is donating $2 million to Kingston's hospitals.
The gift is the largest sum of money the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation has ever received. It will be shared between the Providence Continuing Care Centre, Kingston General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hospital, and will help them improve and expand their services.
"Those of us who are fortunate in business have to assume a certain responsibility to support charities and causes in the community," Smith said. "If you're lucky enough to make some money, you should share it." For more information, visit: www.uhkf.ca.
Heritage Foundation issues report on Canada's most endangered sites
February 26, 2007
The Heritage Canada Foundation (HCF) has released its Canada's Endangered Places Report Card for 2006.
The report card includes the top ten most endangered places and worst
losses lists, and takes stock of the federal government's performance in 2006.
"It's been a tumultuous year," said Natalie Bull, HCF's executive
director. "With the loss of the federal Commercial Heritage Properties
Incentive Fund and the Auditor General's second warning that heritage
buildings are still at risk, the federal government once again gets a failing
grade in its overall commitment to heritage conservation."
The "Top Ten" list of endangered places in Canada includes: British
Columbia's Art Deco Vogue Theatre in Vancouver; the modernist Central Pentecostal Tabernacle in Edmonton;
the Royal Canadian Legion building in Saskatoon; Winnipeg's King Building; the former lamp factory at 48 Abell Street in
Toronto; the historic Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine House in
Montreal; Nova Scotia's Seal Island lighthouse; the town of Tilting - a
national historic site - in Newfoundland; and the Yukon's Herschel Island, an
important cultural heritage site threatened by conditions attributed to global
climate change. To download the complete report card in PDF format, visit: www.heritagecanada.org.
Fast Fact: Only 1 in 3 employers has policy for religious issues
February 26, 2007
A new survey out of the UK finds that the majority of employers do not have an explicit policy on how to manage work related issues arising from the religion or beliefs of employees. While two-thirds of organizations support people in meeting the dress code of the religion, two-thirds mention being confused about which faith days their staff will be celebrating and how. The proportion of employers with an explicit policy is higher in the public sector (55%) than in the voluntary sector (31%), private sector services (30%) and manufacturing and production (17%). Three-quarters of employers with a policy support staff in taking time off for religious observance. About 60% provide staff with time or facilities for religious observance in the workplace. -- CIPD/KPMG
Community sport fund expands to include more sports in 2007
February 26, 2007
Bell Canada and
the True Sport Foundation announced the expansion of the Bell Community
Sport Fund for 2007. "We are thrilled to be extending this program to more sports and to more
Canadians with another million-dollar commitment for 2007," said Renato
Discenza, senior vice president, enterprise sales, Bell Canada. "The Bell Community Sport Fund provides the
necessary grants to sport organizations, community centres and schools that
help young Canadians get involved in local sport programs."
Previously only available for hockey and soccer programs, in 2007 the
Bell Community Sport Fund will grow to include the following team sports: baseball, basketball, cricket, curling, field
hockey, football, lacrosse, ringette, softball and volleyball, in addition to
hockey and soccer. As well, the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation is partnering with True Sport to set up the True Sport Community Fund in the remaining six provinces
and three territories. The fund will award 40 to
50 grants annually for the next four years. For more information or to apply for funding, visit www.truesportpur.ca/bellfund.
Rural Communities Conference issues call for proposals
February 26, 2007
The Foundation for Rural Living is looking for passionate people who are committed to rural nonprofit and voluntary organizations to present at their 2007 spring conference. The Building Vital Rural Communities Conference will be held in Guelph, Ontario on
June 6 & 7. It will highlight the work of rural nonprofit and voluntary organizations,
provide an opportunity for individuals and organizations to share their knowledge and skills with their peers, and
provide workshops that will enhance development in the areas of philanthropy, organizational and community capacity building. The deadline for submissions is March 20th. For more information, visit: ruralphilanthropy.ca.
