|

|
| |
|
| |
The following news
items are time-sensitive or
top-priority: |
| |
|
 |
Executive Leadership in
the Non-profit Sector program
accepting applications |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
News
News items are dated
in reverse chronological order.
RISE project:
Video Conferencing services available in rural Alberta libraries
(February 9, 2010)
RISE, (Rural Information Services initiativE) is a
partnership between the Chinook Arch, Marigold and Shortgrass
library systems whose goal is to enhance local community services by
providing video conference facilities for people living in rural
communities.
Currently, RISE links 89 rural communities through a
network of video conference sites at 78 public libraries throughout
southern Alberta. Please consult this
map of video conference sites
to find a RISE site in your area. For inquiries about using the
video conference facilities, contact your local library or email
your question to Lauren Jessop, Chinook Arch Consultant, at
ljessop@chinookarch.ca.
Back to top
Charity Tax Tools - Essential Information
for Canada's Charities
Website Launched
(January 29, 2010)
The Charity Tax Tools website was developed by Imagine Canada to help
registered charities understand what they must do in order to meet
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requirements. Visit the site at
http://charitytax.imaginecanada.ca
It
contains information on the basic legal requirements for all Canadian
charities that are registered with CRA and entitled to issue tax
receipts for charitable donations. It provides examples and links to
additional information for those who wish to know more.
Back to top
Executive
Leadership in the Non-profit Sector Program
(January 20, 2010)

Executive
Leadership in the Non-profit Sector Program
Information Session
(January 8, 2010)
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2010
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Place: Grant MacEwan University
Room 5-251
City Centre Campus
10700 104 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
Please
contact Kirsten Milner at 780-497-5268 or email
executiveleadership@macewan.ca to register or for more
information.
Back to top
Charity
Connector will launch January 8, 2010
(January 8, 2010)
Wish you had easy access to answers to non-profit or voluntary sector
questions? Crave advice from other groups on how they handle situations?
Want to see what other organizations are planning?
Come together! Connect online with other small and rural charities and
non-profit groups across Alberta. Share ideas; ask questions; recount
experiences. Join this online community, funded in part by the Canada
Revenue Agency, to communicate successes and challenges about CRA’s
compliance requirements and sector challenges. Go to
www.charitycentral.ca/small
to see how Charity Connector can make your work easier.
Back to top
Stretched to the Limit: Economic
Impact Survey released
(December 11, 2009)
"Alberta's voluntary
sector is resilient and resourceful. Nonprofits and charities have been
adapting to the recession, but they are stretched to the limit." Report
available
here.
Back to top
Community
Spirit Program donation grants deadline is December 31
(December 10, 2009)
Two components make up the Community Spirit Program:
the donation grant and the enhanced charitable tax credit (valued at
approximately $80-million), which allows Albertans to receive a 50-cent
tax credit for every dollar donated over $200.
For more information on the program and how to apply
for the donation grant, visit
www.communityspiritprogram.ca. If you have questions, contact the
Community Spirit Program office at 780-644-8604 (dial 310-0000 for
toll-free access within Alberta).
Back to top
Alberta's YouthVolunteer! website updated
(December 5, 2008)
Alberta's YouthVolunteer! website features new and improved
ways for agencies to advertise volunteer opportunities
to youth ages 14 - 24 across Alberta. Thousands of people visit
every day in search of volunteer postings, events and resources.
To post your youth-friendly volunteer opportunities and events visit
www.youthvolunteer.ca.
Signing-up is easy and free.
Back to top
International Volunteer Day Website
Launched
(December 5, 2008)
In 1985, the United Nations General Assembly
established International Volunteer Day (IVD) to commemorate the
contributions and dedication of volunteers worldwide. Today, IVD,
December 5th, is celebrated globally, by volunteers, voluntary
organizations and by all those who benefit directly from the endless
help of the volunteer.
Volunteer Canada is pleased to present the new IVD mini-site as the
next addition to the new volunteer.ca. The mini-site (Volunteer
Canada, International Volunteer Day) features news releases,
links for volunteers, as well as interviews and stories of the role
that volunteerism plays in the lives of well-known Canadian
personalities.
For more information on International Volunteer Day,
including ideas on how to celebrate, you may also visit
World Volunteer Web.
