Canadians trust charities but still want to know where the money is going
October 27, 2008
Charities continue to enjoy high levels of
trust, according to a study released by the Muttart Foundation, but need to be better at telling
Canadians about how they operate.
Talking About Charities 2008, a national public-opinion poll, showed that 77% of respondents said they trust charities, and the same percentage (77%) said they had "a lot" or "some" trust in leaders
of charities - a level that places charity leaders behind only nurses and
medical doctors.
The study also highlights some issues that should be of concern to the
charitable sector.
Of those who responded that they did not have trust in charities, 30% said it was because they weren't sure where the money is
really going. Only 29% of these respondents said that charities do an excellent or good job of providing
information about how they use donations, 26% said they did an excellent or
good job of providing information about their fundraising costs, and 38% said they
did an excellent or good job of providing information about the impact of
their works. Half of respondents said that charities did an excellent or good job of
providing information about the programs and services they deliver.
For more information, and to download the full report, visit: www.muttart.org/surveys.htm.
New charity stock opportunity set to benefit Canadian women
October 27, 2008
Canada's first ever charitable immediate public opportunity (IPO), the Girls' Growth Fund, opened on the TSX last week, aiming
to raise $1 million by December 31, 2008. Issued by the Canadian Women's
Foundation, the Girls' Growth Fund is offering shares to
investors at $100 each.
At the closing of the offering, CWF will hold 100% ownership of the Fund
and proceeds will be used to support programs for girls, aged nine to 13,
across Canada. Full charitable tax receipts will be provided to all investors,
as will a souvenir share certificate.
For more information about the Girls' Growth Fund, visit: www.cdnwomen.org.
Fast Fact: Heritage sites falling into disrepair
October 27, 2008
A Parks Canada survey indicates that many of Canada's heritage sites are deteriorating because of lack of funding. Of national historic sites not managed by the federal government, 70% were reported as being in fair or poor condition, or having elements that fell into this category. With regard to all sites, managed both privately and publicly, only 45% were reported in good condition, and of these, nearly one in three reports elements of their site being in poor condition. Only 37% of site managers in Ontario rated their sites as being in good condition, while one in five BC owners reported their site being in poor condition. -- Environics
Walk for Children's Wish Foundation raises $1.3 million
October 27, 2008
Thousands of people recently took part in the 4th
annual XanGo Wishmaker Parade at more than 100
events in communities across the country. Together, they raised more than $1.3 million in support of The
Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.
Born in Atlantic Canada more than 20 years ago, and launched nationally
in 2005, the XanGo Wishmaker Parade raises funds to help grant wishes for
children with life threatening illnesses. "We are thrilled with the results for this year's parade and grateful to
our sponsors, participants, and the community for making this parade such a
great success," says Chris Kotsopoulos, national executive director. For more information on the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, please visit: www.childrenswish.ca.
CRTC considers making changes to Do Not Call List
October 27, 2008
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced it will be reviewing three requirements associated with the National Do Not Call List. The CRTC is considering allowing political candidates who are not members of a registered party to possibly be exempted from the list, as are political candidates who do belong to a registered party. The CRTC is also reviewing the current three-year registration limit on phone numbers, as well as the regulations around automatic dialing and announcing devices. They are inviting public feedback, which must be received by December 4, 2008. For more information, and to submit your comments, visit: www.crtc.gc.ca.
Call for papers for upcoming ANSER conference
October 27, 2008
The Association for Nonprofit and Social Economy Research (ANSER) announced a call for papers for their upcoming May 2009 conference in Ottawa. They are inviting proposals for individual papers, panels, or roundtable discussions on topics related to nonprofit and social economy research and practice in the Canadian, comparative, or international contexts. Proposals are particularly encouraged that fit into any of the following areas:
- Social economy and financing civil society
- Governance and management
- Public policy and government relations
- Co-operatives, community organizing, and community economic development
- Communication, networking and social marketing
- Volunteering and citizen engagement
The submission deadline is December 10, 2008. For more information, and to submit your proposal, visit: www.carleton.ca.
