|
|
|||||
|
|||||
| Path: Main Street : NewsWeek : Archive : NewsBytes : Article |
This is an archive of CharityVillage NewsWeek. To find a word on the page,
use your browser's "find" feature (CTRL-F or CMD-F). Please note: While we ensure that all links and e-mail addresses are accurate
at their publishing date, the quick-changing nature of the web means that some
links to other web sites and e-mail addresses may no longer be accurate.
To view other articles in the archive, use our Chronological Index.
NewsBytes: November 2007
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Sears sues Ryerson University over naming rights
November 26, 2007
The Toronto Star reported last week that Sears Canada Inc. is calling for a court order that Ryerson University put its name on a building or, failing that, pay an unspecified amount in damages for breach of contract. The dispute stems from the retail giant's claim that instead of getting the promised top billing on a building on the downtown campus in exchange for $10 million in donations, it was given only a plaque. Last month, Sears filed a statement of claim in Ontario Superior Court of Justice, saying that "Ryerson has taken no steps to associate the name `Sears' with an academic facility on its campus."Under a 1991 purchase agreement, Julia Hanigsberg, Ryerson's general counsel and secretary of the board of governors, noted a clause in which Ryerson agreed to "give appropriate recognition" to the retailer's donations by "associating the name `Sears' with one of the academic facilities now or in the future." In its statement of defence, Ryerson says that in 2004 Sears accepted "unconditionally" a university proposal to put up the plaque to honour the deal. "At no time in accepting the proposal did Sears request further recognition of its donation or take the position that the proposal did not satisfy Ryerson's obligations," the university states in its defence. Nora Loretto, president of the Ryerson Students' Union notes, "It's a sad day in the university sector that we have to sell off our parts to survive."
November 26, 2007
Natasha van Bentum, CFRE, of the Victoria Symphony and author of VenturePhilanthropyGuide.org, is conducting a survey about the emerging world of social finance. Well underway in the UK but still in the pioneering stage in North America, social finance includes community investing, social enterprise finance, micro-lending, sustainable business, and philanthropic program-related investments (PRIs). The survey explores the nonprofit sector's awareness of social finance, its effect on your operations, your information needs, and any great work that you've seen being done in this area. To participate and enter to win a free iPod Classic, take the survey now.
Fast Fact: Young people want to work with nonprofits but not for them
November 26, 2007
A survey of young nonprofit employees in the US finds that 45% of the most skilled and experienced respondents plan to leave the nonprofit sector. More than 90% cite burnout as a likely reason for leaving, followed closely by low salary and wages (80%), lack of career advancement (69%), and job related stress (69%). Although participants showed no strong preference for any specific kind of future career, 25% indicate they will end up outside of traditional nonprofit organizational structures and work as consultants. Another 22% plan to work in philanthropy, and 25% said they would be leaving the workforce for “other” reasons, which include returning to school, starting a family, or pursuing other plans. Only 13% were headed to government positions, while 15% were likely to go after for-profit opportunities. -- Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
November 26, 2007
More than 350 guests attended the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's (JDRF) Rockin' For Research Gala held recently in Montreal. Thanks to the support of those involved, $1,660,000 was raised to help further JDRF'S mission to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. "It was an amazing party," said Dr. David Kozloff, JDRF chair of the Quebec region. "The commitment of our donors demonstrates the importance of ongoing financing for major research projects that will lead to the discovery of a cure for diabetes." For more information about JDRF, visit: www.jdrf.ca.
November 26, 2007
The Alberta Youth Environmental Stewardship Program is encouraging youth between the ages of 16 and 25 to submit their environmental projects for possible funding of up to $5,000. Successful applicants will also receive project management training and support, as well as mentoring and guidance by experienced project managers and environmental professionals. The application deadline is December 10th. Visit www.albertaecotrust.com for more information or to download an application form.
November 26, 2007
Belinda Stronach announced she has raised more than half of the funds needed to create The Belinda Stronach Chair in Breast Cancer Reconstructive Surgery at the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation and committed to raising an additional $1 million to complete the funding for the Chair. "I want more women to be aware that this surgery is available to them and I also wanted to give the program at Toronto General Hospital and the University of Toronto the resources to expand so that more surgeons may be trained in the techniques necessary for successful breast cancer reconstruction," said Stronach. For more information, visit: www.tgwhf-uhn.ca.
