National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | State Of The Sector Survey
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour the survivors of residential schools, the children who did not come home, and their families. This day, along with every day of the year, is a time to listen, learn, and remember. Check below for some of the virtual and in person events and opportunities you can participate in.
Cadmus Delorme Presentation
University of Calgary and Calgary Public Library | September 29
Cadmus Delorme, a Cree and Saulteaux and former chief of Cowessess First Nation, shares his presentation, What We Inherited and Better Understanding Our Role in Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. Hosted by the Office of Indigenous Engagement and CPL.
Film Screening of Beans
University of Calgary and Calgary Public Library | September 29
Based on true events, Beans is a coming-of-age story that follows a Mohawk girl during an armed stand-off known as the Oka Crisis, which tore Quebec and Canada apart for 78 tense days in 1990. Following the film, there will be discussion with director Tracey Deer, Kelli-Morning Bull, the Indigenous Services Design Lead at Calgary Public Library, and Autumn Eaglespeaker.
Community Star Blanket Workshop
CIF Reconciliation Society | September 29
Create a special community star blanket with Dale Swampy. The blanket will tell the story of participants who help be part of healing, reconciliAction, and EMPOWERMENT by reflecting on residential schools, the 60s scoop, and reconciliation, and making a part of the blanket.
Métis Memories of Residential School
University of Calgary | September 27
Join Métis scholars, Dr. Yvonne Poitras Pratt and Billie-Jo Grant, in this important presentation shedding light on the Métis experience and addressing the historical biases and racism they have encountered.
O’kosi
Making Treaty 7 | September 21 - 30
O'kosi depicts the ways in which Indigenous People are healing from the multi-dimensional and multi-generational effects of the Indian Act and the signing of Treaty 7, and how the repercussions of these policies have been passed to parents, sons, and daughters.
Truth and Reconciliation Mini Pow Wow
Treaty 6, 7, 8 and Métis Indigenous Community | September 30
The 3rd Annual Every Child Matters Mini Pow Wow features a craft Table, hand games, face painting, and a bouncy house.
Reconnection, Reconciliation and Resilience 2023
Stardale Womens' Group | September 30
This event is an opportunity to discuss the effects of residential schools and their legacy and is open to the public. It will include a ceremony with Elder presence and teachings, and a drumming performance from The Stardale Girls Drumming Group along with a screening or an original film.
Indigenous Showcase and Market
Arts Commons | September 30
The Makers Market will feature the creations of Indigenous artists and artisans from around Treaty 7 and beyond, as well as live performances.
NFB Film Screenings
Arts Commons | September 30
Screenings of Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair, Keepers of the Fire, and Inconvenient Indian will be held at Arts Commons. These films provide insight into Indigenous history, culture, and traditions.
Elders Story Project
Arts Commons | September 30
During this powerful event, Elders will share their personal stories about their residential school experiences and their healing journeys, while demonstrating the resilience and strength of Indigenous peoples and the power of their traditional practices.
Pokaiks - The Children Commemorative Walk & Gathering 2023
CIF Reconciliation Society and Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth | September 30
This event aims to bridge the divide as we walk the path of reconciliation, and to facilitate open conversation and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, while honouring the lost children and survivors of the residential school system.
Orange Shirt Day
City of Calgary | September 30
Enjoy presentations from various speakers including the Mayor, Indigenous Elders and school board representatives. A blessing from an Elder will start the event and Indigenous dancers will entertain during.
Aitamaako'Tamisskapi Natosi: Before The Sun
Calgary International Film Festival | September 30
A thrilling portrait of a young Siksika woman, and the deep bonds between her father and family, takes place in the golden plains of Blackfoot Territory as she prepares for one of the most dangerous horse races in the world - on bareback.
Telling Our Story
Calgary International Film Festival | September 30
For the first time, the 11 First Peoples in Quebec: Canada—Abenaki, Anishnabe, Atikamekw, Cree of Eeyou Istchee, Innu, Inuit, Mi'kmaq, Kanyen'kehà:ka (Mohawk), Naskapi, Wendat, and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) are telling us who they are, in their own way.
2023 State of The Sector Survey
Another Survey! I know, it might not be the most exciting news, but this one will only require 15 minutes of your time and is crucial for addressing the most important issues facing Alberta nonprofits. We are looking for responses from all nonprofits operating in Alberta. Your voice matters. We need your input.
Fill out the 2023 State of the Sector Survey here!
Since 2011, CCVO has conducted a State of the Alberta Nonprofit Sector Survey on a near annual basis. The survey is vitally important to help us understand and share the experiences of our sector with each other, partners in Government, funders and other stakeholders. CCVO uses findings from this survey to raise our strong collective voice for action, and support policies and programs that help all nonprofits make an impact.
This year we hope to set a new record on responses from communities across our province, with distribution help from the Government of Alberta - and from you. Please complete the survey by October 13 and share the survey link widely within your nonprofit networks. Your voice is critical no matter the size or focus of your organization.
