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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,
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
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To view other articles in the archive, use our Chronological Index.
NewsBytes: May 2008
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
University of Manitoba receives $20 million gift for music school
May 26, 2008
The University of Manitoba is celebrating a $20 million donation to their music department from philanthropist Marcel A. Desautels. Desautels’ gift will flow into the faculty of music during the next five years and create an endowment fund for the music faculty. It will also support the renovations of the east wing and auditorium of Taché Hall. The university’s music program will operate under a new name: The Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music. Desautels has close ties to the music community, having sung all his life and at one time even considered a career in opera. For more information, visit: www.myuminfo.umanitoba.ca.
May 26, 2008
Volunteers above the age of 18 in Ontario are invited to participate in a new study which is investigating the concept of "volunteer engagement". This online survey will require only 15 minutes of your time and is confidential. Share your experiences as a volunteer - your opinions can make a difference. The survey will be open May 28 to June 15, 2008. Contact Erin Spink at Erin.Spink@guelphleadership.com for more information. This research has been approved by the Research Ethics Board of the University of Guelph. To take the survey, visit: www.surveymonkey.com.
May 26, 2008
Researchers and students at the University of Victoria (UVic) will receive more than $13.5 million in grants and scholarships this year from the Government of Canada through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Nearly $4.4 million of the funding will go toward the first two years of operating expenses for the UVic-led NEPTUNE Canada project, the world’s first regional cabled ocean observatory. At UVic, NSERC is providing $11,146,764 of funding for 72 research projects and $2,354,800 for 115 scholarships. For more information, visit: communications.uvic.ca.
Fast Fact: Canadian foundation giving in 2006
May 26, 2008
Of the grants given by Canadian foundations in 2006, 58% went to education, health, and social services. Twenty percent were given to organizations involved in the health sector, which includes mental health and addiction services. Education and social services both received 19% of the grants, while environmental organizations received 16%, arts and culture 9%, and community benefits 6%. The growth in importance of the health sector is significant since typically Canadian foundations give the largest amount to educational institutions. In this case, a single gift accounted for the jump in the health sector. -- Philanthropic Foundations of Canada
May 26, 2008
The annual Boland salary and HR survey is looking for participants from the not for profit community. Participants will receive comprehensive regional and national data on 49 positions as well as information about benefits and perks, turnover, paid time off, overtime compensation and predictions about salary budget increases. Data are gathered in July and August with reports published in October. The survey has been serving the not for profit community in Alberta since 1997 and since 2006 in BC. Over 170 organizations in western Canada participated in 2007, and this year a third regional report covering Ontario and the GTA will be published as well. Other regional reports will be published as participation in other areas warrants. Contact Peter T. Boland & Associates Inc. at (403) 215-0090 for further information, or to participate in the survey, visit: www.ptbaconsulting.com.
May 26, 2008
On Monday, May 26, a one-hour episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show will highlight the O Ambassadors program, a new leadership and education initiative developed to motivate and educate more than one million youth to get socially engaged and create positive change around the world. This new program is a collaboration between Oprah's Angel Network and the Canadian organization Free The Children. The O Ambassadors program models Free The Children's unique approach of educating and connecting youth at home with communities and projects in developing countries. The program encourages young leaders to dream big and accelerate global change through a step-by-step exploration of active learning about important issues in Africa, Asia and Latin America, share their message with their friends and families, and work together to take action. Through a soft-launch in September 2007, more than 1,000 schools from the United States and Canada have already established O Ambassadors Clubs in their schools and community. For more information about Free the Children, visit: www.freethechildren.com.
May 26, 2008
The Canadian Environment Awards announced the short list of finalists who will be honoured during its annual celebration of environmental achievement. The Community Awards, the flagship program of the Canadian Environment Awards, celebrates 18 individuals and grassroots groups that have been chosen by a panel of environmental luminaries from nominations submitted by the Canadian public. There are six categories of environmental achievement: climate change, conservation, environmental health, environmental learning, restoration and rehabilitation, and sustainable living. Several nonprofit organizations were honoured in the categories. For more information, including a complete list of winners, visit: www.canadiangeographic.ca.