Fast Fact: Canadians increasingly providing unpaid care to seniors
October 27, 2008
In 2007, one in five Canadians was providing unpaid care to a senior, and one quarter of these were seniors themselves. The number of unpaid caregivers in Canada is currently around 2.7 million, with 43% of these falling into the "sandwich generation" - 45 to 54 year olds who are caring for a senior relative while also caring for children still living at home. Six in 10 caregivers assist a parent or in-law, and adult children are four times more likely to care for their own parents than for those of their spouse.
-- Statistics Canada
Ontario nonprofits encouraged to participate in online survey
October 27, 2008
Volunteers are essential in our communities and everyone should have a voice in how volunteerism is promoted and supported. Ontario voluntary/nonprofit organizations, count yourself in! All it takes is five minutes to answer questions in the Ontario Volunteer Centre Network survey. They are looking for all perspectives and want to hear from people who are very familiar with and access volunteer centre services, as well as those who don’t. Find the survey at www.ovcn.ca until November 15th, 2008.
Contest searching for the top Canadian teen philanthropist
October 27, 2008
To recognize charitable contributions from Canadian teenagers, Mackenzie Investments is sponsoring Canada’s Top Teen Philanthropist Contest. Promoted by Community Foundations of Canada, the winner will receive a prize of $5,000 to go to their charity of choice, as well as $1,000 cash for themselves, ideally to invest in an RESP and help save for their future education.
Five runners-up will receive $500 each for their charity of choice. To be eligible, teens must be between the ages of 13-19, be a Canadian resident, have donated money, goods, services or time to support a registered charitable cause for at least one year, and must be able to provide at least one example of the results or “impact” of their actions with a registered Canadian charity.
For more information, and to submit an application, visit: www.mackenziefinancial.com.
TELUS contributes $1.15 million to breast cancer organization
October 27, 2008
TELUS rounds out National Breast Cancer
Awareness month by presenting Rethink Breast Cancer with $1.15 million and
announcing the continuation of their support. TELUS and Rethink challenged
Canadians to show, wear and share their support for breast cancer and thousands have been 'tickled pink'. In addition to donating $25 from the sale of every
exclusive Pink BlackBerry Pearl Smartphone since February, this month proceeds
from GUND™ plush TELUS pink chameleon critters are going to Rethink. For more information about Rethink Breast Cancer, visit: www.rethinkbreastcancer.com.
OECD report finds income gap growing rapidly throughout the world
October 27, 2008
The gap between rich and poor has grown in more than three-quarters of member Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries over the past two decades, according to a new OECD report.
OECD’s Growing Unequal? report finds that the economic growth of recent decades has benefitted the rich more than the poor. In some countries, such as Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway and the United States, the gap also increased between the rich and the middle-class.
Countries with a wide distribution of income tend to have more widespread income poverty. Also, social mobility is lower in countries with high inequality, such as Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, and higher in the Nordic countries, where income is distributed more evenly.
For more information, and to view the full report, visit: www.oecd.org.
Fast Fact: Most would consider pay cut in exchange for shorter commute
October 27, 2008
Summer holidays just ended, but 25% of
commuters say they'd take a pay cut for a shorter drive to work and
13%t confess they've wanted to quit their job because of the daily
drive, according to a new poll. Those living in BC and Alberta are most aggravated by the drive with
17% saying the commute time has almost
driven them to quit.
Commuters in Ontario are most likely to say they'd take
a pay cut in exchange for a shorter commute to their workplace, at 28%, while
commuters in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and BC are least likely
to consider less pay for less driving, at 18%.
- Women, at 27%, are slightly more interested in putting time ahead of money than men, at 24%.
-- Goodyear Canada
CharityVillage launches 2008 demographic survey
October 20, 2008
How would you like to win an iPod Touch? The chance could be yours, just for telling us a little more about yourself and your participation in the nonprofit sector. CharityVillage is excited to launch our new 2008 Demographic Survey. Not only will one lucky respondent win an iPod Touch, but once the survey is complete we'll be able to share valuable demographic information about the sector with you. To take the survey, and enter to win the iPod Touch, please visit: http://www.surveymonkey.com.
