Imagine Canada and CCVO Sector Social Sept 5 | Save the date for the CCVO AGM Sept 19
Imagine Canada and CCVO Sector Social
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5 | 4:00PM-6:00PM | cSPACE MARDA LOOP
Join nonprofit sector colleagues after work on September 5, 2024, for a catered social mixer, hosted by CCVO & Imagine Canada and welcoming Calgary and area members of Parliament!
Seize the chance to meet peers and discuss sector priorities with invited local-area MPs. Let's ensure they return to Ottawa this fall with nonprofits on their minds!
There will be a cash bar and light catering available. Please RSVP, as space is limited.
Save the Date: CCVO AGM September 19
Save the date for our upcoming AGM on September 19 from 2:30-5:00pm.
Program:
AGM and CCVO update: 2:30-3:45pm
Reception: 3:45-5:00pm
This year we'll be back at The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (formerly Fort Calgary). After a short business AGM, we'll have an exciting announcement about CCVO's future that you won't want to miss.
Watch for more information and a registration link at the end of August.
Tell Us Your Funding Priorities
Please take less than 10 minutes with CCVO’s interactive budgeting tool to identify your nonprofit’s funding priorities.
We are charting a course to secure appropriate funding and stabilize our sector - and we’ll get further if we get specific. We will use your responses to communicate our sector’s priorities to funders, governments, and other stakeholders, and we'll make recommendations on how to best allocate funding dollars. Your participation is crucial!
If you work in the nonprofit sector (paid or unpaid) and have an understanding of your organization's daily operations, please take a few minutes with the budgeting tool. Tell us what you would do with new funding: Grow existing programming to make it available to more people? Expand the diversity of your services? Increase your capacity to cope with external issues like climate change or internal practices like diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Thank you in advance for using your time and expertise to support Alberta nonprofits!
Remembering Ilda Songhurst
We at CCVO offer our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Ilda Songhurst.
Ilda was the Vice President of People and Organizational Sustainability at CUPS Calgary and a leader in the HR community. She was a huge contributor to CCVO's HR Exchange, and her compassion and warmth shown through the community.
Ilda was quick to welcome people, curate connections, and share her expertise and advice. Her passion and kindness will be missed by many.
The State of Outcomes-based Finance in Canada
The State of Outcomes-Based Finance in Canada is a joint research project between the Sorenson Impact Institute and the Raven Indigenous Impact Foundation. The report examines the utilization, benefits, challenges, and opportunities of outcomes-based finance in Canada, along with a comparison to outcomes-based finance practices in the US and UK. It makes five primary recommendations to strengthen outcomes-based finance (OBF) in the Canadian social-impact financing landscape:
Foster collaborative partnerships
Promote greater information sharing
Provide enhanced support for service providers
Review procurement procedures and legislative frameworks
Establish an Outcomes Purchase Fund
Read the report here.
Momentum's Research on Career Colleges
Private Career Colleges (PCCs) offer career-focused, short-term training programs that connect learners directly to employment opportunities. PCCs are also becoming increasingly active in our communities — attending career fairs, recruiting at community events, and offering partnership opportunities to nonprofits.
However, not all PCCs offer learners a quality education. Momentum’s recent research found several worrying trends that lead to poor outcomes for PCC students. Momentum also heard first-hand from students about their troubling experiences, which range from receiving a poor quality of education to cases of outright fraud. Read the research report here or read about student experiences here.
Momentum is working with the Government of Alberta to improve standards across the province and make PCCs a safer choice for students. For the time being, however, prospective students are encouraged to thoroughly research the quality of their institution and program of choice. If your organization works with vulnerable clients, we encourage you, too, to do your research before recommending or engaging with a PCC. If someone you know has been impacted by their experience at a PCC, reach out to publicpolicy@momentum.org.
Funding & Grants
Calgary Arts Development Community-Run Public Art Microgrant Program
The Community-Run Public Art Microgrant Program funds public art in Calgary. Community-run organizations in Calgary can apply for up to $15,000 in funding to hire local artists to create public art. Community-run organizations include informal groups, nonprofits, and charities. The artwork must be in a public space that is open and accessible to all. Projects that require engineering approvals will not be considered. The application deadline is September 4 and applications can be found here.
Ecclesiastical Community Impact Grant
Ecclesiastical’s Community Impact Grant supports initiatives that help those in need and support communities to thrive. Projects must take place in Canada and be sustainable after the grant period has ended. This year, a special focus will be give to charities with programs dedicated to the following key areas:
Environmental conservation with a human impact
Food security
Supporting vulnerable youth, families, and seniors
Applications are open to registered Canadian charities. The typical grant amount is between $10,000 to $25,000. Larger grants may be considered based on the program’s focus and demonstrated need. The deadline for applications is August 29. Find the application here.
City of Calgary Arts and Culture Microgrant
Bring your idea for a new arts and culture experience to life with The City of Calgary Arts and Culture Microgrant. Registered nonprofits, charities, community associations, and Business Improvement Areas can apply for up to $30,000 in funding for community-based arts and culture initiatives taking place between December 2024 and May 2025.
Ideas could include a pop-up music event, winter carnival, cultural festival, artisan market, theatre production, cultural film screening or other creative ideas. The deadline for applications is September 1. Full details and application forms are available here.
Blogs & More
Cycling Through Jobs In The Non-profit Sector
Amina Mohamed, The Philanthropist Journal
I feel like we’re all communicating through action. And the dance looks like this: non-profit work to government work – and government work is similar, but it’s more stable – back to non-profit, back to the private sector, back to non-profit, or, obviously, working at a non-profit with side hustles. But again, unsustainable. And this is not unique to me. It’s not unique to my circle, but it’s representative of wider labour trends that are pretty typical of the non-profit environment. Listen here→
Leadership | You’ve Got Agency, It’s Time to Use it
Chanel Grenaway, Hilborn Charity eNews
In the context of equity, inclusion, and anti-racism work, a contribution mindset also includes the belief that all activity (awareness building, empathetic listening, addressing harm and exclusion etc.) even if it seems small or insignificant has an impact. In other words, there is a ripple effect when we take action. We may not see our impact immediately (or ever), but we know the potential of creating a sense of belonging and that equitable opportunities can occur as a result of an encouraging word, an offer to speak or share, a changed policy or a referral. Read more→