May 26, 2008
Between April and December of 2006, metro Vancouver homeless shelters turned away people seeking their services over 40,000 times. Of the turnaways, 16,000 were women and children. Most of the general purpose shelters were at 100% capacity during at least some of the months in this period, however a couple had occupancy rates as low as 53% and 77%. One shelter noted that they had already turned away 700 people this past February, and expect to turn away 6,500 this year. -- BC Housing
May 26, 2008
The Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) has put out a final request for feedback on the province's current Corporations Act. The current Act is over 50 years old and this is your chance to help create a legal framework that will best serve your organization. ONN has undertaken work to brief the sector on the legislative changes needed. The objective is to create a reasonable and fair legislative framework in which nonprofit corporations can do their good work. The ONN has made recommendations for proposed changes and would like your feedback. The deadline for comments is May 31. For more information, visit: www.ontariononprofitnetwork.ca.
May 26, 2008
In its third year the Scotiabank Women's Charity Challenge raised $200,000 in support of various women's charities across Canada. Golf elite Annika Sorenstam, Morgan Pressel and Alena Sharp, came together to host the event at the Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario. Each of the corporate sponsored teams who took part in the event was asked to designate a charity of choice where their entry fee would be donated. Nine of Canada's top nationally ranked junior girl golfers took turns playing a hole with Sorenstam against Pressel and Sharp in a nine-hole match. For more information about the event, visit: www.scotiabankwcc.com.
May 26, 2008
The Maytree Foundation's abcGTA program has now been officially changed to DiverseCity onBoard. This program works to ensure that the governance bodies of public agencies, boards and commissions as well as voluntary organizations reflect the diversity of the people who live and work in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). They assist organizations by identifying qualified, pre-screened candidates from visible minority and immigrant communities for appointments on boards and board committees. If you’re a member of a underrepresented visible minority or immigrant group, you can apply online at DiverseCity's website to be included in the program. For more information, visit: maytree.com.
May 20, 2008
CharityVillage.com issued the premiere edition of Flow, a new monthly newsletter for career-minded people in Canada's nonprofit sector. Flow will offer tools and inspiration, profile people who have done big things in their professional lives, for instance, HR managers and recruiters who will share tips on managing your career and avoiding burnout, and share news and events that will keep you on top of your game. The first issue features an interview with Alison Gordon, from Rethink Breast Cancer, as well as with Jean Crawford, president of an executive search firm specializing in nonprofit recruitment.Why the name Flow? We were inspired by the state of "flow" -- that place where you're so engaged in what you're doing that you lose all track of time and outside influences. Some people call it being "in the zone" or "in the groove". However you describe it, it's a magical place that many of us don't experience often enough in our daily work. To get into the Flow, subscribe to this exciting new resource at: www.charityvillage.com/cv/newsletters/newsletteroptin.html.
May 20, 2008
Average salaries for Canadian fundraisers grew by 4% from 2006 to 2007, moving from $71,827 to $74,376. Fundraisers working for consulting agencies enjoyed the highest average salary of $89,296, followed by individuals employed by religion-related organizations ($80,905) and health services ($79,538). Certification played a key role in determining salary with the fundraisers possessing the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential earning $14,000 per year more than those without. Those individuals possessing the Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive (ACFRE) credential earned an additional $2,400 more. Male fundraisers reported an average salary of $76,980 and women earned an average of $73,627, indicating that the gender gap in salaries is closing. -- AFP
May 20, 2008
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) released proposed guidelines for sports activities carried out by organizations applying for charitable registration and by registered charities looking for ongoing compliance with the requirements of the Income Tax Act. The guidelines are intended to clarify how organizations carrying out activities that include sport can potentially qualify for charitable registration. It also outlines examples of when sports activities can be used to further a charitable purpose. Comments on the guidelines should be submitted to the CRA by June 30, 2008. For more information visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
May 20, 2008
A $12-million grant from the BC government will support the work of the Children with Intestinal and Liver Disorders (CH.I.L.D.) Foundation to find a cure for children with intestinal and liver disorders such as Crohn’s Disease. The grant will fund two initiatives. The first is the CH.I.L.D. National I.B.D. Research Collaborative, which will connect healthcare professionals, researchers, hospitals, funding agencies and families from across the country with a focus on finding a cure for Crohn’s Disease. The second is the CH.I.L.D. National I.B.D. Research Network, which will allow researchers in different geographic locations to work together in teams, which could lead to an international effort led by Canada to defeat Crohn’s Disease. It will be the first time since S.A.R.S. that a nation-wide collaborative effort in Canada has been undertaken to target one disease. For more information, visit: www.child.ca.