Mature workers ignored as source of labour in Canada
October 20, 2008
The Conference Board of Canada released a new report last week, entitled Harnessing the Power: Recruiting, Engaging and Retaining
Mature Workers, that summarizes the results of a survey of 109 primarily mid-sized
and large Canadian organizations, conducted between June and August 2008. Although many respondents identified the aging of their workforce as a
concern, only 6% said they are focusing on retaining
mature workers, while 11% indicated they are actively focused on
attracting and recruiting mature workers. Only 7% formally
consider mature workers as a distinct employee group.
Among the few employers that have programs targeted to recruit mature
workers, almost three-quarters reported having been successful in their
recruitment efforts, compared to just under one-quarter of those without
targeted programs. For more information, and to download the full report, visit: www.conferenceboard.ca.
Fast Fact: More Canadians are finishing high school, but disturbing trends still exist
October 20, 2008
In 2007, just over 22% of Canadian adults did not have a high school diploma. This has improved steadily since 1990 when almost 38% had not completed high school. This puts Canada third among G8 countries, behind Russia and the United States. However, among Canadians aged 25 - 44, the share of men without a high school education, at 11%, is markedly higher than that of women, at 8%. And in 2006, 43.7% of aboriginal people did not have a high school diploma. -- Community Foundations of Canada
Inquiring minds want to know
. . . how charities are thinking about and using online technology
October 20, 2008
CanadaHelps is conducting a nationwide survey to address the learning needs of charities. This survey is part of CanadaHelps’ initiative to help charities achieve a higher online donation success rate. The information gleaned from the survey, as well as a series of consultations set to begin in mid-October, will assist in the development of an online resource centre. CanadaHelps will launch this centre in the upcoming weeks, as well as hold conferences in Toronto, London, Sudbury, and Kingston to discuss online technology concerns with local charities.
The survey is available in both English and French. For
English, visit: tinyurl.com/3oyj28. For
French, visit: tinyurl.com/4fheqd.
For more information about CanadaHelps and the Fall 2008 Charity Survey, contact Zenia Wadhwani at 416-628-6948, ext. 37 or via e-mail at zenia@canadahelps.org.
BC Supreme Court rules on right to camp in public parks
October 20, 2008
The BC Supreme Court decided on a landmark case last week, allowing homeless citizens to legally camp in the province's city parks. The ruling strikes down a Victoria city bylaw banning the use of "temporary abodes" such as tents in parks and other public places, indicating that it violates citizens' rights. The litigation between the City of Victoria and the defendents arose due to an altercation three years ago, where residents of a tent city erected in a local Victoria park were evicted and some arrested. Lawyer Catherine Boies Parker, who represented the defendants in the case, indicated that the lack of sufficient safehouses and beds for the homeless was a key factor in the decision. For more information, and to read the full ruling, visit: www.courts.gov.bc.ca.
New website launched to deal with workplace bullying
October 20, 2008
Workplace bullying remains a common but often underestimated problem in Canadian offices. A new website, Toward a Respectful Workplace, was launched by a group of Canadian researchers in order to create awareness and help people better understand the problem. The site is intended to encourage discussion about how to develop more respectful workplaces, and to identify some starting points and guiding principles.
It also identifies a range of disrespectful behaviours and their impact on the bullied worker. For more information, visit: www.unbf.ca.
Fast Fact: Americans have tough time deciding on responsible celebrities
October 20, 2008
According to a new poll of 1,001 Americans, 33% said they couldn't identify a celebrity who embodies responsibility, and 37% said the same of business leaders. Bill Gates topped the business leader category at 15%, while Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie topped the entertainment category, with 8% each. In contrast, 70% of respondents gave themselves a pat on the back for becoming more responsible in the past five years, and 74% indicated that other people had become less responsible in that time period. More than 70% of respondents feel that teenagers, young adults, and parents are less responsible than they were 20 years ago. -- Liberty Mutual Group
Alberta charity bike ride raises $100,000 for children's charities
October 20, 2008
Child and Youth Friendly Calgary (CYFC) received a $50,000 donation this week, the result of this summer’s Macleod Dixon Ride for Kids - an annual bike ride event that challenges participants to cycle from Jasper to Banff via the famous Icefields Parkway. The event raises money every year for local nonprofit organizations that work with the city’s youth. This year’s event, which took place July 26 and 27, raised $100,000 in total with half the funds going to CYFC and the other half going to the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign and the YMCA Growing Strong Together Community Campaign.
