NewsBytes: March 2007
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Federal budget includes a few bright spots for charities
March 26, 2007
The federal Conservatives presented their 2007 budget last week. There was some good news for charities, namely the elimination of capital gains tax on the donation of publicly-listed securities to private foundations. “We all win when the government encourages people to give,” said Monica Patten, president and CEO of Community Foundations of Canada. “This tax relief will be welcome news to existing foundations and individuals eager to create and manage their own organization.” As a result of this change, Budget 2007 proposes to limit the share ownership of private foundations based on the relative size of holdings by foundations and non-arm's length persons in a particular corporation. Effective immediately, private foundations that own more than 2% of any share class of a corporation will be required to report its holdings, and those of non-arm's length persons, to the Canada Revenue Agency on the foundation's annual information return.
The budget also includes incentives for pharmaceutical corporations to donate medicine from their inventory in order to claim a special additional deduction. However, this deduction is only available when the donee is a registered charity that has received funds from CIDA. Other announcements include the introduction of a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) to provide families greater opportunity to save for the future financial security of a child with a severe disability. A new $30 million program for local arts festivals and special events was a surprise to many, though it is not immediately clear which department will be responsible for the administration of the program, nor what the nature and details of the criteria of eligibility for these funds are. And, not surprisingly, the budget included support for clean air and climate change projects, primarily through the $1.5-billion Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change. For more information and highlights from the 2007 budget, visit: www.budget.gc.ca.
CRA Charities Directorate will hit the road again this year
March 26, 2007
The Canada Revenue Agency's Charities Directorate announced that it is once again offering information sessions for registered charities. The 2007 Roadshows are open to all registered charities and will provide attendees with information on: books, records and financial statements; how best to prepare for an audit; sanctions; receipting; and tax planning schemes.
If you are interested in being invited to one of the CRA Roadshows, you must complete an online response form by Friday, April 20th.
For more information, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
Fast Fact: Fundraising one of the top 25 careers to pursue
March 26, 2007
A US magazine has named fundraising as one of the top 25 careers to pursue in the coming years. US News & World Report examined trends in the economy and workplace and identified the hottest professions to have in terms of pay, job market outlook, quality of life, attainability and prestige. Other careers making the Top 25 list were audiologist, clergy, higher education administrator, librarian, management consultant, occupational therapist, and registered nurse. Nonprofit manager made the list of the ten most overrated careers, along with attorney, chef, chiropractor, teacher, police officer, real estate agent, small business owner, ad executive, and psychologist. -- U.S. News & World Report
New report tracks Internet use by charities
March 26, 2007
UK-based think tank nfpSynergy has released the 2006 installment of its annual survey tracking charities' use of, and attitudes toward the Internet. Virtual Promise 2006 incorporates data on specific information regarding their Internet presence and resources, including budgets, staff allocation, hardware/software, marketing, and much more. The 252-page presents survey results as a whole, but also broken down into data for small, medium and large charities, to provide more targeted 'benchmarkable' results. Interestingly, while the charities included in the survey have websites, with many planning to add more features and functionality in the next six months, only 43% have a dedicated budget for their site. One quarter of respondents report having no website budget, and another 25% don't know whether they have such a budget. To download the full report, visit: www.nfpsynergy.net.
Study shows nonprofit human services in distress
March 26, 2007
Community Development Halton (CDH) has released Pushing the Limits: Challenges of Halton's Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Labour Force.
The report identifies five challenges to the strength and vitality of the sector's paid and volunteer labour force: gender equity and balance; competing in a tighter labour market; engaging the workforce of the future; nurturing volunteers; and assuring a diverse base of organizations to provide a mix of essential social supports.
"The sector’s human capital is the basis for [its] economic contribution; the stability and
quality of its human resource base are critical to the sector’s capacity to continue performing
both its social and economic roles effectively," said Peter Clutterbuck, principal investigator for the study. "Alarmingly, the study shows that the sector is
pushed to the limits of its human resource capacity, and precariously balanced between
sustainability and disaster."
For more information, visit: www.cdhalton.ca.
