Engineering grads give $3 million to McMaster University
September 20, 2010
A class of engineering graduates from 1962 has banded together to give more than $3 million, the largest gift ever made to McMaster University's Faculty of Engineering, to support entrepreneurs developing sustainable technologies.
The gift, from Walter Booth, Julius Brokloff, Irvine Hollis, David Male, George Menzies, and Del Smith, will establish the Class of '62 Mechanical Engineering Chair in Eco-Entrepreneurship and a fund for sustainable entrepreneurship.
For more information, visit: dailynews.mcmaster.ca.
Ontario man pleads guilty to charitable tax fraud
September 20, 2010
According to an article in the Toronto Star, an Ontario man who prepared fraudulent tax returns pleaded guilty to tax fraud last week. Faiz Kahn is alleged to have prepared 118 fraudulent returns for his clients between 2004 and 2008, claiming $2 million in false donations. He apparently took a 16% cut of the tax refunds. Of the five organizations that were named in the tax returns, four have had their charitable status stripped by the Canada Revenue Agency.
For more information, visit: www.thestar.com.
Ontario Trillium Foundation to administer new Community Capital Fund
September 20, 2010
The Ontario Trillium Foundation announced the new Community Capital Fund (CCF), which will support infrastructure projects that help Ontario’s nonprofit organizations deliver important public services to diverse cultural communities. Nonprofit organizations currently receive funding for operating expenditures from various sources including government, philanthropic, and private sector donors. However, they often have inadequate access to funding for capital projects. The $50 million fund will be used to invest in projects that support diverse cultural communities and help revitalize community-based infrastructure. For more information, visit: www.trilliumfoundation.org.
Fast Fact: Young donors give primarily online
September 20, 2010
According to a new survey, 72% of Canadians have given or plan to give online donations this year. Direct mail is still popular with donors 35 and older, as 50% reported they'd be giving a charitable donation through the mail this year. Only 16% of donors under 35 give this way. The majority of young donors, 64%, gave more to charity in 2009 than they did in 2008. This is compared to 53% of donors between 35 and 64 and 54% of donors age 65 and older. -- Cygnus Applied Research, Inc.
Feds extend deadline for matching donations to Pakistan flood relief
September 20, 2010
In order to better respond to the needs of the people of Pakistan and to more effectively match the generosity of Canadians, the Government of Canada has decided to extend the deadline for matching eligible donations until October 3, 2010. Organizations have until October 18, 2010, to submit their declaration forms indicating the amount of eligible donations they have collected.
For more information, visit: www.acdi-cida.gc.ca.
Mount Royal University receives $500,000 for business bursaries
September 20, 2010
Mount Royal University announced that it received its largest donation from a major financial institution since becoming a university in September 2009. TD Bank Financial Group presented Mount Royal University's Bissett School of Business with a donation of $500,000. The gift will be specifically allocated for bursaries to be awarded to students who are majoring in the Bissett School of Business Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Financial Services. For more information about the university, visit: www.mtroyal.ca.
Fast Fact: Employees more stressed at work than this time last year
September 20, 2010
Although the economy is recovering, 30% of Canadian employees say they are more stressed at work now than they were this time last year. Only 32% indicated that their employer helped them to relieve their stress at work, with 30% citing insufficient pay, 27% citing work overload, and 22% citing a negative work environment as the main stressors. A further 36% indicated that employers needed to do a better job recognizing employees' efforts, 31% said employers needed to improve the working environment, and 26% felt that overall working conditions needed to be examined. However, 88% of employers feel that they are offering good support to their employees. -- Desjardins Financial Security
Echoing Green accepting applications for 2011 fellowship program
September 20, 2010
Through their two-year fellowship program, Echoing Green provides start-up capital and technical assistance to help new leaders launch their organizations and build capacity. Applicants progress through three application stages with eliminations after each phase. By the end of the process, Echoing Green will have narrowed the more than one thousand applications to 12-20 fellowships. The 2011 finalists will begin their fellowship July 2011 and continue until June 30, 2013.
The 2011 application period will open October 12, 2010 and remain available through November 12, 2010.
For more information, including full eligibility requirements, visit: www.echoinggreen.org.
Apply now for Alberta's Community Spirit grants
September 20, 2010
Applications are now being accepted for Alberta's Community Spirit 2010-11 grants. Organizations are encouraged to submit the donation grant application and final report through a new online system.
To access the online system, phone the program office by Friday, December 17, 2010 to be set up with a user ID and password. For maximum technical support, organizations are encouraged to begin the online application process as soon as possible. The Application deadline is December 31, 2010. For more information, visit: www.culture.alberta.ca.
CharityVillage® welcomes two new team members
September 13, 2010
Please join us in welcoming the newest addition to the Content team at Charityvillage.com®, Caroline Veldhuis. Caroline officially took over as our new Editor September 1st. Caroline brings more than 15 years experience as a published writer and editor in the private and nonprofit sectors. Prior to joining the team here, Caroline was a consultant Writer/Editor for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Doctors Without Borders Canada, and prior to that the International Editor for MSF’s international office in Geneva.