For more information about CYFC, visit: www.cyfc.ca.
Nova Scotia college collects 2,000 kilograms of food for the hungry
October 20, 2008
Nova Scotia Agricultural College students collected 2,000 kilograms of food last week, the Nova Scotia Chronicle Herald reports. The food drive was part of a provincewide Drive Away Hunger campaign and was sponsored by Farm Credit Canada. In addition to the food collected for Feed Nova Scotia, the college also donated 1,200 kilograms of fresh produce grown at the university to a local food bank. The campaign is hoping to reach 45,000 kilograms of donated food.
For more information about Feed Nova Scotia, visit: www.feednovascotia.ca.
Grants available for BC schools to build new playgrounds
October 20, 2008
The BC Ministry of Education is making it easier for British Columbia schools to apply for grants to build new, or upgrade existing playgrounds. Formerly, schools had to have a Parent Advisory Council (PAC) in place that could provide matching funds for the project. The new regulation allows service clubs to apply for the grant on behalf of schools with no PAC, and eliminates the need for matching funds altogether. Grants of up to $20,000 are available to qualifying schools, and applications are being accepted until November 20, 2008. Grant recipients will be notified in March, 2009. For more information, including full application details, visit:
www.hsd.gov.bc.ca.
Run for the Cure raises $28.5 million for breast cancer research
October 14, 2008
Still thriving in its 17th year, the Canadian
Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure raised $28.5 million last week, attracting more than 170,000 Canadians in 55
communities across the country. With the money raised from the run, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
will continue to support a wide range of initiatives across the breast cancer
continuum. Funds raised through this event are directed to
research in all areas of breast cancer, including education and prevention,
screening, diagnosis, treatment, and post-care support.
For more information, visit: www.cibcrunforthecure.com.
Vital Signs 2008 released for 15 communities across Canada
October 14, 2008
Child poverty in Canada is stuck at the same level as 1989 and immigrant family incomes are falling behind, according to Canada’s Vital Signs 2008, the annual report card on quality of life from Community Foundations of Canada (CFC). Canada’s Vital Signs 2008 is part of a growing nationwide initiative by Canadian community foundations to measure quality of life and take action to improve it. Fifteen local Vital Signs report cards are being released by community foundations across Canada, an increase from 11 reports issued last year and six produced in 2006.
For more information, and to download the full report, visit: www.cfc-fcc.ca.
(PDF)
Wellesley grants available for urban health research
October 14, 2008
The Wellesley Institute (WI) is pleased to announce a call for proposals for enabling grants under its Urban Health Research Programme. Enabling grants are small, time-limited grants intended to support academics, community agencies and providers to collaboratively pursue research on issues that urban communities identify as important. These may include identifying unmet needs, exploring or testing effective solutions to problems they experience, or increasing understanding of the forces that shape people's health and the way these forces affect people's health.
This year's grants will be directed by the following broad themes:
health equity practice,
collaboration and community engagement, and
social innovation. The
application due date is October 31, 2008.
For more information, and to download an application, visit: wellesleyinstitute.com.
Report released on children's well-being in North America
October 14, 2008
The Canadian Council on Social Development released the newest report in its Growing Up in North America series last week. The new report, The Economic Well-being of Children in Canada, the United States and Mexico gives information on the economic status of families in North America and children's access to basic services including health care and housing. It also examines various factors affecting children's economic well-being, including labour markets, access to public resources and programs, as well as social and demographic trends. For more information, and to download the full report, visit: www.ccsd.ca.
(PDF)
Fast Fact: Few organizations giving management roles to volunteers
October 14, 2008
An international survey reporting on the roles that volunteers play in charitable organizations indicates that 96% of respondents involve volunteers in service provision, with only 4% not allowing volunteers to take on this role.