November 26, 2007
A recent study of mental health in the Canadian workplace found that the vast majority (82%) of Canadian workers are ‘fully’ (23%) or ‘mostly fulfilled’ (59%) with their jobs, with 70% of employees indicating that their workplace is a healthy environment. As well, 65% of workers say that their employers recognize and appreciate the work that they do, 63% feel that their employer provides sufficient benefits such as health or dental plans, and 70% believe that their employer respects their work/life balance. -- Ipsos Reid
November 26, 2007
A man was arrested last week in connection with a charity fundraising scam that York police recently warned the public about. Police received reports of a man canvassing door-to-door for donations to the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC), an organization that says it does not canvass door-to-door. A Newmarket, Ontario resident alerted police after a man came to the door asking for donations to that charity. Officers arrested Murray Phillips, 41, shortly after. He was in possession of phoney AEBC paperwork and identification and now faces one charge of fraud under $5,000.
November 26, 2007
The City of Iqaluit recently received a $250,000 donation from the US-based Annenberg Foundation. The foundation made the pledge after spending time in the Arctic this past summer with Iqaluit mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik. Part of the funding is already earmarked for the city's women's shelter and the elders' residence. "I wanted to ensure that they learned about the community," said Sheutiapik. "I made arrangements for them to go to the women's shelter because I know they have funding issues. [And] of course, elders are very important to us." For more information about the City of Iqaluit, visit: www.city.iqaluit.nu.ca.
November 26, 2007
With the holiday season almost upon us, consumers are hitting the malls in droves, but they are bringing more than their wallets this year. A new report from branding and marketing firm BBMG finds that increasingly conscious consumers are demanding that companies be transparent about their practices and accountable for their impact on people and the planet. According to the inaugural BBMG Conscious Consumer Report, Americans are more likely to buy from companies that manufacture energy efficient products (90%), promote health and safety benefits (88%), support fair labour and trade practices (87%), and commit to environmentally-friendly practices, if products are of equal quality and price. The study also reveals five core values that drive the conscious consumer: health and safety, honesty, convenience, relationships, and doing good. For more information or to download the free white paper, visit: www.bbmg.com/index_news.html.
November 19, 2007
The HR Council is launching the first comprehensive survey of human resources issues among employers and employees in the voluntary and nonprofit sector. The survey will provide key statistical information on a number of areas, including the demographics of sector employees, the issues and challenges related to recruitment and retention of employees, skill requirements, and other key HR challenges that organizations and individuals face. Organizations will be selected and contacted at random to participate in the survey in November and December of this year. Results of the survey will be made public in the new year. For more information, visit: www.hrcouncil.ca.
November 19, 2007
Police in York, Ontario are asking the public to be on the lookout for a man who is suspected of being a false canvasser for the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians. An investigation was launched after a woman called the agency, based in Kamloops, BC, asking for a tax receipt. When the organization told her they no longer canvass door-to-door, she called police and reported the incident. The suspect is described as a white male, 5'8" and 30 to 50-years-old. He has a medium build, blond hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Central Fraud Unit at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7790 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Tips can be made online at www.1800222tips.com.
November 19, 2007
When baby boomers were asked to rank a list of activities that would most appeal to them at age 62, almost half (49%) of respondents ranked volunteering as a first or second choice. Bank of Montreal research also indicates that 34% of Canadians aged 45 to 60 volunteer, and a further 38% of boomers who do not volunteer intend to do so when they retire. Seven out of 10 of these volunteers plan on dedicating their time to local organizations. Health and wellness (27%) and social services (30%) were identified as the most common areas of commitment. -- BMO Financial Group
November 19, 2007
The Donner Canadian Foundation announced the official call for submissions for the tenth annual Donner Prize. The prize was created to encourage increased research into public policy in Canada and to promote the discussion of policy issues in the public arena. The winner of the Donner Prize, the award for best book on Canadian public policy, will receive $35,000, with $5,000 being awarded to the other shortlisted titles. Books submitted for the prize should focus on Canadian public policy issues, for example: regulatory and legal reform, public finance, the environment, urban affairs, health care, education reform and social policy. The deadline for submissions is November 30. For more information, visit: www.donnerbookprize.com.
