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| Path: Main Street : NewsWeek : Archive : NewsBytes : Article |
This is an archive of CharityVillage NewsWeek. To find a word on the page,
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at their publishing date, the quick-changing nature of the web means that some
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To view other articles in the archive, use our Chronological Index.
NewsBytes: April 2008
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Ontario government commits $1.1 billion to long-term seniors' care
April 28, 2008
In a recent speech at the Aging at Home Innovations Showcase, Ontario's Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Honourable George Smitherman, announced a $1.1 billion commitment over the next four years to provide new forms of care for senior citizens. The funding will continue the province's Aging at Home strategy, and will match seniors to appropriate programs such as meals, transportation, and shopping. The mission of Aging at Home is to help seniors live independently by providing them with access to community supports. The goal is to slow the numbers of people moving into the province's already overflowing long-term care facilities. For more information, visit: www.health.gov.on.ca.
April 28, 2008
Nonprofit organizations are not effectively using collaboration to solve problems and move forward on projects because many people lack the skills and training to make such a venture successful, according to a new paper on nonprofit collaboration. Building a collaborative workplace by Shawn Callahan, Mark Schenk, and Nancy White contains three parts. First is an explanation of what collaboration actually looks like, second is step-by-step instruction on how to lay the groundwork for collaboration, and third is a test of your organization's current collaborative capabilities. For more information, and to download the full paper, visit: www.anecdote.com.au. (PDF)
April 28, 2008
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada (BGCC) received help from Microsoft Canada to expand CanTech, its largest national technology learning program. CanTech impacts 200,000 children and youth across Canada by providing access to technology tools and education to expand their academic, career and life opportunities. The CanTech program expansion was made possible through a $2-million Microsoft Unlimited Potential Community Technology Skills (CTS) grant, which includes a cash donation and software to all BGCC locations over three years. Hardware and IT support is being provided by Future Shop for twelve of the BGCC locations. For more information, visit: www.bgccan.com. (PDF)
April 28, 2008
A report released by Nonprofit Online News explores the topic of life work satisfaction in civil society organizations based on a survey of 433 civil society professionals. Doing Well by Doing Good: A Report on Work Satisfaction in Civil Society found some interesting conclusions, including that while overall satisfaction levels between civil society and the rest of the workforce are similar, only half as many people in this survey report that they are 'completely satisfied' compared to society at large. A website has been created specifically for the report, which is posted in a blog format so that visitors can leave messages and discuss the findings. For more information, visit: lifework.gilbert.org.
Fast Fact: Executives willing to cut salary to support green initiatives
April 28, 2008
A recent global survey of executives revealed that 73% would be willing to reduce their salaries by at least 1% in order to fund their company's green initiatives. Additionally, 40% would be willing to lose between one and two percent of their salary, while 3% would be willing to take a cut of 10%. However, 27% of respondents indicated they would not consider a salary cut to fund sustainable business practices. Interestingly, 69% felt that green initiatives will take a backseat to profit-driven activities in the current unstable economic markets. Also, 78% currently believe their company to be at least somewhat environmentally sensitive, and 29% do not believe that economic uncertainty will have an affect on "going green". -- Korn/Ferry International
April 28, 2008
Philanthropist Beryl Ivey has bequeathed $1 million to London Health Sciences Foundation, through her estate, in the form of two endowments: $500,000 for cardiac care and $500,000 for clinical neurological sciences. Mrs. Ivey passed away on Christmas morning this past year. The Ivey name will continue to live on in programs and centres that she and her family supported, such as the Ivey Eye Institute, The Richard Ivey Critical Care Trauma Centre, and the Ivey Heart Centre. Beryl Ivey was also very influential in the early development of what eventually became known as Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics (CSTAR) at University Hospital. For more information, visit: www.lhsf.ca.
April 28, 2008
World Vision Canada is cutting humanitarian aid to 1.5 million people this year, blaming the soaring cost of food and unmet donor country aid commitments for the 23% decrease in the number of people it is able to provide with food aid. World Vision has 31,000 staff working in 100 countries worldwide and operates food programs in 35 countries. Though price increases are a major reason for the fall in food aid recipients, another is the failure by some country donors to follow through on funding commitments made to the World Food Programme (WFP) - one of World Vision's largest sources of food aid. For more information about World Vision, visit: www.worldvision.ca.