Another 70% had volunteers working in minor administration roles, 63% involved volunteers as board or committee members or trustees, 63% had opportunities for significant administration roles, and 62% involved volunteers in fundraising. Almost half (45%) of organizations had volunteers involved in managing, recruiting or training volunteers, but only 19% involved volunteers in management roles within the organization. -- People First-Total Solutions
Saskatchewan gala raises $511,000 for Regina hospitals
October 14, 2008
Ajay Dilawri played host to a sold-out crowd during the 2008 Dilawri Grand Gala held on October 4th. Dubbed the Fifth and Finale, the gala raised $511,000 for the Hospitals of Regina Foundation. The goal was to raise a total of $1 milllion over five years but the amount was surpassed and the galas raised a total of $1.6 million. The funds will be used to support trauma and emergency equipment and services.
For more information, visit: www.hrf.sk.ca.
Green challenge rewards students' environmental ideas
October 14, 2008
Students who dream of living in a greener
community have a chance to turn those hopes into reality with the help of the
TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF).
TD FEF announced a call for entries for the second annual Go Green
Challenge, a national competition inviting student teams to submit an essay,
containing an idea or proposal that has a positive environmental impact on a
community.
Teams of two or more students are asked to submit an essay (maximum of
4,000 words and 20 pages) about an idea that fits within the theme of urban
sustainability. A judging panel will choose four winning submissions and each
respective team will receive a $25,000 cash prize to be used toward
bringing their idea to life. The challenge is open to all legal residents of
Canada who are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a Canadian
college or university.
Submissions will be accepted between November 1, 2008 and January 16, 2009. For more information, visit:
www.tdcanadatrust.com.
Earth Day Canada selected as outstanding nonprofit organization
October 14, 2008
Earth Day Canada (EDC) was recognized as Canada's Outstanding Nonprofit Organization by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM). EDC was selected for their suite of year-round environmental programs, engaging people of all ages in support of a healthier environment. EDC, a national environmental charity founded in 1990, provides Canadians with the practical knowledge and resources they need to take environmental action in their community. Its five core programs - EcoAction Teams, EcoMentors, EcoKids, the Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program, and Hometown Heroes Award Program - are directed at Canadians of all ages, from kindergarten children to seniors. It is also the organization behind Canada's annual Earth Day celebrations.
For more information, visit: www.earthday.ca.
Scotiabank donates $500,000 to improve campus diversity
October 14, 2008
Scotiabank's donation of $500,000 to Wilfrid
Laurier University is helping to improve campus diversity by enhancing
services for students with disabilities and increasing support for
international students and those students participating in international
exchanges. Supported through a portion of the $500,000 donation, two new labs will
provide Laurier students with the proper atmosphere and resources to learn,
study and write exams. New resources available to students include computers
loaded with accessible software, a lending library of assistive technology
resources, accessible workstations, and an environment that limits
distractions. Additionally, Laurier is able to enhance the available
equipment, including hearing impairment devices and a Braille Lite.
For more information, visit: www.wlu.ca.
Fast Fact: Few international organizations fundraise outside of western world
October 14, 2008
According to a new international survey, only two of 20 international organizations polled fundraise outside of the western world. With only 10% of international organizations fundraising in emerging markets, these groups may be missing out on a huge potential market. Ten million of the wealthiest individuals worldwide have a combined wealth of $41 trillion USD, and most of them are based in emerging markets. In 2002, these individuals gave $285 billion to philanthropic causes. The survey suggests that untapped fundraising markets include South Korea, Colombia, Thailand, Singapore, Argentina and UAE.
-- Management Centre
Breast cancer research grants available in Ontario
October 14, 2008
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region announced that the Fall 2008 call for proposals is now open. The three categories of grants include:
- Research Project Grant Program - funding laboratory and pre-clinical investigations; clinical projects and field studies; psychosocial and related research. Deadline is October 24, 2008.
- Fellowship Program - funding research and/or clinical/professional training for graduate and post-graduate level scientists and allied health professionals, and, physicians, to develop expertise in breast cancer. Deadline is October 27, 2008.
- Community Based Research Grants - funding collaborative teams to undertake research that addresses social, environmental, and behavioural factors through recommendations for policy and practice changes across the breast cancer continuum. Deadline is November 14, 2008.
For more information, including full eligibility requirements, visit: www.cbcf.org.
