Government of Alberta Grants | Fill out our Connections Conference Survey
Riding the Waves of Change: The State of Calgary's Nonprofit Sector
THURSDAY, MAY 16 | 11:30AM-1:00PM | DJD DANCE CENTRE THEATRE
Join the Kahanoff Centre for their lunch and learn on Thursday, May 16 as nonprofit leaders share their perspectives on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, equity, and economic recovery in the nonprofit sector.
Panelists:
Eva Friesen, CEO of Calgary Foundation
Kirby Redwood, CEO of Miskanawah
Melissa From, CEO of The Calgary Food Bank
Karen Young, CEO of United Way of Calgary and Area
CCVO's President and CEO, Karen Ball will be moderating and sharing reflection from our Facing the Storm State of the Sector Report.
2024 Connections Conference Survey
Thank you to everyone that attended our 2024 Connections Conference! This was our first Connections Conference since 2021, and you helped make it the biggest and best one yet. We had over 600 people come from across Alberta to learn, share ideas, and make new connections.
We would love to hear your feedback about this year's conference so we can make the next one even better. The survey should take approximately five to ten minutes to fill out.
Policy Highlights
2024 Federal Budget: Highlights for the Charitable and NPO sector
Miller Thomson
Get a breakdown of several new tax measures that are relevant to the nonprofit sector, including: an increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, changes to the tax treatment of charitable donations when calculating the alternative minimum tax, the expansion of the auditing powers of the Canada Revenue Agency, and various other changes relating to Income Tax Act compliance and modernization of the services provided by the Charities Directorate.
There are also several new funding opportunities that may directly or indirectly impact the charitable and nonprofit sector. The relevant funding proposals are organized by sector. See the full article here.
The Giving Report 2024
Canada Helps
The Giving Report 2024 highlights insights and giving trends that are challenging Canada’s charitable sector as it struggles to keep pace with increasing demand amidst a decline in charitable donors. One of the key findings of the report is that people with more social connections are more likely to donate, participate in community events, and volunteer. They also have more confidence in leaders in the nonprofit, business, and government sectors.
While the number of donors has decreased, the total value of charitable donations has actually increased. People are adopting online giving, with online giving rates almost double what they were in 2019. Gifts of securities like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds also continue to increase, and Giving Tuesday remains popular with 3.5% of all giving on Canada Helps occurring on that day. Read the full report here.
Learning Opportunities
Breaking Barriers to Inclusion: Asian Heritage Month
May 7 | online
REGISTER
Empowering Inclusive Change: Strategies for Foundational Change Management
May 14 | SAIT
REGISTER
From Overwhelm to Action: What Leaders Can Do to Advance Equity in Polarizing Times
May 16 | online
REGISTER
Five Good Ideas on How to Help Yourself to Help Others
May 22 | online
REGISTER
Spring Bliss Mini Mental Wellness Festival
The Perlin Foundation's 3rd Annual Spring Bliss mini-mental wellness festival will be held on May 5 from 10:00 AM-2:30 PM at Carya Calgary's Village Commons. This event is free and will have:
Fear Ball" to improve your mental health literacy
Performances that celebrate community & wellbeing
Displays to show how our brain works
Elders to share wisdom on the Medicine Wheel
Many more professionals, community support, and ways to love your brain!
Learn more here.
Board Leadership Calgary
Board Leadership Calgary is back in-person on May 25 at Bow Valley College, South Campus. Join Alberta Arts, Culture & Status of Women, Federation of Calgary Communities, and Sport Calgary for an opportunity to learn and connect with a community of board members, leaders, and professionals committed to growing the impact of the nonprofit sector in Alberta.
This year's topics are divided into 6 learning streams:
Board basics: getting started with strategic planning, reading financial statements, and legal fundamentals.
Marketing: storytelling for impact, social media strategy, and measuring success.
Funding and Financials: what a funder's lens looks like, insight into corporate giving, and exploring social finance.
Innovation: what is social entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence (AI), human-centred design, and navigating the cybersecurity landscape.
