Blog @ Imagine Canada

[Français] Canadians are generous and engaged with their communities. They donate their time, money, energy and skills to the causes that matter to them the most. These individuals are the foundational support for Canada’s more than 165,000 charities and nonprofits which in turn support our communities’ social fabric and quality-of-life. To coincide with this year’s … Continue reading »

[English] Les Canadiens sont généreux et participent à la vie de leurs communautés. Ils font don de leur temps, de leur argent, de leur dynamisme et de leurs habiletés à l’œuvre de bienfaisance qui leur importe le plus. Ils fournissent aux OSBL canadiens, soit plus de 165 000 organismes, l’appui fondamental qui leur permet d’œuvrer au … Continue reading »

This month the Grantseeker Monthly team is looking at what is arguably the most important part of a grant proposal – the statement of need. The underpinning of any grant proposal, the statement of need is your opportunity to sell the impact of your work. “The description of need carries the proposal, it is the … Continue reading »

Ce mois-ci, l’équipe du Bulletin mensuel sur la recherche de subventions s’intéresse à ce qui est sans doute l’aspect le plus important d’une demande de subvention : l’exposé du besoin. À la base de toute demande de subvention, l’exposé du besoin permet d’expliquer l’impact de votre travail. « La description du besoin soutient la proposition, elle en … Continue reading »

[French] Welcome to our first What We’re Talking About post. Imagine Canada’s social media networks (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube and Google+) not only share relevant news and information about the charitable and nonprofit sector but they are also a way to engage, connect and discuss the issues that matter to us all. The What … Continue reading »

[English] Voici notre premier article De quoi parle-t-on? Les réseaux de médias sociaux d’Imagine Canada (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube et Google+) ne font pas que publier des nouvelles et de l’information sur le secteur de bienfaisance et sans but lucratif; ils servent aussi à favoriser la participation, à communiquer et à discuter des enjeux … Continue reading »

Did you know that Imagine Canada’s Sector Monitor research shows that 44% of charities are collaborating on funding proposals? It’s no wonder! Well executed collaboration offers several benefits to grantseekers: Fundraising that is done in partnership with external organizations reduces competition among grantseekers and promotes the sharing of resources, expertise and best practices – in … Continue reading »

Saviez-vous que, selon les résultats de l’Enquête sectorielle d’Imagine Canada, 44 % des organismes de bienfaisance présentent des propositions de financement en collaboration? Ce n’est pas étonnant! Les collaborations bien gérées offrent plusieurs avantages aux demandeurs de subventions : Trouver du financement en partenariat avec des organisations externes limite la concurrence entre demandeurs de subventions et favorise … Continue reading »

[Français] In March of 2010, a private members’ bill titled Bill C-470 received a second reading in the House of Commons. This bill proposed to cap salaries in the charitable sector. The bill eventually died on the table due to a federal election, but the issue of transparency in the charitable and non-profit sector has … Continue reading »

[English] En mars 2010, le projet de loi d’initiative parlementaire C-470 a été lu pour la deuxième fois à la Chambre des communes. Ce projet de loi a proposé de plafonner les salaires dans le secteur de bienfaisance. Il est finalement mort au feuilleton en raison des élections fédérales, mais la question de la transparence … Continue reading »

During the National Summit participants received information about a new book, Five Good Ideas, Practical strategies for Non-Profit Success.  I recently finished it and would highly recommend it (read an excerpt). The Editors, Alan Broadbent and Ratna Omidvar of the Maytree Foundation in Toronto,  pulled together 35 contributors on topics including leadership, organizational effectiveness, human … Continue reading »

Holding over $36 billion in assets, Canadian foundations are an important part of the charitable sector. As the role they play becomes more diverse, understanding the way Canadian foundations operate and the regulations that govern them becomes increasingly important. But for those of us who avoid reading Canada Revenue Agency documents in our spare time, … Continue reading »

Possédant plus de 36 milliards de dollars en actifs, les fondations canadiennes constituent une partie importante du secteur de bienfaisance. À mesure que leur rôle devient de plus en plus diversifié, il devient de plus en plus important de comprendre le fonctionnement des fondations canadiennes et les règlements qui les régissent. Mais pour ceux d’entre … Continue reading »

[Français] Charities in Canada have a long history of getting involved in the public policy process on a number of key societal issues. In light of recent media attention and discussions about the proposed Gateway Pipeline, specifically concerning environmental charities, we want to take this opportunity to remind you of the importance of the sector’s … Continue reading »