April 28, 2008
The upcoming 2008 Public Health Summit, entitled Making Healthy Communities Count, to be held October 26-29 in Niagara Falls, is in need of presenters and speakers. The Making Healthy Communities Count theme reflects the upcoming implementation of the new Ontario Public Health Standards and the ability to plan for, assess, survey, and evaluate healthy communities. The conference program committee has identified five sub-themes, including Youth Engagement, Accountability/Governance/Performance Management, Environment/Climate Change, Poverty/Health Inequalities, and Community Capacity. All abstracts should address one or more of the conference sub-themes and must be submitted electronically by May 16, 2008. It is also suggested that applicants consider the draft Ontario Public Health Standards in their submissions. For more information, or to submit an abstract, visit: www.publichealthsummit.com.
April 28, 2008
The Ontario Heritage Trust is seeking nominations for its 2008 Heritage Community Recognition Program, which celebrates volunteers for outstanding achievements to preserve, protect and promote Ontario's heritage. The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 4, 2008. Through the Heritage Community Recognition Program, candidates can be nominated for contributions to built, cultural and natural heritage, or for lifetime achievement. There is also a special category for the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award, which recognizes individuals who have made sustained volunteer contributions to heritage conservation over a period of 25 years or more. For more information, or to submit a nomination, visit: www.heritagetrust.on.ca.
April 28, 2008
Ten Canadian employers were recently honoured as the nation's most environmentally responsible places to work, according to the 2008 list of Canada's Most Earth-Friendly Employers. This year's list includes a range of employers from both the public and private sector. The common thread among the winners is that each has made environmental values central to their corporate cultures. The 2008 winners are (in alphabetical order):-- MediaCorp Canada Inc.
- EPCOR Utilities Inc.
- Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
- Golder Associates Ltd.
- HSBC Bank Canada
- Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co.
- New Flyer Industries Canada ULC
- Toronto Hydro Corporation
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc.
- Vancity/Vancouver City Savings Credit Union
- Whistler, Resort Municipality of
April 28, 2008
YWCA Moncton's second annual Women of Distinction Awards and Fundraising Event will be held on May 29, 2008, at Studio 7 Hundred. These awards recognize women who, through their own initiative, ability and effort, have made an exemplary contribution to the community and to their own field of interest. Nominations can be made by individuals or groups, and should be in one category only. For more information, or to submit a nomination, visit: www.ywcamoncton.com.
April 28, 2008
The deadline for participation in Altruvest Charitable Services' research project for the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration’s Strategic Partnership Initiatives is rapidly approaching. If your organization has annual revenues of less than $500,000 and/or staff of zero to five, Altruvest is looking for your input. Executive directors or CEOs with board chairs or a designated representative from the board are invited to participate in a focus group and online survey during May and June. If you are interested in participating in this research, please contact Seanna Clipperton at bwed@altruvest.org by April 30, 2008. Those attending focus group sessions will receive a “Fundraising Readiness” inventory by Cynthia Armour, CFRE and board expert, Mel Gill’s “Board Effectiveness Quick Check”.
April 28, 2008
The Children's Health Foundation in London and several of Astral Media's radio stations raised $431,688 in the ninth annual Radiothon for Children's Hospital on April 16, 17 and 18. All funds raised will go toward meeting the most urgent needs of the hospital, which includes medical equipment and funding for innovative projects. In nine years, more than $3,178,000 has been raised thanks to this event. For more information, visit: www.childhealth.ca.
April 21, 2008
Teck Cominco Limited announced it is making a $25 million donation to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation to support the construction of a new children’s hospital in Vancouver. This is the largest gift in the history of the hospital, and is the first major gift in their $200-million building campaign. Construction of the new children’s hospital will provide urgently needed space for critical care. It will house an acute care centre, childhood development and rehabilitation services, as well as the new Child Health BC, a provincial pediatric care initiative. For more information, visit: bcchf.ca.