People: your volunteer strategy, best practices for an inclusive workplace, and best practices in recruitment and engagement.
Networking & Conversations: honest conversations about the state of the sector and opportunities to build your personal network.
Register here.
Funding & Grants
CIP Project-Based Grant
The Government of Alberta Community Initiatives Program (CIP) aims to foster healthy, vibrant communities across Alberta. The Project-Based Grant Stream funds community projects: new programs, one-time initiatives, program expansions, and community events. It also funds technology and portable equipment. Projects must be completed in 18 months of receiving funds, and organizations can apply for up to $75,000. Organizations must be a registered nonprofit and have been operating in Alberta for a minimum of one year. The deadline for applications is May 15. There are three intake periods a year. Find more information and apply here.
Community Facility Enhancement Program Small
The Government of Alberta Community Facility Enhancement Program Small grant stream funds upgrades, expansions, purchases, or builds of public-use community facilities. Registered nonprofit organizations can apply for up to $125,000. Projects requiring larger amounts can apply to the Large grant stream. Applications are due by May 15 and projects must be completed within 18 months from receiving funding. Find the application here.
United By Sport
The Adidas Foundation's United by Sport Program supports organizations working to combat, through sports, all forms of hate and discrimination. Two categories of funding are available: general program funding and project-specific funding. Organizations can only apply for one category. Applications are open to registered nonprofits around the world. Applications for both streams close on May 31.
General program funding is for organizations whose regular programming is fully aligned to combating hate and discrimination. Organizations can apply for amounts between 10,000 EUR and 150,000 EUR over a three-year term. Project specific funding is for new projects. Organizations can apply for 150,000 EUR to 700,000 EUR in the project funding stream. Find out more information about general program funding and project specific funding here.
Canada's Volunteer Awards
Canada's Volunteer Awards are accepting nominations until June 15. Twenty regional awards are offered in the following categories: community leader, business leader, emerging leader, and social innovator. There is one national award, The Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement Award. This award is for individuals who have volunteered for twenty years or more.
Canada’s Volunteer Awards recognizes recipients at a national ceremony. Recipients also take part in a session to share best practices in volunteering. All award recipients receive a certificate signed by the Prime Minister and a lapel pin. They also get to choose a nonprofit organization to receive a grant.
Nominees can be individuals, groups, businesses, social enterprises or nonprofit organizations. Individuals or groups must be over the age of 18. See the application here.
Blogs & More
It’s Just Another Masking Monday: ADHD, Menstruation, and Work
Lydia Phillip, The Philanthropist Journal
Not only can menstruation increase anxiety, depression, physical pain, cognitive impairment, and sleep loss, it also affects medication, which significantly disrupts work and life for neurodivergent people. This connection is particularly relevant to the nonprofit sector, which is staffed largely by women in roles that typically offer less pay and fewer benefits than jobs in the overall economy, despite its necessary focus on equitable employment opportunities, community health initiatives, and gender and disability justice. This has implications for nonprofit leaders whose staff may be navigating the often-invisible physical, psychological, and financial burdens in a sector that is notorious for burnout – which particularly affects retention and job satisfaction for disabled workers. Read More→
Why are Women Still Underrepresented in Nonprofit Leadership?
Allison Dunfield, Globe and Mail
Ms. Carson, who has been vocal about the leadership gender gap in the charitable sector (and wrote a master’s thesis on the topic), has spent her career working her way up through the ranks, starting as a co-ordinator in the events field. While she’s seeing more women reaching the executive and CEO level, she says the numbers still aren’t where they should be.
To create improvement in the sector, says Ms. Carson, there needs to be a shift in thinking from the top down. Read More→
GST and Membership Fees for Nonprofits
David Crawford, CCVO Guest Blogger
If your nonprofit organization or charity collects membership fees, it's important to be aware of regulations related to the GST system in Canada. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) actively reviews the GST treatment of nonprofits and charities, and a significant number have been found to be non-compliant.
For a nonprofit to treat its membership revenues as exempt from GST, the organization must qualify as a public sector body as defined by the GST legislation. Read More→