[English] Les organismes de bienfaisance au Canada ont une longue tradition de participation à l’élaboration des politiques publiques. Compte tenu de la couverture médiatique récente sur le projet d’oléoduc Northern Gateway, plus particulièrement celle concernant les organismes de bienfaisance voués à la protection de l’environnement, nous aimerions profiter de cette occasion pour vous rappeler l’importance … Continue reading »

Continuing our series on Executive Director professional development, we wanted to look more closely at Financial Management. Our survey told us it is an area where EDs feel they need support but find resources scarcer than in other areas. Seasoned executives and neophytes are interested to know where should they be spending their own time … Continue reading »

D’après les résultats du sondage que nous avons mené auprès des directeurs généraux, la gestion financière est l’un des domaines dans lesquels les directeurs généraux ont besoin de davantage soutien et de ressources. Quel genre de formation en particulier devraient-ils chercher à obtenir? Dans quelle mesure et dans quel format? Nous avons interviewé Bill Harper … Continue reading »

[Français] The National Summit for the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector, co-hosted by Imagine Canada, Community Foundations of Canada, Philanthropic Foundations Canada and the United Way Centraide Canada, brought together a network of more than 500 sector leaders in our nation’s capital from November 28 to 30. Everyone rolled up their sleeves to focus on some … Continue reading »

[English] Le Sommet canadien des OSBL, coorganisé par Imagine Canada, les Fondations communautaires du Canada, les Fondations philanthropiques Canada et Centraide United Way Canada, a rassemblé un réseau de plus de 500 dirigeants du secteur dans la capitale nationale du 28 au 30 novembre. Tous les participants ont retroussé leurs manches pour s’attaquer à certains … Continue reading »

“Research tends to suggest that philanthropic motivations are among the most important drivers of giving for businesses of all sizes, and concrete business results are surprisingly low priorities,” says Steven Ayer, President of Common Good Strategies and my co-author on this new fact sheet published by Imagine Canada. Using data collected for the Business Contributions … Continue reading »

« Les recherches indiquent que les motivations philanthropiques sont les moteurs les plus importants pour les entreprises de toutes tailles et que ces dernières accordent moins d’importance aux résultats concrets, » déclare Steven Ayer, président de Common Good Strategies et coauteur de la nouvelle feuille d’informations publiée par Imagine Canada. Cette fiche de renseignements facile à lire, … Continue reading »

Leadership: Governance through effective committees and meetings Moving on in our blog posts of resources on the topics that EDs need to support their professional development, we decided we would tackle leadership through the practical angle of effective committees and meetings. Meeting process and procedure is a frequently asked question to the library, what kind … Continue reading »

A scenario: a new executive director takes over an organization, while they have lots of nonprofit experience, they never had to recruit board members, understand if their budget adheres to accounting rules and regulations, earn 100K in revenues, and replace a key staff member. These are all hugely complex issues, coming at management from a … Continue reading »

As you may know, there was an article in today’s Globe and Mail that may leave the impression that the charitable sector is not accountable for dollars received from the Federal Government and that results of funding are not adequately demonstrated. Imagine Canada is concerned by this message and has forwarded the attached letter to … Continue reading »

Comme vous le savez peut-être, il y avait un article dans le Globe & Mail d’aujourd’hui qui laisse entendre que le secteur de bienfaisance et sans but lucratif ne rend pas de comptes sur la façon dont il utilise les fonds reçus du gouvernement fédéral et que les résultats obtenus grâce à ces fonds ne … Continue reading »

So your nonprofit organization has an exciting initiative but you need support to get it off the ground? Wondering how to build a list of prospective funders? We explored this question with the help of Marcia Steeves, a prospect research professional with nearly a decade of experience in the field. Marcia is the Annual Giving … Continue reading »

Votre OSBL prépare une belle initiative, mais il a besoin de financement pour la concrétiser? Vous vous demandez comment dresser une liste de bailleurs de fonds potentiels? Nous avons abordé la question avec Marcia Steeves, spécialiste possédant près de 10 années d’expérience dans le domaine. Marcia est agente de l’intendance et de la campagne annuelle au … Continue reading »

La version française du rapport se trouve ici. What do corporate funders look for in a grant proposal? To find out, we sit down with Richard Irish, Vice-President of Community Affairs & Area Marketing at Investors Group. “We’re number one looking for a fit,” Mr. Irish told us. “And there’s no silver bullet.” What do … Continue reading »