Fast Fact: Government homecare spending reaches $3.4 billion
March 26, 2007
Government spending on homecare grew
from $1.6 billion in 1994-1995 to $3.4 billion in 2003-2004, an average annual
growth of 9.2%, according to a new report from the Canadian Institute for
Health Information (CIHI). In comparison, over the same time period, total
government health spending increased by an average of 5.7% per year. Between 1994-1995 and 2003-2004, government homecare spending per person
increased on average by 6.1% per year after adjusting for inflation, while
total government health spending per person increased by 2.7% per year. The number of patients using government-subsidized homecare increased
from 23.9 per 1,000 in 1994-1995 to 26.1 per 1,000 in 2003-2004, representing
an average annual increase of 1.0%. -- Canadian Institute for Health Information
IMPACS announces that it is ceasing operations
March 26, 2007
The board of directors of IMPACS - Institute for Media Policy and Civil Society announced last week that the organization has ceased operations and made a voluntary assignment into bankruptcy, effective March 21, 2007. The IMPACS board has determined that the only responsible course of action available at this time is to plan for an orderly wind-up of IMPACS, assisting in the securing of new work opportunities for the organization's employees and to limit the adverse financial exposure of the organization and its valued creditors.
For more information, visit: www.impacs.org.
AFP Greater Toronto seeks conference speakers
March 26, 2007
The Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Toronto Chapter is
seeking submissions for presenters at Congress 2007, to be held in Toronto from November 13 - 15, 2007. This conference brings more than 700
fundraisers together for three days of learning and networking. The congress education committee will
review the submissions and will make their decisions based on the topic, the
outcomes, and past evaluations. If you would like to present or recommend someone who should be
considered, please contact Cynthia Quigley at cquigley@afptoronto.org or visit www.afptoronto.org.
Fast Fact: Charitable sector's use of direct mail on the rise
March 26, 2007
The Royal Mail reports that UK-based charities increased their use of direct mail by 9.1% in a year. In the last quarter of 2006, charities sent 132.27 million mailings compared to 121.22 million in the same period in 2005. The Royal Mail says these results support earlier research, which revealed that "post also remains the preferred method of sending donations, despite the rising popularity of online donating sites." -- Royal Mail
Awards honour nonprofits for their work with homeless youth
March 26, 2007
In this second year of Eva's Initiatives Award for Innovation, three winners are being recognized for their outstanding work with homeless youth. Eva's Initiatives received 66 applications from organizations working with homeless youth in ten provinces and territories. The three winners for 2007, recognized for their models of integrated supports for homeless youth, are:
- Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs for their Kelowna Downtown Youth Centre
- Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Programming Inc. for their Urban Canvas Project
- Les Maisons Transitionnelles 03 for their housing and support program for young parents
Each winning organization receives a prize of $5,000, presented at an awards ceremony in their community. For more information, visit: www.evasinitiatives.com.
$10 million gift a shot in the arm for nursing education
March 19, 2007
The University of Toronto's Faculty of Nursing received a donation of $10 million last week from Toronto financier Lawrence Bloomberg. It is the largest private investment in a Canadian nursing faculty and will enable the University of Toronto to address some of the issues driving Canada's nursing shortage. "I have come to realize that people do not fully appreciate the role that nurses play," said Bloomberg. "They are integral members of the healthcare team and I hope the [Faculty of Nursing] Transformation Agenda will make it possible, through education and research, for nurses to take their rightful role in advancing patient care." In recognition of Bloomberg's contribution to the field of nursing, the university has named its nursing faculty the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, creating the country's first named nursing faculty. For more information, visit: www.news.utoronto.ca.
Feds earmark $225 million for conservation groups
March 19, 2007
The federal Conservatives unveiled plans last week to invest in a national campaign to acquire and preserve ecologically sensitive land in partnership with the private sector.
“This investment will result in the long-term protection of Canada’s natural treasures,” said Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “It builds on the action we took in last year’s budget to fully exempt from capital gains tax private donations of lands to conservation groups.”