May 20, 2008
The Association of Fundraising Professionals and Imagine Canada filed a petition to the Governor in Council to seek relief for all registered charities from fees proposed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) with regards to the national do-not-call list. The CRTC is responsible for the list and would require registered charities to pay fees alongside for-profit organizations to subsidize the cost of running this program. Since charities are exempt from the list to begin with, AFP and Imagine Canada feel it is unfair to ask charities to help finance the project. Additionally, they argue that these fees cause a double burden for charities, since all charities are required to operate their own, in-house do-not-call list. For more information, visit: www.afpnet.org.
May 20, 2008
Acevo, the United Kingdom's professional body for nonprofit chief executives, is producing an international comparative study on the sector's role in public service delivery. They are seeking input from Canadian organizations to help answer the following questions: What is the role and potential role of the third sector in public services? What are the barriers that need to be overcome in order for this role to be fulfilled? If you or your organization have a perspective that you'd like to share, or data that might be useful for international comparison, please contact Catherine Deakin at Catherine.Deakin@acevo.org.uk for more information.
May 20, 2008
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced new contribution agreements with four Canadian registered charities as part of the CRA's Charities Partnership and Outreach Program. The contribution agreements will provide more than $2.9 million in new funding for innovative education and training projects designed to increase charitable sector compliance with relevant parts of the Income Tax Act. Funding is being provided to Imagine Canada, the Legal Resource Centre of Alberta Ltd., the Canadian Association of the Deaf, and the Canadian Council for International Cooperation. The new projects will be carried out over the next three years. The funding is provided in support of the recipients' work to educate and train registered charities in issues that may lead to non-compliance such as conducting foreign activities, fundraising, issuing receipts, and maintaining books and records. For more information, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
May 20, 2008
The University of Western Ontario is renaming its School of Nursing to honour a $10 million gift from Arthur Labatt and his family. A large portion of the gift will be endowed funds that will create opportunities for the future including scholarships, the creation of a Chair in Nursing position, and a research and education fund. The gift will also assist with renovations to improve educational resources. Labatt has served as chancellor of The University of Western Ontario since 2004. For more information, visit: communications.uwo.ca.
May 20, 2008
A collaborative effort between the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Atlantic Region, the QEII Foundation, CIBC, Dalhousie University and the Capital District Health Authority has resulted in the appointment of Dr. David Hoskin as the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Atlantic Region Endowed Chair in Breast Cancer Research. One of only three breast cancer chairs in Canada, Dr. Hoskin will provide leadership in breast cancer research locally and across the country, bringing together researchers from a variety of disciplines. This $2.5 million program includes a $1.65 million gift from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Atlantic Region, a $500,000 commitment from the QEII Foundation and a $350,000 gift from CIBC. As a Chair in Breast Cancer Research, Dr. Hoskin will pursue advanced research and program development in breast cancer at Dalhousie University. For more information, visit: dalnews.dal.ca.
May 20, 2008
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) sponsors an annual awards program to recognize outstanding achievement by individual, foundation, and corporate philanthropists, fundraising volunteers, professional fundraising executives, nonprofit organizations, and AFP chapters. AFP gives out 11 awards in three categories, including awards for philanthropy, for AFP chapters and members, and for fundraising programs. Nominations must be submitted by July 15, 2008. For more information, visit: www.afpnet.org.