The english version of this post can be found: here Que recherchent les bailleurs de fonds dans une demande de subvention? Pour le savoir, nous avons interrogé Richard Irish, vice-président, Soutien à la collectivité et Marketing de grande région, Services Financiers Groupe Investors Inc.  « Nous sommes numéro un en quête d’un organisme qui sera … Continue reading »

For our inaugural issue of Grantseeker Monthly, we sat down with Kelly Meighen, President of the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation. Established in April 1969 with a gift from the founder, Mr. Theodore Roosevelt Meighen, the Foundation has granted close to $20 million dollars over the past 41 years. Most of their support has been directed to … Continue reading »

Good news! Once you have completed the preparation and research stages that we’ve outlined, most of the work is finished. Your case resources have been created, which will make up the content of your proposal, and you have identified funders whose interests and guidelines align with your needs. Making the Approach Funders in Canada vary … Continue reading »

Dans ce numéro inaugural du Bulletin mensuel sur la recherche de subventions, nous présentons une interview de Kelly Meighen, présidente de la Fondation de la famille Meighen. Constituée par lettres patentes en avril 1969 à l’aide d’un don du fondateur, M. Theodore Roosevelt Meighen, la fondation a accordé près de 20 millions de dollars en dons … Continue reading »

La proposition Bonne nouvelle! Une fois complétées les phases de préparation et de recherche, la majorité du travail est terminée. Vous aurez créé vos documents de proposition, qui présentent l’essentiel de votre travail et la raison de la demande de subvention, et vous aurez cerné les bailleurs de fonds dont les intérêts et les lignes … Continue reading »

Recently, there has been increased media interest in the compensation of people employed in the charitable and nonprofit sector in Canada. At Imagine Canada, we strongly believe in, and champion the need for, transparency and accountability, as seen in our Standards Program, Ethical Code, and the soon to be launched CharityFocus, but we also believe … Continue reading »

Récemment, les médias se sont beaucoup intéressé à la rémunération des employés du secteur de bienfaisance et sans but lucratif au Canada. Imagine Canada croit profondément à la transparence et à la reddition de compte, et en fait valoir la nécessité, comme on peut voir dans son Programme de normes, son Code d’éthique et le … Continue reading »

Dans le numéro de juillet du magazine MoneySense, l’article « The Charity 100: Make your donation go further » cherche à classer les organismes de bienfaisance canadiens. Imagine Canada juge le classement des organismes de bienfaisance peu utile pour les Canadiens qui veulent décider vers quels organismes diriger leurs dons, surtout si l’impact du travail … Continue reading »

In the July issue of MoneySense magazine there was a feature entitled, The Charity 100: Make Your Donations Go Further, which seeks to rank Canadian charities. Imagine Canada does not agree that rating charities is helpful to Canadians especially in the absence of evaluating the impact of their work. We believe there is a need … Continue reading »

Voila un moment que nous promettons la première tranche en français de notre série mettant en évidence les ressources en matière de gouvernance du conseil d’administration. Celle-ci traite en détail des questions pratiques : rôles et responsabilités. Il y a des ressources fantastiques en ligne, mais notre collection de la bibliothèque comtient un certain nombre … Continue reading »

It has been a long while for our second instalment on our series highlighting Board Governance resource.  This one deals with the practical nitty gritty issues: roles and responsibilities. There are some fantastic online resources, but our library collection has a number of great  handbooks (in hard copy).  I have found that in certain cases, the … Continue reading »

By Murray Dropkin, Jim Halpin, and Bill La Touche.  Jossey-Bass, 2007. We recently acquired this book to address some of the most difficult predictive art nonprofits rely on heavily: Budget Building.  What is very helpful in this book is  the explanation behind certain budgeting principles.  This includes explaining who is responsible for what aspect of … Continue reading »

Volunteer boards are the cornerstone to any charitable organization and board issues are thoroughly discussed in the nonprofit sector literature. When a media story breaks about a less-than-ethical practice of an organization often the questions revolve around “Who was in charge?” “Who allowed this to happen?” We all know that ultimately the heads of the … Continue reading »

This week is National Volunteer Week and we at Imagine Canada want to recognize the hard work and engagement of the millions of volunteers that help make our sector and society great.  The complete guide and kit to engaging in National Volunteer week can be found on Volunteer Canada’s website.  It has various tips and … Continue reading »