Say hi to Caroline today at: www.charityvillage.com/cv/about/caroline.html.
Please help us also in welcoming Julia Oulton to the position of Account Manager, BC and Yukon at CharityVillage.com®.
Julia has vast volunteer experience with several nonprofit organizations, including Life Saving Society Canada, Junior Achievement, Gulf Yacht Club, the Vancouver Open Golf Tournament, the International Wine Festival, and, earlier this year, the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. Julia is excited to be helping clients on the West Coast.
Say hi to Julia today at: julia@charityvillage.com.
DiverseCity leadership fellows accepting applications in Toronto
September 13, 2010
DiverseCity Fellows is a one-year, action-oriented leadership development program for rising city-builders. The program is designed to support city-builders who are deeply committed to enhancing their leadership abilities and practicing collective leadership to address issues that are critical to the future health of the Toronto region. Applications for the 2011 fellows are due by Friday, October 8, 2010. For more information, including full eligibility requirements, visit: www.diversecitytoronto.ca.
Alberta organizations encouraged to take state of sector survey
September 13, 2010
The Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO), in partnership with the CanadaWest Foundation and other key sector stakeholders, is undertaking a year-long project to develop the first Alberta Nonprofit State of the Sector Report, which will provide a source of meaningful and credible sector information for organizations, funders, and policy makers. Results of this survey will be used to create an up-to-date, publicly available portrait of Alberta's nonprofit sector that will highlight its contributions to society and the economy. Results will be published in March of 2011. For more information, and to take the survey, visit: www.calgarycvo.org.
Fast Fact: Fewer Canadian teenagers staying in school
September 13, 2010
A new report found that 20% of Canadian teenagers, age 15 - 19, are high school dropouts. The number of teen dropouts was largest in the territories, with numbers reaching as high as 34%. Alberta had the second highest rate at 26%, and New Brunswick had the lowest rate at 15%. In 2008, the employment rate for Canadians age 25 - 64 without a high school diploma was only 58%, compared to 83% of high school graduates. -- Statistics Canada
World giving study ranks Canada at number three
September 13, 2010
The Charities Aid Foundation released the World Giving Index, the largest study ever carried out into charitable behaviour across the globe. In the study, Canada ranked number three for generosity, behind Australia and New Zealand. The study found that 64% of Canadians have given money to charity, 35% have given time, and 68% have helped a stranger. The study gave Canada an overall score of 7.5 out of 10. For more information, visit: www.cafonline.org.
Apply now for leadership development grants
September 13, 2010
The PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada Foundation has launched an eight-week call for submissions for its
Leadership Grants Program, which provides up to $200,000 in grants to leaders at small to
medium-sized registered charitable organizations in Canada looking to fund professional development
opportunities.
Submissions for 2010 will be accepted from September 13 until October 29 at
8:00 p.m.
Grants are made available in two categories:
- Individual Leadership Grants (value $2,500) — to be used by individual staff members or
volunteers for professional development opportunities of their own design.
- Team Leadership Grants (value $5,000) — to be used by teams of two or more staff members
and/or volunteers (including the applicant) for professional development opportunities of their own
design.
For more information, including full eligibility requirements, visit: www.pwc.com/ca/grants.
Fast Fact: Canada still faces large gender wage gap
September 13, 2010
Canada continues to have difficulty closing the gender wage gap, according to new research. Although women in Canada are 8% more likely than men to graduate from high school, 11% more likely to graduate from college, and 18% more likely to graduate from university, they are still facing unequal pay in the workforce. In 2007, women with a university degree made, on average, 63% less than men with similar education. Canada's wage gap has remained virtually unchanged in ten years, as women earned 61% of what men did back in 1998. -- Statistics Canada
Plank Media is offering pro bono work to organizations
September 13, 2010
For a number of years, Plank Multimedia has had an unofficial policy of taking on an annual pro-bono project. From nonprofits to filmmakers and musicians, they have offered their time for projects they have felt were important and on which they knew they could have a major impact. Last week, Plank made this official by announcing they will take on a yearly pro-bono project. Plank is calling for submissions from organizations, artists, or nonprofits looking to do something important online. They are asking for a brief description of the project along with a summary of how the project could benefit from Plank's expertise.
Plank is accepting applications immediately and will be closing off submissions on September 15, 2010.
For more information, visit: www.plankdesign.com.
New report predicts future literacy problems in Canada's biggest cities
September 13, 2010
A new report from the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) provides a look at the future state of adult literacy in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, from 2001 through 2031.
Released to coincide with UNESCO International Literacy Day, The Future of Literacy in Canada's Largest Cities uses statistical projections to generate literacy profiles for the country's largest metropolitan areas. According to the report, the four cities will experience significant, above-average growth in the number of adults with low literacy in the coming decades. For more information, and to read the full report, visit: www.ccl-cca.ca.
BC Arts Council receives $7 million in additional funding
September 7, 2010
The British Columbia Arts Council will administer an additional $7 million in funding provided through the BC government’s 2010 Sports and Arts Legacy to support their strategic plan, Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts announced.