The government’s lead partner in the campaign is the Nature Conservancy of Canada, which will work with recognized conservation groups including Ducks Unlimited Canada and members of the Canadian Land Trust Alliance. Together, they will identify ecologically valuable land and seek donation, purchase or preservation agreements with landowners. Where land purchases are involved, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and its partners will seek to raise funds at least matching the government’s contributions, which will be $225 million in total.
For more information, visit: www.pm.gc.ca.
Fast Fact: Baby boomers volunteer more, but inconsistently
March 19, 2007
A new study finds that baby boomers are volunteering at higher rates than previous generations. Researchers estimate that 30.9% of baby boomers - those born between 1946 to 1964 - volunteered when they were between the ages of 46 to 57. Among those born between 1931 and 1945, the estimated volunteer rate was 23.2% at that age, and 25.3% for those born between 1910 and 1930. Despite increased volunteerism among baby boomers, the study also found that 31% of those who volunteer one year fail to return the next. -- Corporation for National and Community Service
Tzu Chi Foundation announces donation to fight infectious diseases
March 19, 2007
The Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) will invest almost $1 million in new equipment and research funding thanks to
the generosity of the Tzu Chi Foundation Canada. The donation will fund
equipment needed by the hospital's Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat or
ENT) division and a new groundbreaking technological platform that identifies
and knocks out emerging infectious diseases.
"Our membership wanted to take action, and support something that would
bring benefit to many," said Gary Ho, CEO of the foundation. "By
funding equipment, with tangible results for people in British Columbia who
are cared for at VGH, and infectious disease research, with its worldwide
potential, we're pleased to be supporting the communities we live and work in,
at many levels." For more information, visit: worldclasshealthcare.ca.
Maytree Foundation seeks entries for diversity awards
March 19, 2007
The Maytree Foundation Diversity in Governance Awards 2007 will recognize GTA agencies, boards and commissions and voluntary sector organizations that have demonstrated creativity and innovation toward advancing diversity in board appointments and governance. These awards are an extension of
abcGTA, an initiative of Maytree that works to ensure that the governance bodies of public agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs) as well as voluntary organizations reflect the diversity of people who live and work in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
To apply for an award, complete a short application form describing your board's diversity status, your key strategies for creating a more inclusive board, how you have measured your progress and the key practices that can be adopted by other boards.
The deadline for applications is March 23rd. For more information, visit: www.maytree.com.
Fast Fact: Corporate contributions up 14% in 2005
March 19, 2007
A new report by the US-based Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) found that companies were significantly more generous in 2005 compared to 2004, with the average dollar value of contributions increasing by 14%. Cash gifts were the most prevalent type of contributions, accounting for 45% of all gifts, followed by foundation grants (33%) and non-cash contributions (22%). The most popular causes were health and social services, which received about 34% of total giving, followed by education (23%), community and economic development (14%), civic and public affairs (6%), culture and arts (6%), environment (3%). and other causes (14%). -- Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy
Easter Seals Telethon a huge success in PEI
March 19, 2007
PEI Easter Seals ambassador Anthony Comeau hoped to raise $100,000 during the society's annual telethon, held last week. The three-hour fundraising event did much better than that, raising a record $167,420 for the cause.
"The needs at Easter Seals are big, but apparently the hearts of Islanders are bigger," said Easter Seals committee chair, Peter MacDougald. The telethon aired live on CBC Television and featured an array of entertainers and special guests.
For more information about the PEI Easter Seals Society, visit: www.eastersealspei.com.
Montreal business students to benefit from bank donation
March 19, 2007
HEC Montréal and National Bank
Financial (NBF) announced that NBF is making a $250,000 donation to HEC, with the goal of upgrading the National Bank Financial trading room, where trading
simulations are held as part of school courses and seminars. "The trading room is a valuable asset for our students, who will have to carve out a place for themselves on the
labour market once they graduate. It gives them a chance to perfect their
knowledge of the intricacies of financial markets and make better links
between theory and practice," said HEC Montréal director Michel Patry. For more information about HEC Montréal, visit www.hec.ca.