Whatever the issue, a charity is not permitted to directly or indirectly support or oppose any political party or candidate for public office, at any level of government. It’s election time, and that means an excellent opportunity to raise all candidates’ and the public’s awareness around the issues that matter to your organization, and Canada’s … Continue reading »

Quelle que soit la question en cause, un organisme de bienfaisance ne peut pas directement ou indirectement appuyer un parti politique ou un candidat à une charge publique d’un ordre quelconque de gouvernement ou encore s’y opposer. Nous sommes à nouveau en période électorale, ce qui présente une excellente occasion de sensibiliser les candidats et … Continue reading »

The election is underway. I am writing to you today in the most unpartisan way to say that this election should be seen as an opportunity for the charitable and nonprofit sector to get out there and engage with candidates from all parties. The election provides a chance for many charities and nonprofits to give … Continue reading »

Nous voilà repartis en élections! Je vous écris aujourd’hui d’une manière tout-à-fait non-partisane pour vous signaler que cette élection représente une belle occasion pour le secteur des OSBL de s’impliquer dans le processus électoral et de faire le contact avec les candidats et candidates de tous les partis politiques. Les élections sont un moment privilégié … Continue reading »

Can you express your mission in a 4-8 line poem? The CTK Foundation Fund is currently running their fourth annual Heart and Soul Grant Award competition launched March 1st ends March 28, 2011. The opportunity to be creative and inspirational presented itself and we thought we’d give it a try! Imagine Canada By Lindsey Vodarek, … Continue reading »

Recently we released the third version of the Sector Monitor, our regular high-level “state of the sector” survey. This version of the survey is particularly significant because it marks the completion of our first year. With the latest version we now have data covering the period from the onset of the economic downturn until late … Continue reading »

Nous avons récemment publié la troisième version de l’Enquête sectorielle, notre enquête régulière de haut niveau sur « l’état du secteur ». Cette version de l’enquête est particulièrement importante parce qu’elle marque la fin de notre première année de sondages. Nous avons maintenant une série chronologique qui couvre la période de référence du début de … Continue reading »

Networks, the nonprofit sector leverages their networks to accomplish amazing things.  Before you ask if there is any definitive research for the nonprofit sector on this topic, I’m making this bold statement based on my experience and observation. After working in the sector, I’ll take a leap and say we are highly networked.    No … Continue reading »

We are feeling a great loss with the recent passing of John M. Hodgson one of the co-founders of one of  Imagine Canada’s predecessor organization, the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy.    Recently we had the pleasure of honouring him as our first “Patron” in recognition of the many contributions he made to our organization. John spent … Continue reading »

Faits saillants Statistique Canada a publié les données de la plus récente version (2008) du Compte satellite des institutions sans but lucratif et du bénévolat le 17 décembre dans Le Quotidien [English / Français]. Comme toujours, il y a une abondance de renseignements utiles concernant le secteur : En 2008, le secteur sans but lucratif … Continue reading »

Highlights Statistics Canada released figures from the most recent (2008) version of the Satellite Account of Nonprofit Institutions and Volunteering on December 17th in The Daily [English / Français]. As always, there is a wealth of useful information concerning the sector: In 2008, the core nonprofit sector (i.e., excluding Hospitals, Universities and Colleges) accounted for … Continue reading »

…is how we describe the last 7 months criss-crossing the country: 12 provinces and territories, 750 organizations, Meeting over a thousand of you (which means over 4,000 dots!) Your input and ideas = priceless! We clearly heard that people do see themselves as part of the Sector and that there are a number of common … Continue reading »

Following up on Brenda’s post, as part of ‘Sector Week’ in Vancouver, I attended the GNPI (Government Non-Profit Initiative) Summit. This was the third annual Summit and it was very clear to me that a lot of progress is being made in BC with regard to relationships between government and the sector. While GNPI has … Continue reading »

The BC Forum was held as part of ‘Sector week” (my phrase) in Vancouver in November. A number of events used the opportunity to convene using the same venue and providing opportunities for people to participate in one or several of the offerings. A sold out crowd form across the province and sub-sectors came together … Continue reading »

Volunteer Canada has released an important new research summary presenting the major findings of research conducted during the summer of 2010. It synthesizes findings from a number of different lines of research and will be of great interest to many readers. The research was conducted by Volunteer Canada, in partnership with Manulife Financial, Carleton University … Continue reading »