April 21, 2008
The winner of the 2008 Donner Prize, the award for best book on Canadian public policy, is David E. Smith, author of The People’s House of Commons: Theories of Democracy in Contention. Through an examination of academic, judicial, political and legal commentary, Smith explores the ramifications of many of the changes currently being proposed to Canada’s political system. Smith, a professor emeritus in the Department of Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, was short listed for the 2003 Donner Prize for his previous book The Senate in a Bicameral Perspective. For more information, visit: www.donnerbookprize.com.
April 21, 2008
The Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN) released a new study by Cynthia Williams that explores the idea that Canada may require an updated social security system. In Asset-building Approaches and the Search for a New Social Policy Architecture in Canada, Williams discusses the stresses and strains that a changing world has placed on the social security system that was developed in the post-war period of full-economy. She also explores some of the new approaches to social welfare policy that could generate promising results and better deal with today's pressures. To download the study, visit: www.cprn.org. (PDF)
April 21, 2008
As reported by canada.com, the Canadian offices of the World Tamil Movement have been shut down by the RCMP due to allegations of involvement in terrorist activities. More specifically, the group has been accused of providing funding to the Tamil Tigers, an outlawed terrorist group in Canada, to finance civil war in Sri Lanka. The Montreal and Toronto offices have been under investigation during the past six years, and were also raided by RCMP in 2006. At this time, no charges have been laid. For more information, visit: http://www.canada.com.
April 21, 2008
Canadians gave $348 million to community foundations last year, showing a 28% increase from 2006. In particular, the Victoria Foundation found itself with a 41% increase in assets, while the Niagara Community Foundation doubled its asset base. Securities played a big part in the Niagara Community Foundation's increase, with 50% of their new gifts being in the form of appreciated securities. Last year, community foundations across Canada handed out $176 million to thousands of local charities. Collectively, community foundation assets grew from $2.7 billion to $2.91 billion last year. -- Community Foundations of Canada
April 21, 2008
The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation and two of Astral Media's radio stations teamed up to raise more than $2.6 million over three days for sick children. Many patients and their families shared how the hospital's professionals saved their lives and 400 volunteers answered phones and helped to ensure the event's success. All funds raised will go toward meeting the most urgent needs of the hospital, which includes medical and surgical equipment and funding for innovative projects. In five years, more than $10 million has been raised from the annual event. For more information, visit: www.childrenfoundation.com.
April 21, 2008
Convio, Inc. released the results of their second annual Convio Online Marketing Nonprofit Benchmark Index™ Study, designed to help nonprofit marketing, advocacy, fundraising, and communications professionals evaluate what online marketing metrics to focus on, evaluate how their organization is doing, and determine targets to set for the future. This year's findings indicate that nonprofits are receiving more website traffic and that the rate of converting a website visitor into a subscriber is also rising, albeit slightly. Total nonprofit online revenue, including e-commerce, grew by 25% among participating organizations, and the average gift was $60, a higher figure than that found in most other direct response channels, including direct mail and telemarketing. For more information, visit: www.convio.com.
April 21, 2008
Premier Gordon Campbell announced the BC government’s one-time gift of $4,750,000 toward a new expansion project at Covenant House, a shelter for young people in Vancouver. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is contributing $250,000 for a total of $5 million. This support will allow Covenant House to open an additional 32 beds, the first 15 of which will be opened by June 2008. Covenant House delivers specialized care that ultimately prevents vulnerable young people from becoming part of the street-entrenched adult population. For more information, visit: www.covenanthousebc.org.