The BC Arts Council supports arts and arts organizations across the province and is governed by a 15-member council, which represents the regions, cultural diversity, and artistic communities of British Columbia. Jane Danzo, chair of the council, resigned her position on August 11, stating that current funding cuts to the sector were detrimental to the province's arts community. For more information, visit: http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca.
New report shows donors want charities to be well managed
September 7, 2010
A new US research study was released that may change the way many nonprofits approach their fundraising budgets. The report, Heart of the Donor, Insights into Donor Motivation and Behavior for the 21st Century, uncovers insights on donor behavior and preferences as well as further insight into age, demographic, and other factors. One striking result of the survey shows that people want to give to charities that spend money on good management. Given a choice, the respondents preferred organizations that hire top-quality managers, even with higher salaries, over hiring less experienced managers and spending fewer dollars on salaries. An even greater percentage would rather support an organization that spends more on fundraising and brings in more money to help the cause than would support an organization that spends little on fundraising but raises less money. For more information, visit: www.2dialog.com.
Canadian Women's Open raises $800,000 for children's hospital
September 7, 2010
CN announced that the CN Canadian Women's Open raised $800,000 for the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba through the CN Miracle Match program, in which CN matched all donations during the tournament. The mission of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is to be an independent agency to raise and distribute funds for the advancement of knowledge and care in the fields of child health and child health research, thereby contributing to the improved health of children everywhere.
For more information, visit: www.goodbear.mb.ca.
Aviva Community Fund to give away $1 million in online competition
September 7, 2010
This year, the Aviva Community
Fund will provide $1 million to put
your ideas for positive change into
action. Share your ideas online,
and Canadians will decide
which ideas get funded. To be eligible for the competition your
idea must create a positive change in your
community. As well it must be:
- Action oriented
- Priced under $500,000
- Executed by December 2011
- Local (within Canada)
Entries can be submitted online as of September 27, 2010, and winners will be announced January 25, 2011. For more information, including full eligibility requirements, visit: www.avivacommunityfund.org.
Fast Fact: Canadians slow to give to Pakistan flood relief
September 7, 2010
About two in five Canadians (38%) report making a donation to help Haiti after the January earthquake, including 46% of Atlantic Canadians and 45% of British Columbians.
Half of respondents (52%) believe the federal government has done the right amount in order to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. However, only 4% of Canadians have made a donation to help Pakistan after this year’s floods, including 7% of British Columbians.
More than a third of respondents (36%) believe the federal government has done the right amount in order to help the victims of the floods in Pakistan. -- Angus Reid
Skills development grants available to nonprofit leaders in Toronto
September 7, 2010
The Vital People grant program, administered by the Toronto Community Foundation, supports and recognizes leaders who are making outstanding contributions working at nonprofit organizations. Vital People grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to support either formal training or other informal development opportunities that best enable not-for-profit leaders to build their skills or knowledge to enhance their leadership contributions. Grants are available to those just taking on new leadership challenges as well as those with many years of experience.
For more information, and to view full eligibility requirements, visit: www.tcf.ca.
CIBC donates $100,000 to Halifax Salvation Army
September 7, 2010
CIBC announced a $100,000 commitment to the Halifax Salvation Army last week. CIBC's donation will go towards repairs and upgrades beginning this year to The Salvation Army's Centre of Hope. The funds will help restore the facility, including the Booth Centre, home to a 40-bed men's shelter and a 19-bed rehabilitation program for men with addictions. For more information, visit: www.salvationarmy.ca.
Fast Fact: Popularity of social networking rises among older users
September 7, 2010
According to a new US survey, older users have been especially enthusiastic over the past year about embracing new networking tools. Social networking use among Internet users ages 50 and older nearly doubled, rising from 22% in April 2009 to 42% in May 2010. Between April 2009 and May 2010, social networking use among internet users ages 50-64 grew by 88%, from 25% to 47%. During the same period, use among those ages 65 and older grew 100%, from 13% to 26%. By comparison, social networking use among users ages 18-29 grew by 13%, from 76% to 86%. -- Pew Internet & American Life Project
Funding available to nonprofits offering agricultural safety training
September 7, 2010
Charitable or not-for-profit organizations in Canada providing safety training related to agriculture may qualify for funding from the new $100,000 FCC Ag Safety Fund.
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and the Canadian Agriculture Safety Association (CASA) are partnering to provide support for safety training programs aimed at keeping farmers, agribusiness operations, and employees safe at work.
Applications will be accepted September 13 through October 27, 2010. For more information, visit: www.fcc-fac.ca.
New series rewards corporate glee clubs with charity donation
September 7, 2010
Canada Sings! puts a modern day twist on the glee club. This one-hour original series will challenge ordinary Canadians to form extraordinary singing groups with their co-workers and compete in a head-to-head battle against a team from another workplace. To apply, you need a minimum of six co-workers to sing, dance and deliver a memorable performance. All participating glee clubs will receive a donation to their charity of choice, but the winning teams’ donation will be more sizeable. The show will also be spending time focusing on the charity that the glee club selects and why they made that selection. The deadline for applications is September 22, 2010. For more information, visit: www.insighttv.com.
Or, contact Heather Muir at 416-596-8118 x 264.
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