Executive Summary As shown in the most recent Statistics Canada donations figures (released on November 23rd) the economic downturn had a significant effect on charitable giving, though the raw figures presented overestimate the monetary aspect of this effect. In 2009, Canadian taxfilers claimed a total of $7.8 billion in charitable donations. 5.6 million Canadians, representing … Continue reading »

Comme le montrent les dernières données de Statistique Canada (publiée le 23 novembre), le ralentissement économique a eu un effet significatif sur les dons de bienfaisance, bien que les données brutes présentées surestiment l’aspect monétaire de cet effet. En 2009, les contribuables canadiens ont déclaré un total de 7,8 milliards de dollars de dons de … Continue reading »

This book was my “summer reading” and now it’s practically winter, the delay is perhaps an indicator of a busy fall, but it also was planned. The reason being that with the holiday season coming up, I hope you all have a chance to read this book.  A Year of Living Generously: Dispatches from the … Continue reading »

Notre premier cahier sur la philanthropie a été publié dans l’actualité (numéro du 1er décembre). Je suis très heureux du résultat. C’est encore modeste, j’en conviens,  mais c’est un bon début. C’est une première initiative avec le magazine et j’ai bon espoir que nous pourrons continuer ce partenariat pour rehausser l’importance du don au Québec … Continue reading »

Branding, it’s ubiquitous in our society; product placement in films and TV shows, logos on cups, bags, shirts, billboards and signs. So how do we, as charities and nonprofits, make ourselves both stand out and memorable in this vast landscape of products? Play on the same field? If so, it seems that charities and nonprofits … Continue reading »

November 15th is National Philanthropy Day! This special day recognizes the philanthropic contributions to our Canadian communities and abroad. Join us in celebrating the incredible philanthropic achievements by the many individuals and organizations that contribute to stronger communities.See the Association of Fundraising Professionals supplementin the Globe and Mail for more.Our most recent Maclean’s supplement Time … Continue reading »

We have heard a number of times, the suggestion that the Sector should shut down for a few days and then people would understand our impact. I don’t think that is the intent in BC, but many sector leaders will be gathering in Vancouver this week (November 15 to19) for a flurry of meetings! To … Continue reading »

At the Nova Scotia Forum on November 4th, Marilyn More, Minister of the Voluntary Sector and Labour and Workforce Development announced an $800,000 Voluntary Sector Professional Improvement Initiative to help nonprofit organizations better address their human resource needs. “We know that Nova Scotians benefit each day from the volunteers who selflessly work in our communities,” … Continue reading »

On November 4th, sector participants came together or the Forum and workshops in Nova Scotia. Last spring there were a series of local gatherings held across NS to discuss issues facing nonprofits and charities (see blog posts: #1, #2). These were facilitated by the Secretariat in the Provincial Government, in conjunction with their Advisory Council … Continue reading »

The Provincial Forum on day 2 in Ontario moved from the practical ideas gathered at the Conference on Risk Management that could be implemented right now to discussion and identification of the long term priorities for collective action “by the sector for the sector”. There was a wide diversity among the participants, from larger national … Continue reading »

In each province and territory, the format for our events has been a bit different and Ontario was no exception. For this leg the Provincial Forum itself followed a day long Risk Management Conference hosted by Imagine Canada’s Insurance and Liability Resource Centre. Over three hundred participants from across Ontario and seven other provinces participated … Continue reading »

The fall 2010 issue of The Philanthropist on social innovation and social finance is now online! Highlights include: Thoughtful articles on the concept and practice of social innovation in Canada from people like Stephen Huddart, Mark Goldenberg, Frances Wesley, and Judith Maxwell. A discussion of social innovation in the context of “the Quebec model”. See the … Continue reading »

This is the first in a series of follow up posts reporting on some of the top level results from the Provincial Forum meetings and extended Community Conversations we have been facilitating throughout the country.   Building off of the great feedback from the  provincial forum meetings, we will be discussing how organizations are addressing key … Continue reading »

In NB, the workshops happened before the Forum day. The morning session was the Risk Management workshop. I told people the following day that it was quite intimidating to have to follow my colleague David Hartley who delivers the Risk management workshop.  David continues to entertain and inform in his risk sessions across the country.  … Continue reading »