November 19, 2007
Results from the Summer 2007 Philanthropic Giving Index (PGI) Survey reveal that 34.4% of charities are finding success with online fundraising, more than doubling the 16% response from 2000. As well, success with e-mail solicitation grew from 15% in 2000 to 27.8% in 2007. And although 25% of respondents reported their average online gifts are less than $50, almost half (47%) said their average online gifts were between $51 and $250. Nineteen percent said they were between $251 and $500, and 10% of development officers said the average online gift was more than $500. Despite this growth, survey participants ranked online giving as the least successful fundraising technique in the survey. Nearly half said that online contributions account for only one to five percent of their total gifts. Twenty-three percent said their organizations do not receive any donations online, while 13.2% receive 50% or more of their donations online. -- Philanthropic Giving Index
November 19, 2007
Mattamy Homes recently presented a cheque for $500,000 to the SickKids Foundation. The funds for pain management were raised by pledges for last summer's third Mattamy Homes Tour de Blue - a bicycle ride from Vancouver to Toronto. The Mattamy Foundation also contributed to the total. "I understand that pain is a challenge facing most of the patients at SickKids," said Peter Gilgan, president and CEO of Mattamy Homes. "Of course, there's also psychological stress, both for the young patients and for the rest of their family members as well. Mattamy is delighted to help pain management any way we can." For more information about the Hospital For Sick Children, visit: sickkidsfoundation.com
November 19, 2007
If you're thinking about starting up your own social change organization, or have recently done so, the Echoing Green Fellowship provides up to $90,000 in funding and support for new, innovative organizations working to create social change. Echoing Green seeks individuals or partnerships (organizations led by two people) with: innovative solutions to significant social problems; strategies to create high-impact, sustainable change in people’s lives; and the ability to grow and lead a new organization. The deadline for applications is December 3, 2007. For more information or to apply online, visit: www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship.
November 19, 2007
According to an international study of the roles and responsibilities of corporations and CEOs, most of those surveyed in Canada and 10 other countries said corporations are falling short as environmental stewards and failing to measure up in honesty and ethics. Ninety percent of Canadians said following ethical standards is important, but only 14% are confident that it's being done. Among "influential citizens", 87% said communicating honestly is important, but only 11% believe corporations do that. While the study focused on corporations and CEOs, it also provided a view of society's trust - and mistrust - of its important institutions. Only 18% of people find major media trustworthy, versus 15% who were openly distrustful. Only 17% of people gave a vote of trust to religious institutions, compared to 33% who said they do not trust them. Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) fared the worst in the trust rankings, with just 10% saying they trusted each, while 30% said they did not. -- Ketchum
November 19, 2007
Parkinson Society Canada (PSC) and its Central and Northern Ontario Region (CNOR) recently awarded $379,000 to seven Toronto scientists to further their quest to better understand the disease. "Our volunteers and SuperWalk participants work hard to raise funds and we are delighted to be able to have an opportunity for them to meet the scientists they fund, face to face", said Debbie Davis, executive director, PSC, CNOR. The funding will go to researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, and the University of Toronto. For more information about Parkinson Society Canada, visit: www.parkinson.ca.
November 12, 2007
The Government of New Brunswick recently announced the appointment of Carmel Robichaud as Minister Responsible for Community Non-Profit Organizations. The primary task of the new portfolio will be to address the recommendations of the Premier's Task Force on the Community Non-Profit Sector. In its report, the task force called for a revitalized partnership between the province and the voluntary sector, including improvements in the respect and recognition that the sector receives from government. "I look forward to taking on this critical portfolio and to working more closely with community nonprofit groups throughout New Brunswick," Robichaud said. "The premier has given us a very challenging mandate. In addition to addressing the recommendations of the task force, we must make certain that community nonprofit organizations are encouraged to contribute to making New Brunswick - and all New Brunswickers - self-sufficient." For more information, visit: www.gnb.ca.