Fast Fact: Immigration fuels Canadian population growth
March 19, 2007
New census data released by Statistics Canada shows that immigrants made up the vast majority of the 1.6 million new Canadians between 2001 and 2006, giving the country the highest population growth rate among G8 countries. Canada's population now stands at 31,612,897, with a growth rate of 5.4% during that five-year period. Approximately 1.2 million new immigrants made up the bulk of the population growth, while the country's native-born population increased by 400,000. As well, the trend toward urbanization in Canada continues, with 90% of the country's population growth concentrated in 33 metropolitan centres. The ten fastest growing cities in Canada are: Barrie, ON; Calgary; Oshawa, ON; Edmonton; Kelowna, BC;
Toronto; Kitchener, ON; Guelph, ON; Abbotsford, BC; and Moncton. -- Statistics Canada
Canadian philosopher receives prestigious Templeton Prize
March 19, 2007
Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor, 75, was recently awarded the world's largest annual monetary prize - more than $1.8 million - to advance his studies of the relationship of language and linguistic meaning to art and theology and to developing new concepts of relating human sciences with biological sciences. Taylor is the first Canadian to receive the Templeton Prize since it was established in 1972 by Sir John Templeton, an American-born British billionaire, money manager and philanthropist fascinated by spirituality and the intersection of science and religion. For more information, visit: www.templetonprize.org.
Vancouverites brave the rain to support prostate cancer research
March 19, 2007
More than 700 participants ran through the rainy streets of Vancouver to raise $105,000 for the internationally recognized Prostate Centre at Vancouver General
Hospital. Proceeds from Harry's Spring Run-Off 8K to Fight
Prostate Cancer will help advance research
into the causes of the disease and find new ways to diagnose and bring new
treatments to patients earlier. "The public awareness that has been raised for prostate cancer as a result of the event is truly invaluable," said Dr. Martin Gleave, director of the Prostate Centre at VGH. For more information, visit: www.worldclasshealthcare.ca.
Donner Foundation invites submissions from social service agencies
March 12, 2007
Applications are now being accepted for the 10th Annual Donner Canadian Foundation Awards for Excellence in the Delivery of Social Services (Donner Awards). The Donner Awards, Canada's largest nonprofit recognition program, were established in 1998 to recognize and encourage best practices in nonprofit management and to increase public confidence and support for Canada's nonprofit sector. A total of $70,000 in awards is presented annually to Canada's highest performing nonprofit organizations in each of nine categories of social service delivery. The top nonprofit organization is recognized with the prestigious $20,000 William H. Donner Award for Excellence. The Peter F. Drucker Award for Non-Profit Management is also presented to a nonprofit organization with a consistent record of excellence and innovation in management and service delivery. The application deadline is May 1st. For more information, visit: www.donnerawards.org.
CRA guide to completing charity information return now available
March 12, 2007
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has published a new guide to help charities complete their Registered Charity
Information Return (Form T3010A). It contains general guidelines about the T3010, notes on completely the return, plus detailed information about each line of the form.
For more information or to download the guide, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
Fast Fact: 2006 a record year for Canada's community foundations
March 12, 2007
According to statistics collected by Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), the country's network of 155 community foundations surpassed records on several fronts last year. Thanks to $271 million in new gifts and good investment returns, collective community foundation assets grew to $2.7 billion from $2.3 billion. Leading the way was the Vancouver Foundation, the country's largest community foundation, with $829 million invested on behalf of more than 1,000 separate endowment funds. The foundation distributed $40.6 million in grants to registered charities last year, up from $35.5 million in 2005 and $29.4 million in 2004. Collectively, Canada's community foundations distributed $137 million to thousands of charities in urban and rural communities across the country. -- Community Foundations of Canada
Canadian ballet gets a boost from Toronto couple
March 12, 2007
Three national dance organizations are celebrating a gift of $2 million from Toronto art patrons Jerry and Joan Lozinski. The National Ballet of Canada and the National Ballet School will each receive $1 million from the couple.