Back to top
Open letter to Stephen Harper
(November 26, 2008)
On Friday, November 21, 2008 many
of Canada’s non-profit and charitable organizations, participated in
an open letter to the Prime Minister which was published in select
newspapers across the country.
The letter, initiated by Imagine
Canada, urges Stephen Harper to consider the important role of
charities and nonprofits in assisting Canadians and communities,
particularly during periods of economic hardship, and urges the
Federal Government to maintain existing levels of funding and
provide special giving incentives.
To view the
open
letter to the Prime Minister visit:
http://www.imaginecanada.ca/files/en/publicaffairs/open_letter_to_pm_20081121.pdf
As seen in the Ottawa Citizen
and Calgary Herald:
http://www.imaginecanada.ca/files/en/publicaffairs/pm_letter_ad_20081120.pdf
As seen in Montreal's
La Presse:
http://www.imaginecanada.ca/files/fr/publicaffairs/pm_letter_ad_fr_20081120.pdf
Back to top
The Community Spirit Program Toolkit
(November 13, 2008)
The
Community Spirit Program Toolkit – an online resource for non-profit
and charitable organizations – is now available online at
www.communityspiritprogram.ca.
This resource is provided to assist non-profit and charitable
organizations with their ongoing efforts to raise funds to support
their mission, programs and services. The toolkit contains
information on the provincial enhanced charitable tax credit, as
well as the donation grant program.
Back to top
Muttart Foundation releases
Talking About Charities 2008
(November 4, 2008)
The Muttart Foundation released Talking About Charities 2008,
a public opinion poll surveying Canadians on their views about
charities and issues affecting charities. The 2008 study is the
fourth wave of a research initiative. The results inform your
organization on what works and what doesn’t according to public
opinion. Understanding the results will help tell your story: when
writing grant proposals, talking with funders, asking for
donations and recruiting/ retaining volunteers. The survey covers a
wide base of questions, including how trustworthy Canadians feel
charities are, to how donations could be used.
The full report, report summary and various charts
and tables from the report are available from the Muttart Foundation
website at
www.muttart.org/surveys.htm.
Back to top
Vitalize Conference 2009:
Accepting Session Proposals
(September 25, 2008)
Vitalize 2009 will be held in Calgary at the TELUS Convention Centre
from June 4 - 6, 2009. This one-of-a-kind conference can not happen
without incredible speakers. Each year, as the session topics are
developed, subject matter relevant to nonprofit organizations is
identified.
Are you interested in being a Vitalize 2009 Session Speaker?
To download a
session proposal form, visit
www.wildrosefoundation.ca/vitalize/default.aspx.
The deadline for submissions is October 30th, 2008.
Back to top
Edmonton Journal Engage Page Seeking Sponsors
(September 16, 2008)
Due to a
lack of sponsorship, the Engage page will not be publishing on
September 7, 14 and 21 as well as October 12 and
November 2, 9, 23 and 30.
Help
support the Engage page by talking to your corporate sponsors to see
if they would be willing to sponsor the page, send a letter of
support to the publisher of the Edmonton Journal, John J. MacDonald
III or consider paying for one week’s worth of
Engage as a service to the entire nonprofit sector. The price would
be $4,000 plus GST. A discount may be available. Contact Shari at
engage@thejournal.canwest.com for
more information about Engage.
Back to top
Nominations for Stars of Alberta
Awards
(September 16, 2008)
Send in your nominations of exceptional
volunteers who have made a lasting impact on the community by
September 26, 2008. Six awards, two for each category of Youth,
Adult and Senior, will be given on December 5, 2008. For more
information, visit www.wildrosefoundation.ca/stars/default.aspx.
Back to top
Eileen Nash Memorial Award
(May 9, 2008)
In memory and
celebration of the life of the Honourable Madam Justice Eileen Nash, a
fund known as the Eileen Nash Memorial Fund has been set up with the
Edmonton Community Foundation. The purpose of the fund is to recognize
the efforts of individuals providing services on a pro bono basis so as
to benefit our community by providing support for those charities and
charitable causes that will enhance the quality of living for
under-privileged people in the Edmonton area.
The Board of the
Edmonton Bar Association shall review the nominations with a view to
selecting the nominee or nominees who have made a substantial dedication
of their time and talents on a pro bono basis to under-privileged
persons or to causes supporting underprivileged persons in the Edmonton
area who would not likely otherwise have received the benefit of such
services.