May 20, 2008
According to a recent survey, 29% of Canadians did not take all their vacation time last year, up 8% from 2006. Of those who claimed to be vacation deprived, 31% were young workers between 18 and 34, 27% were between 35 and 54 and 28% were 55 and older. This is interesting since younger workers earn less vacation days, averaging 12.1 days as opposed to 17.9 days for middle aged workers and 19.1 days for older workers. Residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba were most likely to have not taken all their vacation days at 42%, followed by Alberta and Atlantic Canada at 36%, British Columbia at 32%, Ontario at 29% and Quebec at 18%. -- Ipsos Reid
May 20, 2008
Low-income Ontarians who occasionally need help to pay rent will get more support thanks to the Ontario government's investment of $5 million in rent banks to help more families stay in their homes. Missing the occasional rent payment is the most common way low-income families are forced into shelters. Since launching the Rent Bank program in 2004, the government has helped save over 13,200 families from eviction. Ontario renters who face possible eviction can apply to their local rent bank for support. If a tenant's application is approved, the outstanding rent is paid directly to the landlord on behalf of the tenant. Renters can apply for financial assistance from a rent bank no more than once in two years, and get up to two months help with rent. For more information about the Rent Bank program, visit: www.mah.gov.on.ca.
May 20, 2008
The first four people in the US to earn a doctorate in philanthropic studies will soon graduate from Indiana University. The graduates are students in the Center on Philanthropy's Ph.D. in philanthropic studies program. The number of university programs in philanthropy and nonprofit management has exploded in recent years, creating a growing need for new faculty. The new Ph.D.s are among the first generation of faculty specifically trained to teach and conduct research in this field. Yue "Jen" Shang, a native of Beijing, China, will be the first graduate, followed by Salvatore Alaimo, Julie Hatcher and Alvin Lyons. For more information, visit: www.philanthropy.iupui.edu.
May 20, 2008
Coast Mental Health Foundation announced that the 10th Anniversary Courage To Come Back Awards event was the organization’s most successful ever. The Honourable Gordon Campbell declared May 2008 Courage To Come Back Month, and announced the contribution of a $1 million endowment fund to the awards so that, with ticket sales, partnerships and funds raised on the night, the final tally was $2,009,711. Awards on the night were given to John Banovich of Surrey (Physical Rehabilitation category), Trisha Baptie of Burnaby (Social Adversity), Michael Childs of Burnaby (Youth), Zosia Ettenberg of Langley (Medical), Debbie Sesula of White Rock (Mental Health) and Marlene Swift of Prince Rupert (Addiction). Each recipient’s journey highlights a courageous battle back from illness, adversity or injury. For more information about the Coast Mental Health Foundation, visit: www.coastmentalhealth.com.
May 12, 2008
CharityVillage recently published a report entitled, Strengthening Organizational Capacity: Social Finance Survey Report, written by CharityVillage president Maggie Leithead and Natasha Van Bentum, CFRE, a senior Canadian fundraiser specializing in exploring new initiatives at the cutting edge of philanthropy. The report explores the concept of social finance, or finance with a social or environmental mission, and how it may be an excellent opportunity for nonprofits to identify new ways of accessing capital. According to the report, 96% of survey respondents agree that the nonprofit sector needs to explore new ways of accessing capital to meet its goals. However, only 53% or respondents were familiar with the term "social finance". For more information, and to download the full report, visit: www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/SocialFinanceReport.pdf. (PDF)
May 12, 2008
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) released a new policy statement on umbrella organizations, effective May 1, 2008. Guidelines for the Registration of Umbrella Organizations and Title Holding Organizations outlines the Charities Directorate's policy on registering organizations that support the charitable sector by promoting the efficiency and/or effectiveness of registered charities, or that advance a charitable purpose by working with and through member groups. It emphasizes that the existing restrictions, as defined by the Income Tax Act and common law, still apply, meaning that registered charities cannot gift their resources to organizations that are not qualified donees and cannot operate for, or use their resources for, the private benefit of any person or organization. For more information, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.The CRA also released a new policy statement on organizations that promote volunteerism. Promotion of Volunteerism outlines when promoting volunteerism can be considered a charitable activity. An organization may be registered as a charity if its purpose is to promote volunteerism in the community-at-large through broad-based activities. For more information, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
May 12, 2008
The Ontario government announced an additional $20 million for the next four years to the Ontario Arts Council (OAC). This boost to OAC's annual funding will bring the total annual investment in the OAC to almost $60 million by 2010. The money will be used to invest in new and established artists and arts organizations. It will also support growing needs in the Aboriginal, culturally-diverse, francophone and regional arts communities. Arts education, outreach and touring are also priorities. The OAC is currently in the process of completing its next five-year strategic plan, which will be launched in early July. The plan will signal the overall direction for the OAC's support to the arts throughout Ontario over the next five years. For more information, visit: www.arts.on.ca.