The Lozinskis are also donating $50,000 to the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, which was established to help professional dancers make the transition after they retire from performance. "We want to ensure the ballet school trains every talented student. We want the National Ballet to fulfill its dreams, to fund more touring, more new productions or more dancers," the couple said in a statement. "And we want to ensure dancers have the Dancer Transition Resource Centre [to] enable them to continue to contribute their talents to society after their performing careers." For more information, visit: www.national.ballet.ca.
New report looks at pros and cons of giving circles
March 12, 2007
A new study finds that giving circles can offer a lot to charities, but in some instances can present challenges for fundraisers. Giving Circles and Fundraising in the New Philanthropy Environment was based on interviews with 17 leaders of charitable organizations that had received funding from giving circles and looks at the challenges and opportunities that this new type of funding mechanism presents. The author of the report, Angela M. Eikenberry, also developed a database of giving-circle funding that includes 1,333 grants made to 878 nonprofit organizations and 160 individuals. The average gift from a giving circle was $28,781, with gifts ranging from $90 to $715,000. To download a copy of the report, visit: www.afpnet.org.
Toronto man faces hundreds of charges for charity scam
March 12, 2007
CTV News reported that a Toronto man is facing 378 charges in connection with a false charity that has defrauded hundreds of victims since 2004.
Police officers observed the man going door-to-door in the Rosedale community last week, collecting money for a charity he called "Violence Against Kids". When detectives learned that no such charity exists, they arrested and charged 40-year-old George Grdich. He is charged with 151 counts of fraud under $5,000;
151 counts of false pretences; and
76 counts of possession of property obtained by crime. Police believe there may be more victims. Anyone with information is asked to call 416-808-5306 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be left online at www.222tips.com.
Fast Fact: Giving by US foundations rose 6% in 2005
March 12, 2007
America's wealthiest foundations increased their grantmaking by 6.1% to $16.4 billion in 2005, up from $15.5 billion in 2004. Despite the moderate increase, it represents a slowdown from 2004, when grantmaking rose by 8.1%. In 2005, support for international causes grew to a record $591.2 million, an increase of almost 41%. Giving to environmental and animal causes also rose by nearly 28%. As in previous years, education garnered the largest amount of support in 2005, receiving almost one quarter of all grant dollars spent. -- Foundation Center
Anonymous donor offers support to those living with mental illness
March 12, 2007
The Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health received the largest donation in its 100-year history.
An anonymous donor presented the foundation with a gift of $2.5 million, bringing it one step closer to its goal of raising $15 million for the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research.
"This gift is given to help some of the most courageous people in the world, those living with a mental illness," said the note accompanying the gift. "May this gesture of support bring progress in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, and in the same way that the new facilities represent hope and investment, may this gift be a symbol to all that mental illness will no longer be the orphan of the Canadian health care system." For more information about the foundation, visit: www.rohcg.on.ca.
Global youth fellowship now accepting applications
March 12, 2007
The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation has announced the 2007 call for applications for its Global Youth Fellowship program. Fellowships are targeted toward emerging, young Canadian leaders who demonstrate potential to enhance Canada's role on the world stage. The fellowships provide successful candidates with a cash award of $20,000 as well as other forms of support.
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants between 24 - 35 years of age with previous international experience, either paid or volunteer. They also need to demonstrate a sustained commitment to international issues through studies, career choices and volunteer activities. The application deadline is April 20. For more information about the fellowships or eligibility criteria, visit www.gordonfn.org.
Cole Foundation invests $1 million in new leukemia research
March 12, 2007
McGill University and Université de
Montréal announced the creation of a series of post-graduate research
fellowships aimed at finding a cure for leukemia and other cancer-related
illnesses. The fellowship program is made possible by a $1-million donation
from the Cole Foundation, a Montreal-based nonprofit organization dedicated
to promoting research to eradicate leukemia. The initial fellowship program will last 16 months and will spread
$1 million among 28 individual clinician scientists, post-doctoral researchers
and students in the doctoral and master's programs. For more information, visit: www.medicine.mcgill.ca.