Conference Board publishes paper on potential of Canada's cities
February 26, 2007
The Conference Board of Canada released a new report that looks at the capacity and potential of Canada's major cities to act as engines of national productivity, competitiveness and success. Mission Possible: Successful Canadian Cities provides direction for national policy and investment strategies aimed at strengthening the cornerstones of competitive cities, and creating the municipal governance and fiscal strength and autonomy needed to make Canada's major cities more livable, competitive and sustainable. For more information or to download the full report, visit: www.conferenceboard.ca.
Feds acting to improve grant and contribution programs
February 19, 2007
Last week, the Treasury Board of Canada announced a series of immediate actions to
improve how grant and contribution programs are managed. The measures are a
first step in response to the report of an independent blue ribbon panel on
grants and contributions. The panel concluded that there is a need for fundamental change, and that it is both possible and necessary to simplify administration while strengthening
accountability. Government action will include the following:
- The president of the Treasury Board will lead in the development of an
action plan to reform the administration of grants and contributions
with a view to ensuring they deliver clear results in the most
effective and efficient way possible within a sensible risk management
framework. The government will continue to consult with the recipient
community as this action plan is developed.
- The Treasury Board
Secretariat will work with selected departments to examine business
processes to identify opportunities for improved service and
efficiencies.
- The government will establish a centre of expertise on grants and
contributions, to share best practices, and to promote innovation in
program administration.
For more information, visit: www.tbs-sct.gc.ca.
BC telethon brings in $7.5 million for kids with special needs
February 19, 2007
The 41st Annual Variety Show of Hearts Telethon raised $7,568,732 last weekend, making it the best-ever year for the event. The money will pay for specialized equipment, medicines, therapies and a host of other expenses for children in British Columbia who have special needs.
With over 2,500 volunteers and a cumulative audience of more than one million viewers, the Show of Hearts Telethon is one of the biggest fundraisers in the country. For more information, visit: www.variety.bc.ca.
Fast Fact: Most executives would recommend profession to their children
February 19, 2007
Nearly two-thirds (64%) of
executives feel that better career opportunities are available to today's
young professionals compared to when they began their own careers, according
to a new survey.
Nevertheless, a majority (89%) of executives
stated they want to see their children obtain at least a master's, doctoral or
professional degree. When asked if they would recommend their profession to their children,
75% of executives indicated they either "definitely"
or "probably" would. When asked how the work ethic of today's young professionals compared to
that of previous generations, 49% of executives indicated that it was worse. Thirty-one percent said that the work
ethic of today's young professionals has not changed, and 19% said it
has improved. -- Korn/Ferry International
Prime Minister unveils $1.5 billion fund for climate change plans
February 19, 2007
The federal government announced last week that it will create a $1.5 billion Eco-Trust and Clean Air Fund to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases.
Money from the fund will be distributed to provinces and territories to finance major projects to cut carbon dioxide emissions and pollutants by encouraging technology development and energy efficiency that "will provide real results on the reduction of air pollution," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said. The money will be included in the federal government's coming budget, expected on March 20. For more information, visit: www.pm.gc.ca.
New report examines Canada's social purpose capital
February 19, 2007
The Tides Canada Foundation recently published research on the new social purpose capital emerging in Canada. The Social Purpose Capital Marketplace:
An Opportunity for the Canadian Charitable Sector compiles recent thinking on the opportunity of creating a social capital marketplace, with a focus on the role
of charitable organizations, both as financiers and recipients of social finance capital. The paper concludes that the charitable sector has socially underperforming financial assets (reserve funds, real estate, etc.) that
could be leveraged for greater social and environmental returns, while social innovation is underfinanced because of the
lack of an entrepreneurial risk-based culture in the social sector and the absence of a dynamic social purpose capital
marketplace. To download the report, visit: www.tidescanada.org.
Wal-Mart donation honours Canadian veterans
February 19, 2007
Wal-Mart Canada presented the Juno Beach Centre with a $1 million donation last week, on the same day the federal government announced a $5 million commitment to the centre, which is located on the Normandy Coast of
Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, at the 1944 D-Day landing site of Canadian
forces.