April 21, 2008
The Canadian Centre for Policy Studies released a paper identifying problems with Canada's immigration and refugee policy and process, with several recommendations on how to fix the deficiencies. Entitled Demography is Destiny: Toward a Canada First-Immigration Policy, the paper was authored by Ambassador James Bissett, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies and former Director-General of Canada Immigration Service. Bissett discusses three main areas where improvements need to be made: who gets in, how many people get in, and the immigration process itself. His recommendations include moving immigrants with occupational skills desired in Canada to the front of the queue, and limiting the range of family members eligible for sponsorship. To view the full study, visit: www.policystudies.ca. (PDF)
April 21, 2008
Donations to hospital foundations in Canada rose in 2006 to more than $1 billion, an 86% increase from the 2001 revenues of $587 million. Although the fastest growth occurred in Alberta and Nova Scotia, where revenues almost doubled, strong growth was seen right across Canada. Toronto remains the centre of activity, claiming 40% of total funds raised across Canada and 68% of the funds raised in Ontario. Of the 159 hospital foundations that exist across Canada, the top 20 raised 53% of the total funds. The average revenue raised by hospital foundations in 2006 was $6.8 million, and it appears that the fast growth continued in 2007. -- The Offord Group
April 21, 2008
Humanity United and Changemakers are launching a global competition to identify innovative approaches to exposing, confronting, and ending modern-day slavery. The online competition will help raise awareness and provide a collaborative forum for those working to battle it. Ending Global Slavery: Everyday Heroes Leading the Way aims to find holistic solutions to modern-day slavery by recognizing individuals and organizations that have raised awareness of the issue's root causes, liberated those in bonded labour, and successfully reintegrated former slaves into communities. The competition celebrates and welcomes innovations on policy, research and grassroots levels and will accept applications through June 11, 2008. During this time, applications will be available for review, comment and discussion on the website. Twelve finalists and three winners will be chosen, with the winners each receiving $5,000 to continue their efforts against slavery and bonded labour. For more information, or to submit an application, visit: www.changemakers.net.
April 21, 2008
As reported by the St. Catharines Standard, the Bank of Montreal has given $400,000 to the St. Catharines Hospital Foundation toward their capital campaign for a new building complex. The new hospital will include a regional cancer centre and long-term mental health beds, and will replace the existing St. Catharines General Hospital. The donation is expected to encourage other donors to step forward by proving the community commitment to the project. For more information about the St. Catharines Hospital Foundation, visit: www.scghfoundation.com.
April 14, 2008
Entrepreneur Stu Clark recently gave $5 million to the University of Manitoba's Asper School of Business. The goals of the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship are to strengthen entrepreneurship within the school and university, and to encourage the development of new businesses and entrepreneurial thinking across Manitoba and Canada. The centre hosts several youth programs, including the summer Curry BizCamp in Entrepreneurship. It also hosts the Stuart Clark Venture Challenge, a student competition for new, independent ventures in the seed, start-up or early growth stages. For more information, visit: myuminfo.umanitoba.ca.
April 14, 2008
Two Canadians were recently selected as Ashoka Fellows. Michel Venne and his New World Institute are working to reverse the trend of declining community involvement in public affairs by reinventing the public forum. Venne invites people of all ages and all walks of life to events where they sharpen critical analysis skills, build and share opinions, and translate their ideas into action. His goal is to transform ordinary people, especially youth, into engaged, effective citizens. The second Ashoka fellow, Jane Stoyles, is bringing justice to war criminals. Through the Canadian Centre for International Justice, Stoyles is creating a global network of citizens to put pressure on and support the Government of Canada, initially, and later other governments to take action on their obligation to seek justice for all. For more information about these and other Ashoka Fellows, visit: www.ashoka.ca.
April 14, 2008
Altruvest Charitable Services has undertaken a project for the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration’s Strategic Partnership Initiatives and is currently conducting research on the governance capacity and training needs of small- to medium-sized boards of charities. If your organization has annual revenues of less than $500,000 and/or staff of zero to five, they are looking for your input. Executive directors or CEOs with board chairs or a designated representative from the board are invited to participate in a focus group and online survey during May and June. If you are interested in participating in this research, please contact Seanna Clipperton at bwed@altruvest.org by April 30, 2008. Those attending focus group sessions will receive a “Fundraising Readiness” inventory by Cynthia Armour, CFRE and board expert, Mel Gill’s “Board Effectiveness Quick Check”.
April 14, 2008
The 2008 International Conference on Fundraising just ended, but the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is already looking ahead to its 2009 conference in New Orleans, March 29-April 1. If you are interested in leading an educational session at the 2009 conference, you must submit a proposal by April 30, 2008. Proposals are kept on file for two years following submission and will be reconsidered the following year. Final presenter selections are made in July, and the program is finalized in August. For more information, or to submit a proposal, visit: https://conference.afpnet.org/2009/proposal.cfm.