And where is Memramcook? you ask. It is located in south-eastern New Brunswick, about 15 minutes from cities of Moncton, Dieppe and Sackville. The village really is a charming little country hideaway! The Memramcook Institute was originally a seminary and the precursor of the Université de Moncton.  It is a very interesting example of a … Continue reading »

Thought I would share the five guiding principles of our Engagement Strategy that I referred to at our Provincial Forum in Saskatoon. Here goes… This is about shared leadership and mutual accountability. We will make real progress if and only if we work collectively at the local, provincial and national levels. No one organization can … Continue reading »

Thanks to partnerships that Imagine Canada has with the HR Council, CanadaHelps and our own Risk Management Centre, we are able to offer our local partners the option of some great workshops in conjunction with the Provincial Forums. In Saskatchewan, the HR Council’s, Lee Rose, facilitated a half day session “Mind the (Generation) Gap”. It … Continue reading »

In Saskatchewan this week, I asked what people from here were called. Someone suggested “Saskatchewanites”, but I was advised that the better term was “Rider Nation”. So Rider Nation it is! We have had a great couple of days in Saskatoon, hosting our Provincial Forum with United Way of Saskatoon and Area and Volunteer Saskatoon. … Continue reading »

Sector leaders came together for the Newfoundland and Labrador Community Sector Provincial Forum from September 29 to October 1.  In each province, we are working with local partners in order to ensure that the event meets the needs in that province. Our partner in NFLD and Labrador, the Community Sector Council, used the opportunity of … Continue reading »

Leaders from across Newfoundland and Labrador came together for their Community Sector Provincial Forum from September 29 to Oct 1.  The week before had been very difficult for many of the people in the room and their communities as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Igor. A number of people who had planned … Continue reading »

After a day of sharing discussion and debate, Alberta participants headed to the flipcharts to mark their individual priorities for action. Carol Watson from the Edmonton Community Foundation took on the task of pulling together the Report from the day. When the votes were tallied Alberta participants identified the following priority areas, which link to … Continue reading »

One of the objectives of each of the provincial forums is to identify the priorities for collective action. What are the key things that could be worked on together, as a Sector, to meet some of the challenges charities and nonprofits will face in the next decade? So here is our plan in coming up … Continue reading »

You may be aware of the recent CBC news stories taking place across the country focusing on third-party fundraisers and the cost of fundraising. Imagine Canada has officially released a statement in response to the recent CBC coverage. Please let us know how these stories are affecting your organizations and/or how it is playing out … Continue reading »

As you may recall, in the spring Imagine Canada initiated the Sector Monitor (read Blog post /2nd Report Launch Release) – a new survey program designed to monitor the state of charities across the country and their ability to deliver their missions – aimed at taking the pulse as to what is happening in organizations … Continue reading »

My trips to Whitehorse and then Edmonton were fraught with travel challenges. As I told someone I could have been to China in the time it took me to get to Whitehorse from Ottawa! Then heading from Whitehorse to Edmonton, again it seemed that I was jinxed with more flight delays. My trials and tribulations … Continue reading »

More than one hundred Albertans gathered on June 19th in Edmonton for the Alberta Forum co-hosted by the Community Foundation of Edmonton and their partners the Muttart Foundation, Edmonton Chambers of Voluntary Organizations, United Way of Alberta Capital Region, and community foundations in Calgary, Grande Prairie, Red Deer and Medicine Hat.  They were joined by … Continue reading »

While in Whitehorse I stayed at the Midnight Sun B&B. I had three breakfast mates one morning and the topic turned to charities and nonprofits (surprise, surprise). One guest was affiliated with a church and was visiting them throughout the Yukon; another was a member of a service club, and the other a volunteer in a number of social … Continue reading »

I recently arrived in Whitehorse at midnight and had a clear reminder as to why this is called the Land of the Midnight Sun. It is quite amazing to arrive to dusk at that point in the day. Many thanks to Bruno Bourdache and his colleagues at Volunteer Yukon for pulling people together. I was joined for this junket … Continue reading »

We are hitting the road again, but this time building on the Community Conversations hosted in 2009. I look forward to your continued involvement as we collectively build an action plan for the Sector through the Provincial Forums we will be co-hosting across the country! Your participation in the broader discussions about the issues facing … Continue reading »

Thank you to Lyda Fuller, the Executive Director of the YWCA in Yellowknife for hosting a “territory” conversation on May 6, 2010.  Lyda is one of the most gracious charity leaders I’ve met in my travels over the past 30 months in my risk management work. We had 17 leaders around the table (including two … Continue reading »