November 12, 2007
Kids Help Phone launched its first-ever major gift campaign last week with the announcement of a $2 million donation from BMO Financial Group. In addition to the BMO gift, the campaign also received support from various donors including another lead gift of $750,000 from Rob and Ruth Peters of Calgary. The donations bring Kids Help Phone more than 50% of the way to its $7.5 million goal. For more information, visit: org.kidshelpphone.ca.
November 12, 2007
Grant MacEwan College is undertaking a review of the Resource Centre for Voluntary Organizations (RCVO), primarily because the centre's funding is running out this year. The college has hired Peter Faid, Community Services Consulting Ltd., to undertake the review on its behalf. Peter is speaking to a variety of individuals and groups about their experiences with the RCVO and their vision of its future. Send your input to Peter by November 15, 2007, on the following: your experience with RCVO in the past (one or two sentences), and what role you would like to see RCVO play in future. Peter’s e-mail address is commserv@shaw.ca. He can also be reached by fax (780-439-3124) or phone (780-439-5764). For more information about the RCVO, visit: www.rcvo.org.
November 12, 2007
According to new research published by US-based Schwab Charitable, 80% of financial advisers discuss charitable giving with their clients, but 37% have doubts about their level of philanthropic expertise. Forty percent of advisers said they feel a sense of “awkwardness” or “inappropriateness” when having a discussion about philanthropy, 10% said charitable giving was “too personal and values based,” and 8% said they were concerned that it might offend their clients. Almost half (47%) the financial advisers surveyed said that if they received more education or training on charitable giving and related tax issues, they would increase charitable-giving discussions. And almost 30% said they would be more likely to discuss the issue if they had access to philanthropic experts they felt they could trust. -- Schwab Charitable
November 12, 2007
North York General Hospital (NYGH) recently celebrated its 40th birthday with a fundraising gala event. The celebration brought together more than 600 guests and raised over $300,000 to support children’s health care at the community teaching hospital. The evening’s festivities included an appearance by Ron James, award-winning comedian and satirist, entertainment by vocalist Robert Pilon and The Young Singers Choir, and a live and silent auction. For more information, visit: www.nygh.on.ca.
November 12, 2007
The Canadian Association of Food Banks (CAFB) released its annual HungerCount report last week, revealing that 720,231 individuals used a food bank at least once in the month of March 2007. Thirty-nine percent of users were under the age of 18, 28% were part of single-parent families, 14% reported being employed, and 51% were on social assistance. “Nearly 20% of people assisted by food banks report having jobs or utilizing Employment Insurance. This is a sad reality when we live in such a prosperous country,” said Katharine Schmidt, executive director of the CAFB. “More must be done to address the needs of Canada’s poorest citizens. We all have a responsibility, including government, to take a more comprehensive approach to reducing hunger in Canada.” For more information or to download the full report, visit: www.cafb-acba.ca.
November 12, 2007
The Fluvarium, a public centre for environmental education operated by the Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation, will be upgrading its facilities with a $500,000 donation from Petro-Canada. Petro-Canada spokesperson Alan Brown called it an excellent opportunity to improve and enhance environmental education in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Fluvarium exists to educate the public about the importance of preserving freshwater habitats. Renovations are expected to begin in January. For more information about The Fluvarium, visit: www.fluvarium.ca
November 12, 2007
A new Ipsos Reid poll finds that most Canadians (84%) either ‘strongly’ (37%) or ‘somewhat agree’ (47%) that they would prefer to receive a meaningful gift that would help someone else, rather than a more traditional holiday gift. As well, four in ten (37%) Canadians say that they have given a charitable gift in someone else’s name, while 15% indicate that they have been on the receiving end of such a gift. Additionally, from among individuals who typically receive gifts from suppliers and vendors at work, seven in ten (68%) say that they would prefer to receive a charitable gift in the name of their company as oppose to typical holiday office gifts like greeting cards, pens, or calendars. -- Ipsos Reid
November 12, 2007
York University Foundation has teamed up with fundraiser Steve Thomas to establish a fundraiser-in-residence at the foundation, believed to be the first such post in Canada. Inspired by positions such as scholar-in-residence or researcher-in-residence, the idea behind the fundraiser-in-residence is to enlist an accomplished individual to infuse fresh bursts of energy, creativity, experience and knowledge to ensure the foundation remains at the cutting edge of the fundraising sector. “A fundraiser-in-residence is a very intriguing idea,” says Thomas. “This move signals an organization that is vigorous and always looking for new ideas and new ways of doing things. For any creative person, that’s the kind of place you want to be - where there’s an opportunity to really do outstanding work.” For more information about York University Foundation, visit: www.yorku.ca/foundation.