April 14, 2008
According to the Canada Revenue Agency, Canadian charities spent 10% more abroad in 2006 than in 2005. Last year, Canadian charities spent about $2.3 billion abroad, an increase of about $214 million from 2005. Spending abroad has continued to increase each year over the past six years. In 2005, there were 232 charities spending more than $1 million outside of Canada for the year. This figure rose to 237 charities in 2006. -- Canada Revenue Agency
April 14, 2008
Luminato, Ontario's largest art and cultural festival, is getting $15 million from the province to promote future growth. Luminato brings artists, innovators and tourists from all over the world to Toronto. Last year, the festival attracted over one million visitors, helping to pump millions of dollars into Toronto's economy. The Luminato Festival of Arts + Creativity 2008 runs from June 6-15 at venues throughout downtown Toronto. For more information, visit: www.premier.gov.on.ca.Additionally, the Ministry of Research and Innovation invested $10 million in a new Centre for Brain Fitness, to be run by Baycrest, an organization providing seniors' services in Toronto. The centre will work to develop innovative products aimed at early detection and prevention of neurocognitive decline, repair and rehabilitation of function in response to disease insult, and maintenance of cognitive abilities to help aging adults live independently as long as possible. For more information, visit: http://www.baycrest.org.
April 14, 2008
A series of studies undertaken by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) show that today's most effective fundraisers use a variety of well-rounded programs and activities to raise money. The most successful fundraising programs have a sustained emphasis on building relationships and cultivating and maintaining major gift donors. Overall, major gifts and planned giving programs are at the core of successful fundraising programs. It also showed that a wide assortment of fundraising programs, such as annual giving, special events, public support, major gifts and planned giving, yields higher charitable revenue. Conversely, when foundations emphasize only one or two programs, revenues are comparably lower. The study is the result of the AHP's Performance Benchmarking Service, which allows participating nonprofit hospitals and health care systems to systematically compare and contrast their fundraising efforts. These findings were based on information gathered from 31 US and Canadian agencies. For more information about the AHP, visit: www.ahp.org.
April 14, 2008
Canwest Global Communications Corp. invested $4 million to create two new funds for documentary filmmakers, with Toronto's Hot Docs Festival to administer the funds. The Canwest-Hot Docs Completion Fund will provide grants of up to $100,000 to producers who have already received a broadcast deal to complete their projects. As well, the fund will provide a no-interest loan of up to $15,000 in early development stages to help get docs researched, written and ready to sell. More information about how to apply will be available June 1, with application deadlines of July 15 and October 15. For more information, visit: www.hotdocs.ca.
April 14, 2008
Access and Career Development is a new Ontario Arts Council (OAC) program that supports Ontario-based Aboriginal arts professionals and arts professionals of colour. The program funds professional development and skill-building opportunities that advance the applicants’ artistic work and careers. Applicants can request funding for training, mentoring or apprenticing in all contemporary and traditional art practices. The next application deadline is May 1, 2008. For more information, or to submit an application, visit: www.arts.on.ca.
April 14, 2008
Imagine Canada, a pan-Canadian umbrella organization for the voluntary sector, received an unexpected $200,000 through a grant from Edmonton’s Muttart Foundation. The grant, initiated by Muttart’s board of directors, is intended as support for Imagine Canada’s general operations and to help ease some of the financial challenges facing the organization, particularly as it embarks upon a search for a new CEO. Muttart also hopes to work with other funders to ensure a solid financial base as a new CEO takes office. For more information, visit: www.muttart.org. (PDF)
April 14, 2008
A new portal, called Google for Nonprofits, is now available that provides charities access and guidance on how to use a variety of tools and resources that Google offers. Google for Nonprofits offers instructions (with video tutorials) on how to use the program, as well as guidance as to how charities can get the most benefit out of each. Use of each of the services is free of charge. The site also features examples of how some charities are already using the various tools to further their mission. Although none of the services offered are new, this is the first time the company has marketed many of them to the nonprofit community. For more information about the Google for Nonprofits program, visit: www.google.com.