The Spring 2010 issue of The Philanthropist is now online! The Philanthropist is an online journal that is doing a great job of promoting discussion and debate about issues facing the charitable and nonprofit sector in Canada. Many of the themes touch on subjects that we heard on the ground during our Community Conversations last … Continue reading »

We released our first Sector Monitor report from a new survey program designed to monitor the state of charities across the country and their ability to deliver their missions. With this first Sector Monitor we are embarking on a new way of getting crucial information out to the sector and decision makers. The first version … Continue reading »

The Letters to (not always of) Joy The actual letters to Joy are a vehicle through which the author Bob Wyatt (Muttart Foundation E.D.), documents his observations from an international journey to understand the context of the sector in Canada. He poses  the question “Is there a sector?” off the bat on pg.7. The framework he presents … Continue reading »

There are a couple of recent and very exciting contributions to the discussions and debates we need to have as Sector. Bob Wyatt of the Muttart Foundation has just released Letters to (not always of) Joy. A series of his musings about the Sector – where we have come from, where we are and where … Continue reading »

What does it take to get an incredibly diverse nonprofit sector working as a united force and talking collectively with one empowered voice? This was one of many questions discussed by me and Elisa Birnbaum for a recent Charity Village cover story, Perchance to engage: Imagine Canada’s pan-Canadian engagement strategy. Kudos to Elisa for doing … Continue reading »

Volunteer Hamilton hosted a great discussion about accountability and leadership. There are increasing expectations for accountability and transparency and communication of impact. While the sector has always been committed to accountability the concern was raised about how the increased expectations will impact on the direct work of organizations. How will we balance the time needed … Continue reading »

In Calgary, we also talked about the value of learning from where we have come from as important to determining where we will go. After having read the article mentioned below, I realized that I certainly did not have a good understanding of the history and roots of the Sector in Canada. The Baring Foundation’s … Continue reading »

In Calgary, we talked about the blurring of the lines between the Government, Private and Charitable/Nonprofit sectors. Charities and Nonprofits often offer support and carry out work on behalf of Government. In the Health Sector in particular, there is a mix of Private, Government and Charitable/Nonprofit services. Charities and Nonprofits who are moving more to … Continue reading »

Thanks to Zoe Fleming and Volunteer Calgary for bringing together a group to meet with me. Participants shared that they were beginning to locally talk about a number of the “big issues” and saw the value of the pan-Canadian approach in a number of areas. There was some discussion around the need to improve our … Continue reading »

Michelle  and I had the opportunity to travel to Marystown on the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador at the end of November. Thanks to Sharon Snook a member of Imagine Canada’s Advisory Council and Foundation Director of the Burin Peninsula Health Care Foundation for making the arrangements for us to visit the area. We … Continue reading »

As December comes to an end I have been reflecting back on the insightful comments and consistency of messages that Marcel, Michelle and I heard in Community Conversations this fall. There was strong support across the country of the need for the sector to come together to work on issues that affect all of us. … Continue reading »

The Philanthropist is an online journal addressing issues facing the sector. The current issue includes: An editorial by Don Bourgeois talking about the engagement strategy and the role The Philanthropist will play in the initiative. Don also states “the purpose of these articles is not to define the future but rather to stimulate thought and … Continue reading »

You will have noticed a recent post form my colleague, Meg Kwasnicki, introducing you to Meg’s Picks. Meg is the Manager of our Nonprofit Library Commons and will be posting book reviews on issues affecting the charitable and nonprofit sector (look out Heather!). This is another great way of connecting with the community and will … Continue reading »

Michelle Gauthier and I were also able to meet with a group from smaller organizations while in Vancouver. Many thanks to Kathleen Speakman from the BC Centre for Sustainability for extending the invitations and Colleen Kelly from Vantage Point (formerly Volunteer Vancouver) for hosting. We want to ensure that smaller organizations have an opportunity to … Continue reading »

The Vancouver Foundation hosted 2 more community conversations for us while in BC. Thanks to Faye Wightman and Dan Morin for bringing people together and the warm welcome we and participants received. Here we talked about the opportunity to reinvent ourselves and find better ways of demonstrating the impact of our work. There are increasing demands … Continue reading »

I continue to be impressed with the variety of organizations that we are able to talk to. These conversations are very helpful to our overall thinking and happen only as a result of our local partners bringing groups together. Many thanks to you on the ground! Michelle Gauthier, Vice-President of Public Policy and Outreach joined … Continue reading »