November 12, 2007
The QEII Health Sciences Centre has a new Computerized Tomography (CT) Fluoroscopy Unit thanks to a gift of approximately $400,000 from the d'Eon-Langille family. The QEII Foundation made the acquisition of the technology a reality for patients and has expanded the scope of interventional radiology practice available in Atlantic Canada's largest tertiary care facility. "The impact of this gift on patient care for the new IR Centre at the Victoria General site is enormous," said Dr. Charles Lo, Clinical Chief, Diagnostic Imaging, QEII Health Sciences Centre. For more information, visit: www.qe2foundation.com.
November 5, 2007
Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil, announced the official launch of the ONE DROP Foundation with a commitment of $100 million to cover operating costs over the next 25 years. "No one can remain indifferent when we know that at least every eight seconds, a child dies from a disease caused by drinking contaminated water," said Laliberté. "With the creation of ONE DROP, we want to mobilize people everywhere in the world to find sustainable solutions to the problem of access to water, and to adopt better practices for the use of this precious resource." RBC Financial also announced a $10 million commitment to support ONE DROP projects in Canada and abroad. For more information, visit: www.onedrop.org.
November 5, 2007
Imagine Canada and Volunteer Canada are collaborating with other national organizations to ask the federal Industry Minister Jim Prentice and Treasury Board Ministers to maintain funding for the Canadian Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participation (CSGVP). As part of the government's program expenditure review for this current year, continued funding for the CSGVP may be at risk. Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to write to the Industry Minister and their local MP about the importance of the CSGVP. For more information or to request a template letter to send to the Minister, contact Volunteer Canada at: www.volunteer.ca/en.
November 5, 2007
Canadian taxfilers reported making charitable donations totalling $8.5 billion in 2006, up 8.3% from 2005, but the number of donors decreased 1.4% to 5.8 million. Nationally, 25% of all taxfilers claimed charitable donations, roughly the same proportion as in the past. Manitoba had the highest percentage of taxfilers who declared a donation, at 28%, followed by Ontario with 27%. These two provinces have shown the highest and second highest percentage of taxfilers claiming charitable donations for the past ten consecutive years. Donors in Nunavut have led all provinces and territories in terms of median donation since 2000. This trend continued in 2006, with a median donation of $450. Donors in Prince Edward Island had the second highest median at $350, followed by donors in Newfoundland and Labrador with $330. The median donation increased in all provinces and territories in 2006. -- Statistics Canada
November 5, 2007
Ten Downtown Eastside Vancouver hotels bought by the province earlier this year will be turned over to nonprofit agencies to operate as of December 1st. The province will fund renovations and upgrades to the single-room occupancy (SRO) buildings and cover the cost of running the programs, BC Housing Minister Rich Coleman announced last week. “When we bought these hotels to preserve affordable housing stock, we committed to provide the services people need to regain their independence,” said Coleman. “Selecting the nonprofit societies to manage these properties allows us to put proper support services in place.” For more information and a list of the ten selected agencies, visit: www.bchousing.org.
November 5, 2007
McMaster University’s incoming chancellor, Lynton (Red) Wilson, pledged $10 million to liberal arts programs at the university. The money will be used for a new liberal arts building that will house four new initiatives for the university: the Centre for Global Citizenship, the Centre for Cognitive Studies in Liberal Arts, the Centre for Collaborations for Health, and a “Big Questions” institute that will engage in interdisciplinary research relevant to current issues. "These disciplines are important in the development of the next generation of entrepreneurs, policy makers, innovators and politicians, who in turn, will make us competitive and compassionate on a global scale," said Wilson. "I hope that this gift will inspire McMaster, other donors and future generations of scholars and students to make, each in his or her own way, a similar type of commitment." For more information, visit: dailynews.mcmaster.ca.