The creation and construction of the Juno Beach Centre was organized by a
group of Canadian World War II veterans and supported by close to
$7 million in funds and marketing support donated and raised by Wal-Mart
Canada, the project's lead sponsor. "We believe by
supporting the Juno Beach Centre, we can help Canadians honour and learn about
an important chapter of our history and the impact the events of World War II
had on our unfolding national identity," said Mario Pilozzi, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Canada Corp. For more information about the Juno Beach Centre, visit: www.junobeach.org.
Fast Fact: Family time becoming a thing of the past
February 19, 2007
On average, workers spent 45 minutes less with their family during workdays in 2005 than they did two decades earlier, according to a new report from Statistics Canada. Based on a 260-day work year, that amounts to 195 hours less, or the equivalent of about five 40-hour work weeks. Not surprisingly, the more time people spent at work, the less they spent with their family. For example, workers who devoted between 9 and 10 hours a day to paid employment spent 52 minutes less with their families than those who devoted 7 to 8 hours.
Between 1986 and 2005, the average time devoted to paid employment during the typical workday, including lunch and coffee breaks, increased considerably. On average, Canadians worked 536 minutes, or 8.9 hours, during a typical workday in 2005, up from 506, or 8.4 hours, two decades earlier. The proportion of workers who devoted long hours to their paid activities also increased. For example, in 1986, about 17% of workers devoted 10 hours or more to their work; by 2005, this had jumped to 25%. -- Statistics Canada
Nonprofits recognized for innovative partnerships with for-profits
February 19, 2007
Imagine Canada recently presented the tenth annual Business and Community Partnership Awards, which recognize innovative collaborations between businesses and their nonprofit partners. This year, first place honours went to Toronto Police Services, RCMP, and Microsoft Canada, for the Child Exploitation Tracking System (CETS).
The Maytree Foundation and Manulife Financial came in second for the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC), and third place went to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary and Area and First Calgary Savings for the Between Generations initiative.
“The winning partnerships are about more than financial support. Companies don’t just write cheques anymore,” said Georgina Steinsky-Schwartz, president and CEO of Imagine Canada. “Businesses partner with nonprofits because they are dedicated to meeting a community need.” For more information, visit www.imaginecanada.ca.
Brockville Community Foundation invites grant applications
February 19, 2007
The Brockville Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from charities in Leeds and Grenville.
Registered charities in all sectors, including arts and culture, heritage preservation, education, environment, social services and youth initiatives are encouraged to apply for the spring edition of the grant program.
Applicants are asked to submit a brief letter of intent to the foundation office by noon on Thursday, March 8. The letter of intent form is available online.
For more information on how to apply, visit: www.bcfdn.ca/receive/index.htm.
Senators gala raises $280,000 for Ottawa charities
February 19, 2007
The premier fundraising event of the Ottawa Senators Foundation, the 2007 Bell Ottawa Senators Viva Las Vegas Ice & Dice, raised more than $280,000 to benefit sick kids.
The money will be donated to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario ($125,000) and the pediatric unit of the Centre de sant et de services sociaux de Gatineau ($50,000), with the remainder going toward other local health-related charities whose programs focus on improving the quality of life for children and youth.
Since 1992, the Ottawa Senators and their foundation have provided more than $1 million to charities in the region. For more information, visit: www.ottawasenatorsfoundation.com.
Arthur and Sonia Labatt make $30 million donation to SickKids
February 12, 2007
Last week, SickKids Foundation announced the largest gift in the history of The Hospital for Sick Children, and the largest philanthropic investment in children’s cardiac medicine and research in North America. Arthur and Sonia Labatt pledged $30 million to the institution, with $25 million establishing the Labatt Family Heart Centre, and a $5 million endowment that furthers their support of the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre.
“Our motivation to support SickKids is simple and straightforward. We feel that healthy children lead more fulfilling and productive lives. And a more productive society has a global impact,” said Sonia Labatt. “We are privileged in being able to offer support to an institution that provides some of the best paediatric health care in the world.” For more information, visit: www.sickkidsfoundation.com.