While in Montreal, I got to spend some time with Lise Gervais of Relais-femmes, and Pierre Riley of the Fédération des centres d’action bénévole du Québec (FACBQ), two leaders in Québec that were instrumental in developing and launching a new defined benefit pension plan for community based organizations (Régime de retraite des groupes communautaires et … Continue reading »

J’ai participé a plusieurs rencontres lors de mon séjour à Montréal. Comme toujours, les choses bougent au niveau communautaire au Québec. Il y a beaucoup d’innovation et aussi de débats sur la meilleure façon de faire les choses. Mes conversations on été consacrées à la fois a l’échange, mais surtout a l’écoute sur le rôle … Continue reading »

You may have heard or read about the recent article entitled The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle in the latest issue of the Stanford Social Innovation Review. It is co-authored by Ann Goggins-Gregory and Don Howard. The article is creating a lot of interest and resonates with lots we are hearing one the ground in our Community Conversations. … Continue reading »

Coming from Ottawa there is a bit of skepticism about Winnipeg’s claim that it now has the longest skateway. Arriving to greet the weather in September we parked that conversation and enjoyed The Forks, a fine restoration along the river. It is interesting that after years of neglect cities and towns across the country are … Continue reading »

From Regina we drove north on Highway 1 and Marcel and I where reminded of the term “land of the living skies”. It was a gorgeous drive. On route I introduced Marcel to the Craik Sustainable Living Project. They are in search of ways of living that address the issue of sustainability and rural revitalization … Continue reading »

In mid September Marcel and I arrived in Regina for a Community Conversation. Thanks to Joanne Grant and Tracey Mann of the United Way of Regina for bringing the group together. Participants talked about the need to take control of our agenda and at the same time as a sector we need to take the … Continue reading »

If anyone wants to engage in robust discussion around the challenges and opportunities facing charities and nonprofits in this country, then head over to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia! Brenda and I are had the opportunity to meet people in Moncton, St-John, Fredericton, Truro and Halifax and there is lots to share. It’s hard to … Continue reading »

En 2007 le premier ministre du Nouveau Brunswick a créé un Groupe d’étude sur le secteur communautaire sans but lucratif pour mieux comprendre les défis auxquels les organismes de bienfaisance et  à but non lucratifs faisaient face. Le groupe d’études était préside par Claudette Bradshaw ancienne ministre fédéral à Ottawa (entre autres elle était responsable … Continue reading »

While in Halifax, I had the opportunity to meet with the new Minister for Volunteerism. Minister Marilyn More clearly understands the sector. She comes from the sector and was involved in the Canadian Volunteerism Initiative of a few years ago. I believe that she will be a strong and credible advocate for the sector within … Continue reading »

On our way to Nova Scotia, we stopped in Truro. Thanks to Wendy Robichaud from the Colchester-East Hants Public Library, the Coastal Communities Network and many other groups, for bringing people together. It was a great opportunity to hear from some of the smaller organizations in a small community. A good reminder too about the … Continue reading »

The week of August 17th Marcel and I headed to New Brunswick with stops in Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton. We received a very warm welcome as Moncton reported its hottest day on record! Many thanks to Jody Dallaire – NB Child Care Coalition, Debbie McInnis – Moncton United Way and Cathy Wright – Vibrant … Continue reading »

In Edmonton, I also met with reps of the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC). This is a subsector that I find does not always see itself or is seen by the rest of the sector as part of the larger charities and nonprofit sector. In Alberta, there are 65 members of the provincial association. … Continue reading »

The community conversations are a key component to Imagine Canada’s sector engagement strategy. An inaugural round took place on the 11th and 12th when Marcel and I travelled to Edmonton. Many thanks to Scott Graham from the Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF) and Shawna Gnutel from the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO) for inviting participants … Continue reading »

I’ve now been in my position as President & CEO of Imagine Canada for just over 9 months. Much of my time has been spent both listening and engaging about the direction for Imagine Canada in the coming years. Clear messages have been coming out as I travel across the country. Building on what I … Continue reading »

This blog is just one of the many ways to stay connected online with Imagine Canada and the charitable and nonprofit community. There is our main imaginecanada.ca website and we’re also on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, FriendFeed, YouTube and Delicious. We also host Nonprofit Newswire where you can read Canadian news and press releases from on-line … Continue reading »