November 5, 2007
Researchers Yvonne Harrison and Vic Murray are currently conducting a survey to investigate the role of the board chair. They urge anyone currently in a position to observe the way a board chair does her/his job to complete a quick, confidential survey about the board chair's attitudes, behaviours, and characteristics. All those responding (and supplying an e-mail address) will receive an advance copy of the research report, complete with recommendations on how to improve board chair effectiveness. To participate in the survey, visit: www.surveymonkey.com.
November 5, 2007
New research out of the United Kingdom shows a 26% increase in the charity workforce in the last decade. In the same period, public sector employment grew by 14% and the number of people working in the private sector grew by only 11%. At least 611,000 people now work for charities in the UK, with women comprising 69% of that workforce. Researchers also found that 33% of voluntary sector employees have a degree or equivalent qualification. Part-time employees account for 39% of voluntary sector employment, and one-third of voluntary sector workers (32%) are employed in workplaces with less than ten employees. -- NCVO
November 5, 2007
A newly created ministerial responsibility for the volunteer and nonprofit sector in the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial cabinet was announced last week. Tom Hedderson was appointed to the new portfolio, a move welcomed by Penelope Rowe, CEO of the Community Services Council of Newfoundland and Labrador. “Naming the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for the Volunteer and Non-Profit Sector is a major step in recognizing the importance of this sector to quality of life in communities across the province,” said Rowe. “Voluntary groups exist in virtually every community and are fundamental to social, economic, cultural and environmental development at a local and regional level. Having a minister with this responsibility will bring added, and much sought after, profile to the sector.” For more information, visit: www.envision.ca
November 5, 2007
Writer Emily Mathieu is preparing a series of stories on the Toronto Star's Santa Claus Fund. She is interested in speaking with people who had boxes sent to them as children and then turned around and gave their time and money to charity as adults. For more information or to share your story, e-mail Emily at emathieu@thestar.ca.
November 5, 2007
The sixth edition of Montréal Passion Vin raised a total of $480,000 for the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Foundation. The funds raised will be dedicated to an operating room specifically for laparoscopic surgery and the acquisition of six new beds for the intensive care unit. "Montréal Passion Vin is an event for sharing: sharing the passion of prestigious winemakers, sharing the passion of those who enjoy wine, and most important of all, sharing with those in our community who are less fortunate than us, by donating all profits to the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital," said Denis Chaurette, president of the 2007 edition of the event. For more information, visit: www.maisonneuve-rosemont.org.
November 5, 2007
According to a new study by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, giving to Canadian healthcare institutions increased in 2006, but the rate of growth fell significantly compared to 2005. Contributions increased just 3.3% to $1.23 billion in 2006, compared to 11% growth in 2005. The make-up of healthcare giving in Canada was also different in 2006 compared to 2005. Fifty-two percent of healthcare giving came from individuals in 2006, compared to 61% in 2005. Noncorporate foundations contributed 9.7% of the total in 2006, compared to just 3.5% in 2006. The other two categories, businesses (including corporate foundations) and “other sources” were roughly the same, representing 25.6% and 13% percent of the total, respectively. -- Association for Healthcare Philanthropy
November 5, 2007
Last week, the Terry Fox Foundation officially launched the Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI), a virtual institute to overcome geographical and professional boundaries. It brings together clinical and scientific researchers from across the country, with nodes in several provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. The TFRI will support cancer research projects with the potential to improve the health of cancer patients as quickly as possible. The projects will bring researchers together in teams to work on prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer. "This level of cooperation and collaboration is unprecedented," said Dr. Victor Ling, scientific director of TFRI. "Our vision at the Terry Fox Research Institute is to improve significantly the outcomes for the patient by having teams of academic and clinical researchers work in concert with one another sharing insights, knowledge and discoveries." For more information, visit: www2.news.gov.bc.ca.
|
|||