Study examines business contributions to communities
February 12, 2007
Imagine Canada released the results from the first phase of a long-term research initiative that looks at the community
investment practices of Canadian companies. Business Contributions to Canadian Communities reveals
a diverse set of practices and motivations and shows that, for many businesses,
community investment has its challenges. Key findings from the report include: why businesses contribute to charitable organizations; how they organize those contributions; how contributions are assessed and evaluated; and the challenges companies face when contributing to community.
Researchers conclude that internal procedures and systems to support community investment do not appear to be
well developed among even the largest businesses. And although many businesses, particularly the larger ones, appear to be
interested in strategically targeting their community contributions efforts to support
business goals, their ability to do so appears to be limited. To download the report in PDF format, visit: www.nonprofitscan.ca.
Federal government invests millions in spinal cord research
February 12, 2007
Prime Minister Stephen Harper celebrated the 20th anniversary of Rick Hansen's Man In Motion World Tour with a substantial commitment to spinal cord injury research. The federal government intends to provide $30 million in funding over five years for the Spinal Cord Injury Translational Research Network (SCI-TRN), established by the Rick Hansen Foundation. The SCI-TRN is working to create a national network to accelerate the translation of innovative research discoveries into practical benefits for Canadians with spinal cord injuries, generate savings in health and social services, and accelerate scientific advances toward a cure. For more information, visit: www.pm.gc.ca.
Fast Fact: Nonprofit employees failing to save for retirement
February 12, 2007
Nonprofit workers lag behind their for-profit counterparts when it comes to saving money for retirement, a new survey reveals. Boston-based Fidelity Investments found that employees at government and nonprofit agencies have an average of $48,000 saved in retirement investment plans offered by their employers. By comparison, people working in the corporate sector have saved an average of $62,000 in such plans. This is despite the fact that the workers surveyed have comparable income levels ($55,000 annually for nonprofit workers and $58,000 for corporate workers). Almost half of nonprofit workers surveyed (48%) contribute less than $2,000 per year to their retirement plans. -- Fidelity Investments
Salvation Army raises $22 million through 2006 Christmas campaign
February 12, 2007
Donors from across Canada pitched in to help the Salvation Army raise $22 million during its 2006 Christmas fundraising campaign. This includes $1.5 million generated through 'virtual' kettles online, a 68% increase from 2005. The traditional kettles brought in $11 million of the total raised. "We are continually amazed by the generosity of Canadians and this year’s Christmas Campaign was no different,” said M. Christine MacMillan, territorial commander of the Salvation Army for Canada and Bermuda. “The generosity of those that support our work will help us continue to stand with the marginalized in Canada. Without their help, much of what we do would not be possible.” For more information, visit: www.salvationarmy.ca.
New process for registering charitable organizations in Alberta
February 12, 2007
Nonprofit organizations in Alberta that fundraise more than $25,000 from individuals annually must register under the province's Charitable Fundraising Act.
However, after April 1, 2007, organizations can no longer register or renew with Alberta Registry Agents. Instead they need to register by mail or in person with one of two consumer field offices - one in Calgary and one in Edmonton. If you have questions about the change, call the Service Alberta Contact
Centre at (780) 427-4088 in Edmonton or toll free in Alberta at
1-877-427-4088. For more information on how to register a charitable organization in Alberta, visit: governmentservices.gov.ab.ca.
Winnipeg businessman pledges $1 million to human rights museum
February 12, 2007
Bob Harris, the owner of Winnipeg-based Harris Transport Ltd., presented the Canadian Museum for Human Rights with a donation of $1 million toward its capital campaign.
“Human rights are the basis of North American society. It has made
Canada what is it today and the rest of the world wants what Canada has," said Harris. "This museum is not
only good but necessary - for Winnipeg, for Canada, and the entire world. It will definitely put
Winnipeg on the map.” The museum is targeted to open in Winnipeg in 2010. For more information, visit: www.canadianmuseumforhumanrights.com.