May 12, 2008
According to a new survey, 83% of Canadian employees showed up for work while sick or exhausted an average of six times in the past year. Meanwhile, 89% report that instances of stress-related mental health problems have been increasing over the years. Employees suffering clinical depression are off the job an average of 40 days, and mental health claims (particularly depression) are the fastest growing category for days lost to disability in Canada. This is costing the Canadian economy $30 billion every year. -- Desjardins Financial Security
May 12, 2008
Walkers in more than 55 communities across Canada raised more than $3 million for Kids Help Phone in the seventh annual Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone. The one-day walk is the largest national fundraising activity for Kids Help Phone. The $3 million raised represents almost one third of the organizations's yearly operating budget. Kids Help Phone is Canada's only toll-free, bilingual, confidential and anonymous phone and web counselling, referral and information service for children and youth. For more information, visit: org.kidshelpphone.ca.
May 12, 2008
The Certified General Accountants of Ontario recently launched a new guide entitled Grassroots Governance: Governance and the Non-Profit Sector. The booklet provides a great starting point for volunteers and board members who want information on good governance for their grassroots organization. It addresses the top issues facing volunteer boards of directors, including the role of volunteers in good governance, ways to balance transparency and accountability, and how to guide the organization as it matures and grows. For more information, or to download a copy of the guide, visit: www.cga-ontario.org. (PDF)
May 12, 2008
The Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) released its third brief with regard to the proposed revisions to the Corporations Act. Modernization of the Legal Framework Governing Ontario Not-For-Profit Corporations: Consultation Paper #3 deals with the membership of organizations and their rights and remedies; by-laws; financial reporting; and the required level of disclosure. Feedback to the Ministry of Consumer and Government is encouraged, but must be received by May 31st. For more information, or to download the full report, visit: www.ontariononprofitnetwork.ca. (PDF)
May 12, 2008
PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ontario (ICAO) and Queen's School of Business (QSB) have collaborated to create the first Voluntary Sector Reporting Awards in Canada (VSRAs) to recognize volunteer organizations that practice transparent reporting. Designed to promote a higher quality of reporting, the VSRAs reward best practices in financial and non-financial disclosure, raise the standard of not-for-profit annual reports, and encourage more voluntary sector organizations to provide their financial information. The VSRAs will accept publicly available annual reports from any registered charity operating primarily in Ontario. The deadline for nominations is July 15, 2008. For more information, or to nominate your organization, visit: www.pwc.com.
May 12, 2008
The Sustainability Network and the Ontario Trillium Foundation are offering training bursaries for environmental leaders. Up to 50% of the cost of training, to a maximum of $500 per person, is available to help cover tuition costs or registration fees associated with nonprofit management training opportunities. Funds will not be provided to subsidize participation at general conferences or to cover travels costs associated with the training opportunity. Applicants should be in a position of responsibility (executive director, staff, lead volunteer, board member) in an Ontario-based environmental nonprofit organization. The application process is ongoing throughout the year with no formal deadline. For more information, visit: sustain.web.ca.
May 12, 2008
According to a recent poll, almost half of Canadian Facebook users wouldn't mind if their boss peeked at their online profile, and two in five would be willing to let a prospective employer view their Facebook page as well as their resume. Many employers are now using the sites to screen potential employees. With almost nine in ten Canadians aged 18 - 34 using Facebook, it is clear that the social networking site can be an excellent tool for employers, especially those targeting that particular age group. -- ZINC Research
May 12, 2008
Another call for proposals to the Women's Community Fund of the Women's Program of Status of Women Canada has been announced. Status of Women Canada will focus its support on projects that address its 2008-2009 funding priorities: women's economic security and prosperity (with a focus on financial literacy); women's leadership development; women's safety; and eliminating all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls. Funding is available to eligible not-for-profit and for-profit organizations to carry out projects at the local, regional and national levels. As a condition of eligibility, projects must advance the economic, social and democratic situation of women by supporting them directly in their communities. The deadline for submissions is July 2, 2008. For more information or to download an application, visit: www.swc-cfc.gc.ca.
