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The Community Spirit Program Toolkit |
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Talking About Charities |
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News items are dated in reverse chronological order.
Open letter to Stephen Harper 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
The Community Spirit Program Toolkit 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.
Muttart Foundation releases
Talking About Charities 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.
Vitalize Conference 2009:
Accepting Session Proposals 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.
(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.
Nominations for Stars of Alberta
Awards 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. Eileen Nash Memorial Award 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. Donner Awards Program
accepting applications 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.
National Volunteer Week Campaign
2008: April 27 - May 3 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.
Call for Applications and Proposals from the Office for
Disability Issues
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.
Annual Duncan & Craig Laurel Awards 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.
Edmonton Journal's "Engage" goes
weekly 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. 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
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