April 14, 2008
The Ontario provincial government is helping municipalities "green" their buildings through a grant program designed to cut both energy costs and environmental impacts. Municipalities can now apply for a grant to cover up to 25% of retrofit costs, up to a maximum of $100,000, until the application deadline of May 23, 2008. Ontario's $20 million Municipal Eco Challenge Fund includes $14 million to make municipal buildings more energy efficient. The fund's remaining $6 million is providing municipalities with training, tools and technical support, in collaboration with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Canada Green Building Council. For more information, visit: www.energy.gov.on.ca.
April 14, 2008
The Almonte General Hospital/Fairview Manor Foundation wrapped up its $4 million Quality Care for Life Redevelopment Campaign at the end of March by raising $4,450,000. Close to 5,000 donors contributed to the campaign with more than 200 donors to be recognized on a donor wall to be created by artists Stephen Braithwaite and Dale Dunning. The $29 million redevelopment project saw the construction of a new 112-bed Fairview Manor, a new emergency department, an expanded obstetrics department, a new diagnostic imaging department, renovated medical surgical floor and a $4 million link to join the Hospital and the Manor. "This campaign was won with superb volunteer leadership and a very caring community," said AGH/FVM executive director Gerry Huddleston. For more information about the campaign, visit: www.almontegeneral.com.
April 14, 2008
A new online tool is giving consumers in the Toronto-area quick and easy access to information on important health and support services. Funded by the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and created by the Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) in partnership with hundreds of other care providers, Community Care Resources (CCR) contains thousands of local health care resources including: community-based health services, such as Meals on Wheels and transportation; provincial social support services, such as housing and dementia programs; services provided by not-for-profits, the voluntary sector, businesses and individual health care practitioners such as adult day programs, pharmacies and grocery stores that offer home delivery, as well as hairdressers who will do home visits. Users can search the database by asking for specific languages, distance from home, hours of operation, wheelchair access, fees and eligibility for service. For more information and to access the database, visit: www.toronto.communitycareresources.ca.
April 7, 2008
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) released a new summary document setting out the reporting guidelines for fundraising expenses and the process and considerations for determining whether a registered charity's fundraising is acceptable. The CRA also released a checklist for use by small and rural charities to conduct a simple assessment of their fundraising activities. It wants to hear from charities, individuals involved in charitable work, government departments, and the general public on how these guidelines can be made easier to understand or more useful for charities' self-assessment of their fundraising, as well as comments about any aspects of the proposed guidelines. For more information, and to view the new guidelines, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
April 7, 2008
Based on the findings in Blueprint for Action, a report from the premier's taskforce on nonprofits, the New Brunswick provincial government released Delivering on the Blueprint, a response that outlines increased partnership between the government and the nonprofit sector. Carmel Robichaud, the minister responsible for community nonprofit organizations, said the new relationship will ensure that groups receive stable, multi-year funding; work to reduce red tape and supplies costs; and build better communications between government and nonprofit groups. The report also makes recommendations for affordable liability insurance, access to health and pension plans, access to government rates for phone and utilities services, and a new trust fund for nonprofits comprised of unclaimed lottery winnings. For more information on the recommendations outlined in the report, visit: www.gnb.ca.
April 7, 2008
As reported by the Globe and Mail, the Adath Israel Poale Zedek Anshei Ozeroff congregation has had its charitable status suspended by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and has also been ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. The congregation had been selling highly discounted burial plots in return for collecting yearly fees, for which members were given charitable tax receipts. Additionally, members were given tax receipts for fees paid to have their children attend a nursery run by the synagogue. In most cases, CRA regulations require that any value a donor receives for making a donation be deducted from the amount issued in the tax receipt. This is the first time that a fine has been levied on a charitable organization for violation of CRA regulations. The synagogue can pay the fine by donating the money to another charitable institution, but they will not be able to collect a tax receipt for it. The synagogue is currently appealing the decision. For more information about the CRA, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
April 7, 2008
A recent US survey of 500 female executives found that 61% currently participate on some type of board, with 46% serving as the board chair. Of those who had not served on a board, 34% wished to serve on a for-profit board, while 36% were interested in nonprofit board management. Board work proved to be important to the women surveyed, with 56% of those who hadn't served on a board wishing to do so, and 75% of those who do serve on a board planning to continue their service. -- Simmons School of Management
April 7, 2008
A recent radiothon benefiting the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto raised more than $4 million from donors in the greater Toronto area. Now in its 22nd year, a new element to this year's broadcast was the Change Crusader program that saw more than 250 budding young philanthropists collect $80,000 through online donations. Change Crusaders also turned out in droves throughout the three-day event to drop off wagons full of coins they had collected during the past six weeks through this new grassroots campaign. For more information, visit: www.sickkidsfoundation.com.