Fast Fact: Canadians display more tolerance than other nations
February 12, 2007
According to a new international study of citizens in 23 Western countries, Canadians are the least likely to have bigoted attitudes toward Muslims. The survey asked respondents whether they would object to having certain kinds of people as neighbours. Only 6.5% of Canadians said they would not want to live next door to a Muslim, the lowest of any of the nations surveyed. In the United States, 10.9% of people did not want a Muslim next door compared with an overall percentage of 14.5% in western countries, with the highest percentage being in Greece at 20.9%. Fewer than 5% of respondents from Canada said they wouldn't want to have a neighbour who is Jewish, an immigrant or of a different race. However, the survey also found that more Canadians would object to having a homosexual neighbour than a Muslim one - just over 17%. The overall percentage that objected to a homosexual neighbour was 19.6%, with Italy (28.7%) and Sweden (6%) at the opposite ends of the range. -- Kyklos International Review for Social Sciences
Report helps nonprofits move people from knowledge to action
February 12, 2007
A new report from the Communications Leadership Institute and Spitfire Strategies aims to help nonprofits
harness the power of persuasion to make more progress toward their social change goals. Discovering the Activation Point looks at the work of
leading thinkers on persuasion through a nonprofit lens. It asserts that an activation point occurs when the right people at the right time are persuaded to
take an action that leads to measurable social change. The report offers guidance on how nonprofits can create activation points by: determining who they need to persuade; figuring out what stage an audience is in and how to move them to act; and deciding when the time is right to persuade. To request a copy of the full report, visit www.activationpoint.org/downloads.
Scotiabank employees rally to support United Way of Greater Toronto
February 12, 2007
Scotiabank announced a $6.8 million
contribution to the United Way of Greater Toronto, the largest-ever Scotiabank
employee donation. The donation surpassed the bank's 2005 total of $5.9
million and contributed to the
United Way of Greater Toronto's 2006 fundraising campaign total of $106.8 million, the second-largest fundraising achievement in North America. For more information about the United Way of Greater Toronto, visit: www.uwgt.org.
BC coalition seeks people with disabilities for research initiative
February 12, 2007
The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities’ Health Literacy Network is working
on a project to help people with disabilities get health information at their local
library. They are seeking people from the following disability communities to interview
about their needs and experiences accessing health information:
- Physical disabilities
- Developmental disabilities
- Brain injuries
- Low vision/blindness
- Low hearing/deafness
- Mental illness
- Chronic health conditions
- Learning disabilities
The coalition wants to include people who have never used a library AND people who
have used a library to get health information. Your name will not be used
in the final report - a book chapter. Interviews will be completed before March 16th.
If you are interested in participating or would like more information, contact Shelley at the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities. Phone 604-875-0188 or e-mail wdi@bccpd.bc.ca.
Community profiles of urban poverty now available online
February 5, 2007
The Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) has released the first in a series of products from the 2007 edition of the Urban Poverty Project. The Community Profiles present national and provincial data about population, households, and employment, then drill down to provide equivalent information at the community level. The report concludes that one-quarter of Canadian households - more than 2.7 million households - are paying too much of their income to keep a roof over their heads. And calculations done by the CCSD show that families who rent are the most likely to have to pay a disproportionate amount of their household income for shelter - almost 40% of all tenant households. "Everyone from bankers to financial planners to housing experts agree that 30% of your income is the most you should have to pay for a safe and healthy place to live. Yet it is a near-impossible goal for many Canadians - even those who work full-time," said CCSD president Peter Bleyer. For more information or to download the report, visit: www.ccsd.ca.
Energy giant contributes more than $11 million to charity
February 5, 2007
Last week, Suncor Energy announced that it invested $11.2 million in more than 900 charitable organizations and nonprofit
groups in 2006. More than $8 million of that total was invested through the Suncor Energy Foundation. Its 2006 contributions were
focused in three priority areas:
- $5.7 million for community projects, including programs that support
Aboriginal initiatives and the charitable contributions of Suncor's
employees.
- $3.7 million for educational programs, specifically in skilled trades,
science and technology.
- $1.8 million for environmental initiatives
For more information, visit: www.suncor.com.