Refugee conference issues call for papers
March 12, 2007
Refuge, Canada's Periodical on Refugees invites submissions for the upcoming Metropolis Conference to be held in Toronto this spring. Topics can include, but are not limited to the following: host society practices with respect to the settlement and integration of refugees; international and comparative studies on the migration and settlement experience of successful refugee claimants, how this differs from that of other immigrant categories and how they may impact longer term social and economic outcomes; the range of issues refugees resettled from protracted situations may face and strategies developed by resettlement countries to address these issues. The deadline for submissions is March 31st. For more information, visit: www.yorku.ca.
AFP members invited to participate in annual survey
March 12, 2007
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is calling on its Canadian members to provide input for the 2006 State of Fundraising Survey. The survey is the profession’s first comprehensive look at how fundraising fared in the previous year. The purposes of the survey are to ascertain how organizations performed in their fundraising efforts, what techniques were most successful, what new trends are on the rise, and how fundraisers are responding to societal, financial and demographic changes. AFP members are asked to gather their organization’s fundraising data for the past two years and schedule about 20 minutes to complete the survey. To participate, visit: websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/33613/test2006canadasurvey.htm.
SickKids receives major donation to fund stem cell research
March 5, 2007
Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children has received an anonymous donation of $5.1 million to fund stem-cell research. The gift, which will be spread over five years, will support a three-pronged research effort on stem cells from adults, those involved in cancer, and stem cells from human embryos. "This is a major gift, and we're very excited about it," said Janet Rossant, the hospital's chief of research and a renowned stem-cell scientist. "We truly do believe that we need to understand how these cells grow."
For more information about SickKids, visit: www.sickkids.ca.
Ottawa telethon raises $4.6 million for U of O Heart Institute
March 5, 2007
The Ottawa community showed its support for the University of Ottawa Heart Institute last weekend, raising more than $4.6 million during the annual Heart Institute Telethon. The final tally surpassed last year's grand total of about $4.4 million.
"Every year we wonder how we could possibly maintain this and yet each year we continue to increase the total amount," said Dr. Robert Roberts, Heart Institute president and CEO. "It really reflects what this city is all about and what this great region is about."
Money raised during the telethon goes toward improving patient care and research. Since 1990, the telethon has raised more than $43 million. For more information about the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, visit: www.ottawaheart.ca/UOHI.
Fast Fact: Warren Buffet most generous American donor last year
March 5, 2007
According to the latest Chronicle of Philanthropy survey, 21 Americans gave at least $100 million to charitable causes last year - a new record in philanthropic giving. Warren E. Buffett's $43.5 billion donation to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, placed him at the top of the list. Not counting his gift, wealthy Americans committed $7 billion last year, compared with $4.3 billion in 2005. Second to Buffett were Herbert and Marion Sandler, who donated $1.3 billion in 2006. Bernard and Barbro Osher ($723.2 million), Jim Joseph ($500 million), and Hector Guy and Doris Di Stefano ($264 million) rounded out the top five. -- Chronicle of Philanthropy
Government funding expands volunteer opportunities for newcomers
March 5, 2007
The Ontario government is investing more than
$547,000 to expand volunteer opportunities for newcomers in community
organizations. "This funding is a win-win situation for talented newcomer volunteers and
for our nonprofit organizations across the province," said Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle. "The entire
community benefits when newcomers are given the opportunity to contribute
their global experience to volunteer organizations."
The government will invest in several programs over three years, including:
promoting diverse voluntary sector leadership, in partnership with
the Maytree Foundation; promoting a greater understanding of citizenship rights, through the Ontario
Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI); and seniors mentoring newcomers through opportunities developed by the Catholic Immigration Centre Ottawa. For more information, visit: www.citizenship.gov.on.ca.
New award program recognizes champions of cultural diversity
March 5, 2007
Ontario has launched a new award
program, the Newcomer Champion Awards, to recognize Ontarians who have
enriched cultural diversity, facilitated harmony and understanding, or helped
newcomers to successfully settle and integrate. The awards will acknowledge contributions in areas such as cultural
outreach, cultural celebration, and connecting newcomers to communities. Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to: programs implemented to help settle and connect newcomers in communities; outreach efforts to promote cross-cultural understanding; and events celebrating cultural diversity in Ontario. The deadline for applications is April 13th. For more information, visit: www.citizenship.gov.on.ca.