April 7, 2008
Imagine Canada is working to help make it easier for registered charities to comply with the requirements of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) related to charities' books and records, fundraising activities, and issuance of tax receipts. Imagine would like feedback from registered charities to help them understand charities' current level of familiarity with the requirements, how they can help to raise awareness of the requirements, and what kind of information would be most valuable to Canadian charities. The survey takes 15 minutes to complete, and only registered charities are able to respond. To take the survey, visit: www.surveymonkey.com.
April 7, 2008
Although almost two-thirds of US charities raised more funds in 2007 than they did in 2006, the size of the gains dropped significantly according to the Association of Fundraising Professionals' (AFP) State of Fundraising Survey 2007. Of those surveyed, 64% raised more funds than in 2006, 24% raised less, and 11% raised about the same. In 2006, 23% of charities who saw an increase in funds reported that the increase was of 50% or more. In 2007, only 9% of charities with financial gains saw such increases. Most charities saw more modest increases, with 41% reporting gains of 20% or less. All fundraising techniques, including direct mail, telemarketing, and major gifts, saw decreases in success. Planned giving was the only technique that enjoyed increased success, and this was only by 2%. For more information about the survey, visit: www.afpnet.org.
April 7, 2008
According to a new poll, only 25% of Americans feel that nonprofits do a "very good" job at helping people, down 5% from 2006 and down 9% since 2003. Respondents who reported having a "great deal" or a "fair amount" of confidence in nonprofits fell from 69% in 2006 to 64% in 2007. Additionally, 70% of respondents feel charities waste a lot of money, 51% feel charities are "somewhat good" at managing money, and 59% said charities are "somewhat good" at running programs and services. Public confidence dropped rapidly after 2001 amid controversies of how September 11th relief money was handled, and it appears that charities have not been able to reassure the public. -- New York University's Organizational Performance Initiative
April 7, 2008
Alberta has a new Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, the Honourable Lindsay Blackett. Volunteer Alberta will be working with Minister Blackett, and also with the Solicitor General Minister Fred Lindsay on a joint effort to remove barriers to volunteerism in Alberta. Their first task will be to find a way to implement provincial coverage of the cost of police information checks for volunteers serving vulnerable populations as well as children and seniors. For more information on this new initiative, visit: www.volunteeralberta.ab.ca.
April 7, 2008
According to Statistics Canada, the extent to which the pension system enables individuals and families to maintain living standards achieved during their working years after retirement has, in the past, not been well understood. Thanks to a new study, Income Security and Stability During Retirement in Canada, it is now apparent that for workers with average incomes, family income falls after age 60, declines until age 68, and then stabilizes at approximately 80% of the income level they had at age 55. In contrast, low income individuals (those in the bottom income quintile) experience little change in income as they move from age 55 through the retirement years, largely because of the income maintenance effects of the public pension system. For more information on the study, visit: www.statcan.ca.
April 7, 2008
A recent poll of Canadian youth aged 14 - 18 found that 5% of their charitable donations go to organizations that work outside of Canada. When compared to the budget of the Federal Government of Canada, Canadian youth appear to be spending a higher proportion of their budget on foreign aid than the government does. World Vision Canada reports that the Canadian government spends approximately 2% of its budget this way. With regards to the most pressing issues facing global leaders, 40% of those surveyed felt the environment is most important, with the gap between rich and poor and world peace tying for second at 17%. -- Ipsos Reid
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