Archive for December, 2010

New Voices from the Voluntary Sector book features McGill-McConnell grads

Friday, December 17th, 2010

Voices from the Voluntary Sector is a new publication featuring a selection of more than two dozen papers written by graduates of the McGill-McConnell Master of Management for National Voluntary Sector Leaders program.

Edited by Frederick Bird and Frances Westley, who led the McGill-McConnell program and who is currently the J.W. McConnell Chair in Social Innovation at the University of Waterloo, Voices from the Voluntary Sector contains reflections by practitioners on some of the significant challenges faced by today’s not-for-profit organizations in Canada. Broad in scope, these essays present a rich, multidimensional set of vignettes that as a whole express the vitality and humanity of the voluntary sector.

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“LIGHT A SPARK” showcases girls that are fierce, smart, powerful, and free

Monday, December 13th, 2010

Girls Action Foundation has recently produced four videos as part of “LIGHT A SPARK,” their national ad campaign. The campaign aims to build a strong base of support for girls and young women across Canada and to raise awareness about Girls Action Foundation’s mission and work.

All four of the videos, featuring girls who are “Fierce, Smart, Powerful, and Free,” can be found on the LIGHT A SPARK YouTube channel.

McConnell grantee Girls Action Foundation addresses issues specific to young women aged 10 to 18, such as physical and mental health, violence, victimization, barriers, and discrimination.

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Roots of Empathy featured on CNN series on bullying

Monday, December 13th, 2010

Roots of Empathy (ROE) was featured on CNN’s American Morning’s “Stop Bullying: Speak Up” series last week. In the story, ROE’s founder, Mary Gordon, speaks of the train of thought that led to the creation of the organization: “There’s something so engaging between watching the love between a parent and a baby, and since that relationship of attachment and attunement is how we develop our empathy, I thought, well, why not bring the teachers in, the tiny teachers?” Gordon said. “And I just knew in my gut — it was a by-golly approach — but now we have a scientific evidence of impact.”

McConnell grantee Roots of Empathy has garnered a lot of press coverage across North America in 2010. The organization has been featured in TIME Magazine, The New York Times, and The Globe and Mail.

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Tyze is now accepting expressions of interest for The Belonging Fund

Monday, December 6th, 2010

Created in partnership with the Foundation, The Belonging Fund makes Tyze’s online networks available to Canadian charitable organizations that work with those who are at risk of suffering from isolation. Expressions of interest from qualified charities are currently being welcomed.

“No one should have to face disability, chronic illness or caregiving alone,” says Vickie Cammack, President and CEO of Tyze. “Our secure networks coordinate involvement and provide a practical service to help families, friends, neighbours and professionals develop a private, connected network of care. We are committed to building the information and technology bridges between formal and informal caregivers that we know can improve the well being of Canadians.” (source)

Learn more about The Belonging Fund from Tyze’s website.

See Vickie Cammack speak about Tyze at a June 2010 symposium on social innovation here.

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ALLIES now accepting grant applications

Monday, December 6th, 2010

ALLIES is currently accepting applications for their funding program, focusing on three granting areas: Start-Up Grants, Resource Grants, and Innovation Grants.

The objective of the ALLIES funding program is to advance the appropriate employment of skilled immigrants by seeding local immigrant employment councils; strengthening the capacity of existing and viable local immigrant employment councils; and finding new and creative solutions and partners to further ALLIES’ cause.

ALLIES is joint initiative between the Maytree and McConnell foundations.

Learn more about the ALLIES funding program here.

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The Task Force on Social Finance releases groundbreaking recommendations report

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

On November 30, The Task Force on Social Finance[1] (TFSF) released a report outlining recommendations for financial institutions, foundations and governments to participate in building a market for impact investing in Canada.

The groundbreaking report, Mobilizing Private Capital for Public Good, is a 37 page document that outlines seven actions that Canada needs to undertake, in parallel, to mobilize new sources of capital, create an enabling tax and regulator environment, and build a pipeline of investment-ready social enterprises. The recommendations aim to benefit non-profits, charities, co-operatives, and for-profits that achieve their primary social or environmental mission using business methods.

Access the final report and the summary report here, and follow the report’s progress on socialfinance.ca

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