CharityVillage questions party leaders about nonprofit sector issues
October 6, 2008
Last week, CharityVillage sent a letter to the leaders of Canada's five biggest political parties - Conservative, Liberal, NDP, Bloc Québécois, and the Green Party - asking them to respond to questions about the nonprofit sector and how they plan to address particular issues, if elected. The five questions we asked were:
- What is your party's plan to ensure that government funding contracts with nonprofit organizations adequately support and sustain all aspects of service delivery?
- What would your party do to improve the governance and corporate law applicable to federal nonprofits?
- How does your party plan to provide incentives for greater charitable giving by Canadians?
- What would your party do to reduce or eliminate abusive charitable tax shelters that have proliferated over the last decade and are undermining the public's confidence in charities?
- Will your party restore funding to help promote volunteerism across the country?
At the time of publication, the NDP and Liberal parties have responded (see below), but check back throughout the week. We plan to post responses from the other parties as they become available. To read party responses, click here.
Wellesley Institute releases three new reports on nonprofit collaboration
October 6, 2008
Last week, the Toronto-based Wellesley Institute released
the latest reports in its collaboration series, along with a major new paper
on community-based research. From Many Voices explores the experiences, opportunities and challenges in a multi-stakeholder process, and identifies the conditions for success in collaborative projects involving the nonprofit, public and private sectors.
Deliberate Relationships scans relationships between government and
the third sector (nonprofit/voluntary). And Collaboration in the Third Sector establishes a vision for a new
collaboration framework, with recommendations and actions for the
nonprofit sector, funders and nonprofit agencies.
For more information and to download all three reports, visit: wellesleyinstitute.com/blog.
BC philanthropist creates endowment for emerging artists
October 6, 2008
British Columbian philanthropist Michael Audain recently established an endowment for emerging artists at the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) . The $2-million Audain Emerging Artists Acquisition Fund will allow the VAG to purchase work by emerging artists in perpetuity, and is the largest fund of its kind in the country, according to a report by the Globe and Mail. The gallery will use income from the endowment - 4 to 5 percent each year - to acquire works from emerging BC artists, generally under 35, who have not had solo exhibitions in key institutions.
For more information about the Vancouver Art Gallery, visit: www.vanartgallery.bc.ca.
Fast Fact: Compensation for women still lags behind men in nonprofit sector
October 6, 2008
The latest compensation survey from US-based GuideStar reveals that women hold 55% of CEO positions at organizations with expenses of $1 million or less, but only 36% at organizations with expenses of greater than $1 million. Overall, women held 46% of the positions reported upon (an increase of 5% over 2005) but received only 35% of the total compensation.
The survey also finds that the larger the organization, the larger the increases in compensation. For example, CEOs at organizations with budgets between $500 thousand and $1 million saw a median increase of 4.5% from 2005 to 2006, whereas those at organizations with budgets of greater than $50 million had a median increase of 7.6%. -- GuideStar
Awards recognize organizations working with homeless youth
October 6, 2008
Eva's Initiatives has launched the fourth season of its Award for Innovation. The purpose of the award is to recognize the work being done by organizations across Canada in assisting homeless youth. The award will be granted to three organizations, which will each receive $5,000. Selected organizations will:
- Demonstrate innovation in delivering services to homeless youth;
- Successfully use partnerships to develop, implement or operate services;
- Deliver services that help youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to achieve greater self-sufficiency and reduce their chances of experiencing homelessness in the future;
- Offer services that integrate two or more of the following: housing, education, vocational training, employment, health and addictions supports, life skills, or other interventions aimed at assisting homeless and at-risk youth to become self-sufficient.
The deadline for applications is November 7th, 2008.
For more information, or to apply online, visit: www.evasinitiatives.com.
Ledcor makes $5 million donation to support BC Children's Hospital
October 6, 2008
The Ledcor Group of Companies and the
company's chairman and CEO, Dave Lede, announced that they are making a
joint $5-million donation to BC Children's Hospital Foundation to support the
construction of a new Children's Hospital in Vancouver. "Ledcor and the Dave Lede Family Charitable Foundation have a long
history of supporting children's hospitals across North America," said Lede. "Our corporate culture involves supporting the communities in which we
operate, and through our gift to the BC Children's Hospital we are able to
reach children and families across BC." For more information, visit:
www.bcchf.ca.