Nomination form is
available
here. Nominations for this year's Eileen Nash Memorial Award must be
received by Friday,
May 22, 2008,
and should be directed
to the:
Edmonton Bar Association, Eileen Nash Memorial Award, Box 1455 Main
P.O.,Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 2N5.
Back to top
Donner Awards Program
accepting applications
(May 6, 2008)
The Donner
Awards Program
is Canada’s largest and most prestigious non-profit recognition program.
A total of $70,000 is available to be won, with a total of eleven awards
granted. The Donner Awards Program is accepting applications for the
2008 Donner Canadian Foundation Awards for Excellence in the Delivery
of Social Services until Thursday, May 15, 2008.
In
return for completing the application, all participants receive a
confidential report that compares their organization’s performance
relative to peers in the sector. This report allows them to identify
areas of particular strength in their organization’s management and
delivery of services as well as areas where performance can be improved.
At a time when non-profits are coming under increased scrutiny
over the efficiency and effectiveness of their management and delivery
of programs, the performance report is an important tool to distinguish
their organization from others.
To find out how to apply, and to
download the application form, please visit
www.donnerawards.org/main/index.php?page_id=5 or call (604) 714-4531
(toll-free at 1-877-714-4531) for more information.
Back to top
National Volunteer Week Campaign
2008: April 27 - May 3
(April 18, 2008)
The 2008
Volunteer Week campaign was developed to help organizations
and individuals from coast to coast to coast deliver their
own NVW celebrations the week of April 27 to May 3. To help
you say ‘thank you’ to volunteers, Volunteer Canada has
developed a wealth of resources and products. If you're
looking for posters, postcards, volunteer recognition
materials or free downloads, or if you simply need some tips
in event planning or promoting NVW locally through media,
visit their one-stop-shop website at:
http://volunteer.ca/nvw.
Back to top
Call for Applications and Proposals from the Office for
Disability Issues
(April 14, 2008)
The Enabling Accessibility Fund
supports community-based projects across Canada. It provides
funding for projects that improve accessibility and enable
Canadians, regardless of physical ability, to participate in
and contribute to their communities and the economy.
Two types of funding are available
periodically through Calls for Applications (grants) or
Proposals (contributions). The deadline is April 30, 2008.
For more information visit Canada's
Human Resources and Social Development.
Back to top
Annual Duncan & Craig Laurel Awards
(February 13, 2008)
Do you have program
or project that deserves recognition? Duncan & Craig LLP has established
the Laurel Awards, Recognizing the Innovation and Creativity of
Non-Profit Organizations, to honour not-for-profit organizations who
further their objectives through exceptional creativity and innovation.
A maximum of three awards--bronze, silver and gold--are presented each
year and supported by cash prizes of $3000, $2000 and $1000
respectively.
Please visit
www.duncanandcraig.com/
for a list of past Laurel Award recipients, as well as for the
nomination form and criteria. Nomination deadline is March 31, 2008.
The awards will be presented at a luncheon at the Westin Hotel September
8, 2008.
Back to top
Edmonton Journal's "Engage" goes
weekly
(February 11, 2008)
Beginning February 17, 2008 the Journal's Engage, which covers
Alberta's voluntary not-for-profit sectors, will be published weekly
instead of bi-weekly. To view the latest Engage as well as the Engage
archive, visit
www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/engage/index.html.
Staff writer Shari Narine invites feature ideas via email at
engage@thejournal.canwest.com.
Back to top
Join the new Ethical Code
(January 21, 2008)
The Ethical Code
is a donor assurance program for charitable organizations. Launched
in 1988 and revised in 2007 through a series of cross Canada
consultations, it lays out a set of standards for fundraising and
financial accountability.
For information on the Ethical Code program and to download an
application form,
please visit
Imagine Canada. B y
becoming “Code Builder” on or before April 1, 2008 May
1, 2008 you will receive:
-
recognition as a
Code Builder on Code material, signifying your status as an early
adopter of the program
-
the opportunity
to be profiled in a special spring supplement on the Ethical Code in
Maclean’s magazine
-
use of the
Ethical Code trustmark to signal to your supporters your commitment
to accountability and transparency in your work
Back to top
|
|
|