Calgary Housing Advocacy | AGM & Fall Social Sept 21 | Webinars and Workshops
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Calgary Housing Advocacy
Last week, CCVO put out a call for support in asking City Council to take the next step in passing the recommendations from the Housing and Affordability Task Force. And you answered! 50 nonprofits have already signed on to support this request.
If your organization has not signed on yet, there’s still time! Review the draft letter here and contact us by August 31 with your name, title and organization to add as a co-signatory. Join us and a chorus of other nonprofits in asking Council to pass these recommendations to ensure that we can keep Calgary affordable for the essential nonprofit employees in our sector.
Let others know your organization is in support of these recommendations and encourage more nonprofits to join us. Here is some sample messaging to get you started:
Our nonprofit supports housing affordability – yours can too! Please join us in signing a letter to #yyccc and ask Council to accept all recommendations from the Housing and Affordability Task Force. https://www.calgarycvo.org/ccvo-blog-news/calgary-housing-advocacy
Keep Calgary affordable. #yyccc needs to act now to support people like nonprofit employees to be able to afford housing. Join us and other #yyc nonprofits in asking Council to accept all recommendations from the Housing and Affordability Task Force. https://www.calgarycvo.org/ccvo-blog-news/calgary-housing-advocacy
Nonprofits are essential. Please join us and a chorus of other nonprofit voices in asking #yyccc to keep Calgary affordable. Housing is a major issue and we are asking Council to accept all recommendations from the Housing and Affordability Task Force. https://www.calgarycvo.org/ccvo-blog-news/calgary-housing-advocacy
2023 AGM & Fall Social
SEPTEMBER 21 | 2:30-5:00PM | FORT CALGARY
Join us for the first event of the Fall! We are back at Fort Calgary and excited to reconnect with everybody after the summer.
This year's AGM features Political Gossip with Friends, a panel discussion where we'll get some insight on Alberta's political climate and what it means for nonprofits.
Panelists:
Michael Solberg previously worked as the Stakeholder Relations Advisor to the Federal Minister of Health and has led political campaigns across the country. As principal at New West Public Affairs he provides government relations and strategic communications counsel.
Annalise Klingbeil was a beat reporter for Calgary City Hall with the Calgary Herald and worked as a press secretary for the Minister of Justice. She is cofounder and principal at Champion Communications & PR, an Alberta-based communications and public affairs firm.
Naheed Nenshi served as mayor of Calgary for 3 terms from 2010-2021. Prior to his election, Naheed was a professor of non-profit management at Mount Royal University. He is currently managing director for the Ascend Group.
Sabrina Grover was the Liberal Party candidate for Calgary Centre in the 2021 federal elections. She previously worked in government relations with the Canadian Real Estate Association and is currently principal at Shakti Strategies.
The event will close with a reception and social where you can network with other nonprofit colleagues.
PROGRAM
2:30 PM: Welcome and AGM
3:00 PM: Political Gossip With Friends
3:45 - 5:00 PM: Reception
VOTING
AGM voting rights are available to one representative of each member organization. Click here to renew or purchase a new membership. Not sure if you’re a member? Visit our member directory or connect with us at membership@calgarycvo.org. Renewal notices for the summer will be coming out shortly.
Turning Statistics Into Stories Workshop
OCTOBER 10 & 11 | 9:30AM-2:30PM | ZOOM
This two-day workshop with Statistics Canada encourages effective communication of statistics via stories. The focus is on knowing your audience and acquiring tools and technique to convey key messages.
Funding & Grants
Ecclesiastical Insurance Community Impact Grant
The Community Impact Grant Program is open to registered Canadian charities. Grants are made to specific programs that make a positive and sustained impact on the community, by benefiting youth, vulnerable and under-represented people or by supporting our communities’ unique cultural programs. This year preference will be given to charities that are addressing the following key areas:
Environmental conservation with a human-centric approach.
Food security, hunger, and poverty related to food access and availability.
Vulnerable youth and families.
The typical amount granted ranges from $10,000 to $25,000. However, larger grants may be considered based on the program’s focus and demonstrated need. Applications are due by September 15. Find out more information and apply here.
TD Ready Challenge
The 2023 TD Ready Challenge is seeking innovative solutions to help address systemic barriers to affordable housing across the continuum from transitional to permanent homes, and to help increase access to affordable and stable housing for those that need it most.
Such solutions could be focused on, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:
Housing supply challenges
Addressing construction and development costs
Homeownership
Financial education programs
Innovative loans and financing
There are ten grants of $1 million available. Applications are due by September 13 and can be found here.
New Horizons for Seniors Program- Community-Based Project
The community-based stream of the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grant that supports community-based projects that are designed by seniors for seniors. This program funds projects that empower seniors in their communities and contribute to improving their health and well-being.
Projects submitted for this grant must meet at least one of the following program objectives:
promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations
engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others
expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse
supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors
providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors
If a proposed project is requesting capital assistance, it must meet at least one of the first four program objectives.
Nonprofit organizations, municipalities and indigenous organizations are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted until September 14 and organizations can receive up to $25,000. Find out more information and apply here.
A Case for Action on Literacy
Join the Left Unread community at the Calgary Central Library on September 8, 8-9:30am to engage in dialogue about literacy challenges and paths forward for International Literacy Day.
Moderated by CBC journalist Elise Stolte, panelists will discuss literacy challenges and solutions. Panel members include CPL CEO Sarah Meilleur, CBE Superintendent of School Improvement Joanne Pitman, and Principal Bella Eagletail. This event will also include opening remarks by Mayor Gondek and MLA Myles McDougall and networking opportunities before and after the panel discussion. Refreshments will be provided. Register here.
Blogs & More
Disappearing Volunteers: The Looming Crisis for Nonprofits
Mary Barroll, Charity Village Connects
A perfect storm is threatening the very foundation of Canada’s nonprofit sector. A severe shortage of volunteers has led to the cancellation and suspension of critical programming and services across Canada and, in some cases, the closure of entire organizations. In this podcast episode, volunteer sector experts explore why so many volunteers simply didn’t return post-pandemic, how current trends are impacting volunteerism in Canada, and what organizations can do to recruit new volunteers and retain those they already have. Listen here →
The Climate Crisis Could Break The Disaster Philanthropy Model - What Can Donors Do About It
Gabe Oatley, Future of Good
The World Meteorological Organization says natural disasters have increased fivefold over the last 50 years, largely due to climate change. Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, director of Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, says this has increased the number of fundraising appeals made by humanitarian organizations and contributed to “donor fatigue.”
While some causes continue to garner strong support, experts say the accelerated pace of climate disasters will exacerbate existing inequities between fundraising campaigns. Some disasters capture media attention, soliciting sympathy and an outpouring of aid, but many don’t. Read more →