May 12, 2008
Karyo Edelman, a Vancouver public relations firm, is looking for Vancouver-based nonprofit organizations to nominate themselves to participate in The Little Give, a corporate social responsibility initiative modeled after Oprah's Big Give. The project will see $10,000 in cash, not to mention volunteer time and energy, distributed to four nonprofit organizations working to make a difference in the lives of children and youth. In addition, one of the four nonprofits will emerge as Karyo Edelman's ongoing CSR partner and become a pro bono client for the agency. Four partners will be chosen by Karyo Edelman staff the morning the challenge begins. If chosen, each organization will receive a minimum donation of $2,500. For more information, visit: www.thelittlegive.ca.
May 12, 2008
As reported by UK Fundraising, the Direct Marketing Group has found that baby boomers require a unique approach to legacy marketing. Because baby boomers who are currently writing wills tend to be more concerned with providing bequests to their children, charities must engage potential donors on a non-legacy level first. Baby boomers today are concerned about their children's ability to manage financially in a stressful modern world - particularly when it comes to mortgages and student debt. They are more likely to be open to discussing charitable bequests once they feel their children are self-sufficient. For more information about the Direct Marketing Group, visit: www.directmarketing.co.uk.
May 5, 2008
The Manitoba government has committed $201 million to increase the number of available daycare spaces and to better train daycare staff. The government's five-year plan will create 6,500 more child care spaces and 35 more daycare centres across the province, and will also allow for a 3% wage increase for daycare workers. Additionally, the province will create the country's only set of minimum safety standards, and will begin using a centralized, online waiting list for parents. For more information, visit: news.gov.mb.ca.
May 5, 2008
The Foundation Centre, an American firm, has created a yearly journal of philanthropy, with the first issue highlighting key topics and trends from 2007. The journal discusses top news stories in the philanthropic world, with the 2007 edition covering how such events as Hurricane Katrina and climate change have affected American philanthropy. The journal also identifies key contacts, names award winners, investigates the state of foundation giving, and offers a media review including books, magazines and blogs. For more information or to download the premiere issue, visit: foundationcenter.org. (PDF)
May 5, 2008
The University of Toronto announced the creation of a new School of Public Health, funded by a $20-million donation from Paul and Alessandra Dalla Lana. In recognition of the gift, the largest to public health in Canadian history, the university will name the new school the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. The school will team with other disciplines and university units such as dentistry, nursing and health policy management and evaluation, and key partners such as the U of T's affiliated hospitals, local, provincial and national governments, and public health agencies, and will be the hub of Canada's largest network of public health researchers and educators dedicated to disease prevention and health promotion. For more information, visit: www.news.utoronto.ca.
May 5, 2008
The Alberta Ministry of Employment and Immigration released A Workforce Strategy for Alberta's Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector, the result of collaborations with nonprofit and charitable organizations from across the province. Issues identified include: increasing competition for workers; staff turnover; dependency on external funding agencies for operational and project funding; increasing demands on service; lack of training; and difficulty in coordinating provincial action. Twenty-eight actions in five distinct areas have been mapped out, with highlights including: educating the public about the importance of work in the sector; providing employers with good management practice tools; promoting the sector as an employer of choice; developing strategies for sharing resources; and exploring opportunities for career mobility across organizations within the sector. For more information, visit: alberta.ca/acn.
