Get Out the Vote and Join #nonprofitsvote
With more than 26,000 nonprofits in Alberta, it’s not a stretch to say that nonprofits touch the lives of every single Albertan, whether it be as staff, volunteers, board members, or clients. Nonprofits have a responsibility to speak up about the issues that matter to us and drive us to make positive contributions to our communities. In the final post of our election toolkit, learn how we can use our collective voice to encourage #nonprofitsvote and make a difference.
Reflections on 2018
This first few weeks of 2019 have been an exciting and busy time at CCVO! We began the year finalizing details for the first of our Policy Lunch & Learn series, continuing plans for the 8th annual Connections Conference, creating an Alberta Nonprofit Election Toolkit, and celebrating the approval of our 2019-2021 Strategic Plan. These activities, just some of the great work our team is focused on, reflect the adaptive thinking happening at CCVO, as we explore what it means to be an adaptive organization, and how we can support other organizations to be adaptive in the ever-changing environment we work in.
Rules of Engagement for Nonprofit Advocacy
Before engaging in public policy advocacy, nonprofits should make sure they understand the rules and regulations around what they can and cannot do, so that they can engage with clarity and confidence. Knowing the rules can empower your nonprofit to lead and provoke important discussions about issues, raising much-needed awareness for these issues with politicians, decision-makers, and the public.
Alberta Minimum Wage Increase Coming October 1
Alberta's minimum wage will increase to $15.00 an hour, up from $13.60 an hour. This increase will mark the final stage in a series of minimum wage increases enacted by the Alberta Government. In 2015, Alberta was the first province to commit to a $15.00 minimum wage phase-in, and as of October 1st, will be the first province or state in North America to accomplish it.
Engaging Young Professionals in the Nonprofit Sector
Last week, CCVO held a lunch for summer students working in The Kahanoff Centre to learn about their experiences in the nonprofit sector, and to encourage them to connect with one another. Thirteen students from nine organizations in the building joined us for an insightful discussion. The students shared stories of what brought them to their summer jobs in the sector, and what they’re learning from their experiences.
Building an Alberta Nonprofit Election Toolkit
As a result of focus group discussions from around the province, CCVO is creating a resource to help nonprofit organizations prepare for the upcoming provincial election in Spring 2019. The Alberta Nonprofit Election Toolkit is intended to arm Alberta’s nonprofits with flexible tools to help ensure the candidates and parties address issues of importance to our sector.
Bringing Adaptive Capacity “to Life” in Calgary
Through my research, I determined the definition of adaptive capacity to be “the ability of an organization or system to proactively prepare for change.” For nonprofit organizations, being adaptive means to adjust the way they meet their missions while unpredictable changes occur around them.
Why a German social entrepreneur wants to learn from CCVO
Canada has a well-developed social system, similar to Germany, but US influence on cross-sectoral cooperation is strong. Volunteering is woven into many peoples´ and business´ DNA in Canada, who see themselves as part of an active community. Calgary had to handle a severe economic downturn and the sector is aware that one has to find ways to adapt to political, economic, social, and technological challenges that will face us in the future.
Budget 2018: Signs of thinking differently, but still committed to status-quo
The Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO) was pleased to see Budget 2018 highlight the value of Alberta’s nonprofit sector. The provincial budget, released on March 22, includes the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s key strategies that place a priority on assisting nonprofits in building their human and financial capacity.
Building Adaptive Capacity Through Collaborative Impact
On March 6, Mount Royal University students in the Facilitating Social Innovation course were tasked with uncovering how CCVO can support nonprofits in Calgary to adapt and innovate – build adaptive capacity – through disruptive and transformational periods. The format, a World Café Community Conversation hosted by CCVO, was made possible through a partnership with Mount Royal University.
Nonprofit Leaders Meet With Minister Ceci for Budget Consultation
On January 17, 2018, CCVO brought together 25 community leaders from the nonprofit sector for a budget consultation with Alberta’s Minister of Finance, Joe Ceci. The consultation shed light on the sentiments of a diverse group of organizations representing the nonprofit sector in Calgary.
CCVO’s Top Ten Policy Files for the Nonprofit Sector in 2017
During the year, there were a number of important decisions, initiatives, and events, including some potential “game changers” for nonprofits in Calgary and throughout Alberta. Check out CCVO’s Top 10 List of policy files of the year that impacted the nonprofit sector.
2011 Calgary Nonprofit Innovation Awards
CCVO is pleased to present the Calgary Nonprofit Innovation Awards as a way of celebrating creativity, risk-taking, learning and successful improvements within the sector. We believe that fostering a culture of innovation involves seeking out, supporting and promoting innovation already underway. From this base, further innovations can flourish.
A Different Voice - Perspectives on the United Kingdom's Civil Society
A report based on CEO Katherine van Kooy's study trip to the UK in October 2010.