Fast Fact: Consumer spending on culture topped $25 billion in 2005
March 5, 2007
A new report from Hill Strategies Research shows that Canadian consumers spent $25.1 billion on cultural goods and services in 2005, an amount that is 5% higher than the combined consumer spending on household furniture, appliances and tools ($24 billion). Cultural spending fell into six categories in 2005: home entertainment equipment and services ($13 billion); reading material ($4.8 billion); art works and events ($2.7 billion); photographic equipment and services ($2.2 billion); movie theatre admissions ($1.3 billion); and art supplies and musical instruments ($1.1 billion).
The $25.1 billion in consumer spending is more than three times higher than the $7.7 billion spent on culture in Canada by all levels of government in 2003/04. -- Hill Strategies Research
RBC seeking proposals for after-school program grants
March 5, 2007
RBC is offering up to $750,000 in grants for
community-based providers of after-school programs for the 2007-08 school
year. The company is seeking up to 19 new organizations for the next academic year. To qualify
for a grant, after-school programs should offer structured, supervised
activities in an environment that provides what RBC has termed the 3Ss:
safety, social skills and self-esteem. Other activities that programs should
also offer include computer instruction, sports, literacy tutoring, music and
art lessons, nutrition guidance, and homework-help.
Committees of local experts, in the areas of children and education, will
select the successful applicants in their region. Grant recipients will be
announced in July 2007, with each community-based program receiving between
$25,000 and $40,000. The deadline for applications is April 30. For more information, visit: www.rbc.com.
White paper helps nonprofits understand credit card processing options
March 5, 2007
A new white paper entitled Demystifying Credit Card Processing for Nonprofits is now available for download from SofterWare, Inc., developer of the DonorPerfect family of fundraising and donor management software. The paper specifically addresses the various potential uses of electronic payments for nonprofits, such as recurring pledges, online donations, and staff-processed transactions. It also provides tips for success as well as possible pitfalls to avoid, and covers everything from getting a merchant account to deciphering the various acronyms and fees associated with processing. To download the white paper, visit www.donorperfect.com.
CIBC pledges $300,000 for community programs in Calgary
March 5, 2007
CIBC recently announced $300,000 in donations to community programs in Calgary. The Alberta Ecotrust Foundation, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Calgary and Area, and the Youville Residence Society of Alberta will each receive $100,000 in funding. "These organizations are
engaged in important activities that will benefit Calgary residents and build
on the many other community investments CIBC has made in both the city and the
province," said Curtis Stange, vice
president of retail distribution for CIBC's Alberta market.
Fast Fact: Employees spend hours of work time on personals tasks
March 5, 2007
A survey of full- and part-time workers employed in office
environments found that they spend an
average of 36 minutes per day, or the equivalent of three hours a week,
attending to personal tasks at the office. Among women, the average was 29 minutes daily to attend to personal tasks
during office hours, while men admitted to spending 44 minutes each day on
non-work related activities. Younger employees also were more apt to take
personal time during business hours. Survey respondents between the ages of 18
and 34 estimated spending an average of 45 minutes each day on personal
pursuits at work, compared to 32 minutes for those between the ages of 35 and
64, and 17 minutes for workers age 65 years or older. -- OfficeTeam
Banting Museum benefits from significant corporate donation
March 5, 2007
London's Banting House National Historic Site of Canada, the birthplace of insulin, received its largest-ever corporate donation last week. The Canadian Diabetes Association, which operates the historic site, accepted a cheque for $100,000 from Novo Nordisk, an international insulin developer.
“We are delighted that Novo Nordisk will be supporting Banting House through this donation,” said Michael Howlett, president and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association. “Preserving the history of diabetes through a renewed gallery is an investment in presenting the history of insulin and affirming the legacy of Sir Frederick Banting for thousands of visitors to enjoy.” For more information, visit: www.diabetes.ca.