May 5, 2008
Employees are most unhappy with their wages and concerned about the lack of development opportunities within their organizations, according to a new study. More than 31,000 employees from Canada, US and Mexico participated in the study between 2002 and 2007, which measured worker satisfaction. Compensation and benefits was the lowest scored item on the survey, with a failing grade of 49%. Learning, growth and development only fared slightly better with a score of 51%. The quality of performance feedback on the job was also an area of concern, scoring 53%. . -- The Beacon Group
May 5, 2008
An American study released last week measuring Internet fundraising and activism of nonprofits highlights the continued importance of the Internet for mission-focused groups. The 2008 eNonprofit Benchmarks Study, co-authored by M+R Strategic Services and Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), reports that the total amount raised online increased by 19% between 2006 and 2007. Yet it also showed that e-mail open rates, click-through rates and response rates have fallen from 2006 to 2007. Open rates fell from 21.3% to 17.6%, and click-through rates dropped from 4.9% to 3.8%. The report allows nonprofits to see the overall change in online fundraising over the past three years. For more information, and to download the full report, visit: ga1.org/campaign/2008benchmarks.
May 5, 2008
The Alberta government has launched its Community Spirit Program, which includes an enhanced charitable tax credit and a new donor-driven donation grant program that allows Albertans to decide where they want funding to go. The donation grant program is available to all eligible nonprofit organizations and registered charities, and is funded through the Alberta Lottery Fund. Grants will be calculated on a proportional basis by dividing the $20-million annual budget by the amount of eligible cash donations received by eligible organizations over a 12-month period. The deadline for submitting grant applications is October 1st. The first grant cheques will be sent out early in 2009. For more information, or to submit an application, visit: culture.alberta.ca.
May 5, 2008
The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Secretary of State (Agriculture) announced that Canada is allocating $230 million in support of food aid programming this fiscal year, a $50 million increase over last year. In addition, the Government of Canada is fully untying restrictions on where food can be purchased. Past restrictions required at least half of all food aid to be purchased from Canadian farmers, which many economists considered inefficient because it causes aid organizations to pay higher prices and incur greater transportation costs. The new policy will force Canadian farmers to compete globally to sell their product to Canadian foreign aid organizations. For more information, visit: news.gc.ca.
May 5, 2008
An estimated 25 to 50% of homeless people have a mental illness and up to 70% of those with a severe mental illness also abuse substances, according to a new study. The study also revealed that one in seven users of emergency shelters across Canada are children and almost a third of Canada's homeless are youths aged 16-24. The homeless population grew by 740% in Calgary from 1994 to 2006, and by 235% in Vancouver. -- Mental Health Commission of Canada
May 5, 2008
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is accepting applications for this year's Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Program, which is designed to support environmental revitalization and conservation activities, both in Japan and overseas, for the purpose of sustainable development. The themes this year are "Global Warming Countermeasures" and "Biodiversity Conservation", and grants will be provided to NPOs (excluding schools) and other private nonprofit groups that are promoting practical projects in these areas. The application deadline is June 20, 2008. For more information or to download an application, visit: www.toyota.co.jp.
May 5, 2008
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) announced the first five recipients of the Future Fund, a grant program created to enhance the future of Ontario communities. The 2007-2008 Future Fund of $2 million supports collaborative partnerships among not-for-profit organizations working on environment issues, strengthens their impact, enhances leadership, and builds capacity within the sector. This year's recipients are the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA), Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA), Mining Innovation Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO), Green Communities Canada, and Environmental Defence. For more information, visit: www.trilliumfoundation.org.
May 5, 2008
S&D International Group Inc., an international company specializing in land development and headquartered in Edmonton, recently made a $1 million contribution to the Town of Beaumont, a community of 10,000 residents southeast of Edmonton. The gift will be applied toward the construction of an aquatic and fitness centre, which will be known as the S&D International Group Aquatic and Fitness Centre. This is the largest single gift made in Beaumont and it serves to launch their campaign to raise $2.5 million toward the new recreation centre. For more information about the centre, visit: www.town.beaumont.ab.ca.
May 5, 2008
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) announced donations of $300,000 to the Own the Podium 2010 initiative to benefit Canada's winter sports system, and $300,000 to the Road to Excellence program to benefit Canada's summer sport system. Both are part of the Canadian Olympic Foundation's action plan to create world-class programs, policies and financing that will help to place Canada among the top nations at future Olympic and Paralympic Games. HBC also unveiled the Canadian athletes' uniforms, which are, for the first time, made from eco-friendly sources such as bamboo and organic cotton. For more information about the Olympic Committee, visit: www.olympic.ca.
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