All organizations can enter for a chance to win a Parks Canada Discovery Pass, free Reach Hire job postings or free Boland salary and benefit 2023 subscription. Organizations should complete the survey only once, so only one entry per organization.
2023 AGM & Fall Social
Thank you to everyone that attended our 2023 AGM & Fall Social. We engaged in an enlightening discussion about the political landscape's influence on Alberta's nonprofit sector led by moderator Sabrina Grover and panelists Annalise Klingbeil, Michael Solberg and Naheed Nenshi. Our 2022/2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements can be viewed here.
Policy Highlights
Statistics Canada: Non-Profit Organizations and Volunteering Satellite Account
Statistics Canada has just released new information on Canada's nonprofit sector’s workforce for 2020 and 2021. From 2010 to 2021, the share of total nonprofit jobs held by women remained stable, at around 70%. A gender pay gap continues to persist with women earning around 85 cents for every dollar men earned.
In 2021, nearly three quarters (73.6%) of employees in nonprofits had a college or university education, compared with the total economy, in which just over half (55.8%) of employees possessed a college or university education. However, among university and college graduates, those working in NPOs had average earnings of $60,964 in wages and salaries in 2021, while those economy-wide had average earnings of $73,459. Find more information about the nonprofit workforce here.
Learning Opportunities
Reading Financial Statements
October 3 | online
REGISTER
Practical Guidance for Embodying Equity in Implementation Part II
October 3 | online
REGISTER
Live Story Coaching for your Giving Tuesday Campaign
October 11 | online
REGISTER
Top Ten Compliance Issues for Canadian Registered Charities
October 12 | online
REGISTER
Canadian Charities: The Public View
October 19 | online
REGISTER
Decolonizing Spaces
October 24 | online
REGISTER
Funding & Grants
Calgary Foundation Major Grants
Major Grants assist registered charities and other qualified donees in all parts of the charitable sector by providing grants to support single or multi-year, large-scale initiatives with transformational impact that broadly enrich the community in Calgary and area.
Priority is given to initiatives that help further the following issues:
Reducing poverty
Encouraging mental health
Living a creative life
Strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities
Pursuing an environmentally sustainable future
The deadline for applications is November 1. Find more application details here.
Connect the Dots! Call For Funding Proposals
The City of Calgary Connect the Dots! (CTD!) funding program is intended for existing programs or collaboration efforts that respond to the mental health and addiction related issues affecting Calgarians. Community-based programs, services and collaboration efforts that are currently demonstrating results may request funding to enhance their capacity to address an identified service gap.
There is no maximum or minimum amount that can be requested. Historically, CTD! funding allocations have been in the range of $90, 000 – $300,000 annually. Applications are accepted until October 16. Learn more and apply here.
Women and Gender Equality Canada Call for Proposals
The Government of Canada has launched two new call for proposals to strengthen gender equality.
Women’s Economic and Leadership Opportunities Fund
The objective of this fund is to address barriers to women’s success. Projects can work to change systems to improve women's economic security and prosperity. They can also work to increase women’s representation as leaders and decision-makers through changes to systems. Applications for new projects and applications for expanding existing projects will be accepted. Grants of up to $ 1,500,000 are available depending on project reach.
Women’s Capacity Fund
The Women's Capacity Fund is meant to support women’s and Indigenous women’s organizations so that they can build capacity. Priority will be given to projects proposed by those that have never received WAGE capacity-building funding. Grants of up to $500,000 are available depending on project reach.
Organizations must be a registered Canadian nonprofit to apply. Applications are due by November 3. Find information and applications for both funds here.
Paint4Good
Paint4Good is a painting initiative created by The Urban Painter. The program awards $5,000 worth of painting services to organizations located in Calgary. Charities, religious spaces, non-profit organizations and community spaces are welcome to apply. Applications are due by October 18. Learn more and apply here.
Blogs & More
Beyond the Snowflake Report: A Case Against Financial and Outcomes Accounting Tailored to Individual Donors and Funders
Vu Le, Nonprofit AF
Remove all opportunities for donors and funders to place restrictions on you. For example, stop listing on your website the opportunities for donors to choose which programs or category of expense their donations will go to, and put language saying all donations will go towards carrying out the organization’s mission. Please also stop putting prices on outputs and outcomes and reinforcing transactional and individualistic thinking. Saying something like “Your $500 provided 50 meals for 10 hungry families” may help (falsely) illustrate to donors what they paid for and makes them eager to donate, but it reinforces a line of thinking that ultimately harms our work. Instead, try “Your $500 contributed to us being able to support over 400 families this year.” Doesn’t that sound better? Read More→
14 Things to Consider When Shopping For a New Auditor
Enkel, Charity Village
When there is an audit committee, one of its main responsibilities is to choose an auditor who has the expertise and knowledge to perform an audit for their nonprofit. When there is no audit committee, the responsibility to find/recommend an auditor typically falls to the executive director and/or the Board of Directors.
Selecting the right auditor is an important decision for Canadian nonprofits because it can have a significant impact on financial reporting accuracy and the organization’s overall reputation. Read More→