Google looking for ideas to change the world
October 6, 2008
Through its Project 10 to the 100th initiative, Google is calling for ideas to change the world. The purpose of the project is to identify great ideas and bring them to life, and Google is committing $10 million to fund up to five ideas selected by an advisory board. Only individuals can submit ideas, which will be evaluated based on five criteria:
Reach: How many people would this idea affect?
Depth: How deeply are people impacted? How urgent is the need?
Attainability: Can this idea be implemented within a year or two?
Efficiency: How simple and cost-effective is your idea?
Longevity: How long will the idea's impact last?
The submission deadline is October 20th, 2008. For more information, visit: www.project10tothe100.com.
Right to Play not welcome at 2010 Olympic village
October 6, 2008
The Canadian Press reported last week that the international organization Right to Play won't be allowed to set up shop in the athletes village at the 2010 Winter Games because its sponsors aren't the same as those for the Vancouver Olympics. The Toronto-based humanitarian group runs programs in developing countries to encourage sport as a tool for peace and skill-building. "Right to Play has never had these issues before," said Mark Brender, the deputy director of Right to Play Canada. "We don't totally understand what is different." Brender said his organization has always had different sponsors than organizing committees since it started its affiliation with the Games in 1992.
Currently, Right to Play is attracting the support of major sponsors who are rivals to 2010 partners. "Our Games rely on about a billion dollars from our sponsors to put the Games on; if it doesn't come from our sponsors, it has to come from somewhere else and we can't put that at risk," said Dave Cobb, vice-president of marketing for the Olympic organizing committee. For more information about Right to Play Canada, visit: www.righttoplay.ca.
Fast Fact: Canadians among heaviest Internet users worldwide
October 6, 2008
A new study released by the Canadian Internet Project finds that we are at the top of the list when it comes to Internet usage. The study reveals that almost 90% of Canadians aged 12 and older have been online, and half of people aged 60 and up are online users. Overall, about 80% of Canadians are current Internet users, and 40% are heavy users, surfing for 15 hours or more each week. In 2007, Canadians spent an average of 17 hours a week online, up from 13 hours a week in 2004.
-- Canadian Internet Project
Class action lawsuits put $1 million into hands of charities
October 6, 2008
Community foundations are distributing more than $800,000 to charities across Canada as part of a recent class action lawsuit settlement, bringing the total contribution to charities from these settlements to $1.2 million. A total of 41 grants have been made in 22 communities across the country. The latest grants are part of two longstanding class action lawsuits involving price fixing allegations among manufacturers of a rubber product known as EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) and Polychloroprene. “Providing grants to community organizations allows the courts to broadly compensate consumers affected by this type of class action lawsuit, since there is no way to track them down individually,” said Martha Powell, president and CEO of London Community Foundation. The EPDM case is the second class action settlement in which community foundations have been involved. For more information, visit: www.cfc-fcc.ca. (PDF)
McMaster researchers seek board volunteers for survey
October 6, 2008
Are you a nonprofit board member? Why? Researchers at McMaster University are studying what it's like to volunteer on a board. They are seeking survey participants who are currently board members of charities or nonprofit organizations to fill out a brief, confidential survey about why people volunteer to serve on boards, how they are recruited, and what these experiences mean to them. The information collected will be used to help nonprofit organizations to manage their boards more effectively. For more information, visit: www.infofeedback.net/4DCGI/GENQ/65. The survey is also available in French at www.infofeedback.net/4DCGI/GENQ/66.
The YMCA of Greater Toronto calls for peacemakers
October 6, 2008
The YMCA of Greater Toronto is calling on those ordinary people who do extraordinary things to bring peace to
their communities. If you know someone who is a peacemaker in your community, nominate them for the YMCA Peace Medallion. The Y is seeking individuals who:
- Find peaceful solutions to violence, conflict, discrimination and
injustice.
- Make a difference by working without any special recognition to
create a culture of peace.
- Volunteer their time and work without any special resources.
- Enhance the lives of people in their community and around the world
by creating peaceful environments.
The deadline for submissions is October 17th, 2008. For more information or to download a nomination form, visit: www.ymcatoronto.org.