Fast Fact: Direct mail marketing still widely read, especially by women
February 5, 2007
A survey commissioned by Baltimore-based Vertis Communications reveals that direct mail continues to hold its own, particularly with women ages 25-44. According to the survey, 85% of women ages 25 to 44 who have e-mail said they read printed direct mail pieces in 2006, compared to just 53% who read e-mail advertisements. As well, 57% of women ages 35 to 64 said they prefer follow-up communications from organizations they’re interested in to come via personalized direct mail. In contrast, 38% of men ages 35 to 49 preferred generic direct mail follow-up when contacted by an organization. -- Vertis Communications
2007 Alcan Prize for Sustainability issues call for entries
February 5, 2007
Alcan and the International
Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) are now accepting submission for the US$1 million Alcan
Prize for Sustainability 2007. The Alcan Prize is open to all not-for-profit, non-governmental, and
civil society organizations based anywhere in the world that are working to
advance the goals of economic, environmental, and social sustainability. The
prize was created to recognize the not-for-profit
sector for its contributions to global sustainability both in the community
and more widely by influencing policy. The deadline for receipt
of entries is March 31st. For more information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit: www.alcanprizeforsustainability.com.
Desjardins Group donates $2 million to Concordia University
February 5, 2007
Desjardins Group announced a $2 million donation to Concordia University's John Molson School of Business (JMSB). The funds will provide students with scholarships and bursaries and
establish the Desjardins Centre for Innovation in Business Finance. This
research centre, unique to Quebec, will study how companies finance
themselves, including the role financial institutions may play in this
financing. "By investing in this centre, Desjardins will help students remain
abreast of the most recent technology in the banking and finance fields,
better preparing them to enter the business world in full stride," said Concordia president Claude Lajeunesse. For more information, visit: mediarelations.concordia.ca.
Fast Fact: What influences donors to give
February 5, 2007
In a recent poll, 76% of Americans said that word-of-mouth requests from family or friends were the most effective way for a charity to reach them, followed by newspaper and magazine articles (56%), events (51%), and advertising (50%). As well, 82% of respondents cited trust in a charity as the most important motivator to give, and 80% said they were motivated to give when they saw a charity's impact locally.
Less important were the ease and convenience of donating (68%), the chance to get involved with the charity in other ways (59%), and frequent media coverage of the organization (45%). -- Cone
Women's Executive Network launches new mentoring program
February 5, 2007
As part of a new initiative from the Women's Executive Network (WXN), Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 award winners will act as mentors for the next generation of women leaders. As the first program of
its kind in the world, WXNWisdom II will offer successful applicants a year of
mentoring, classroom instruction, and peer networking beginning in April in
Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. Each protégée will
meet with her mentor four times during the year and receive 20 hours of
classroom instruction focused on career development and leadership. Women between the ages of 20-39 may apply online at www.wxnetwork.com by
March 2, 2007 to participate in the program as protégées.
Bell pledges support for Aboriginal women in BC
February 5, 2007
Bell recently announced a partnership with the Minerva Foundation for BC Women by committing $500,000 to support the
organization's "Combining Our Strength" initiative. The program provides
opportunities in leadership development, economic security, education and
cross-cultural awareness in support of BC's Aboriginal women. "We see our role as one in which we act as a catalyst, setting up a
partnership and creating dialogue between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women,
building trusting relationships and supporting them in making systematic and
sustainable changes," said Jeanne Douglas, chair of the board for the Minerva
Foundation. "While these are important goals, they won't be reached without
support from visionary corporate donors." For more information about the Minerva Foundation, visit: www.theminervafoundation.com.
Fast Fact: Technology is key in encouraging participation in nonprofits
February 5, 2007
A new national survey finds that 56% of Canadians have considered getting involved in a charitable or nonprofit organization. Additionally, 47% of Canadians say an easy to use, navigable website where they can find information about the organization, inspires them to get actively involved. Respondents also stated that viewing events and meetings related to the organization’s cause online (36%) and receiving e-newsletters from the organization about current campaigns and events (34%) would generate additional interest in the organization. -- Wild Apricot
