Philanthropy from the throne

If you’re among those people who’ve ever wondered just what it is about Britain’s Royal Family that has millions of Britons and royal watchers worldwide glued to their TV screens whenever the princes, duchesses and Queen Elizabeth II pop on,...

Fundraising Q&A: Helping your board to fundraise

Our board is very new to fundraising. What would you recommend to support their efforts? The board’s role in fundraising is one of my favourite topics, albeit an evolving one. Times are changing as the development profession matures but many...

Report redux: Annual reports get a facelift

There’s nothing quite like an annual report to get the creative juices flowing. Or not. Typically viewed as a tedious, mind-numbing exercise, when I was recently asked to help an organization produce theirs, the request was prefaced with an apologetic,...

Governance Q&A: Asking board members to give

Given how much time board members give to their charity, is it ethical to also expect them to donate? Yes, it is. Volunteers are usually the best source of funds for a charity, and it would be irresponsible not to...

Mobile: The next tech game-changer

Today's nonprofits are agile — a necessity when budgets are lean, government grants can disappear in a flash and fundraising is as critical as the programs you deliver. But recently, successful nonprofits aren't just agile, they're mobile — as in...

Foundations: The inside scoop

If you're tasked with writing grant proposals, you've probably spent some time wondering what goes on behind the scenes at the foundations to which you apply so assiduously. Wouldn't it be nice to get an insider's look at the decision-makers...

Survey Says: CharityVillage unpacks findings from the 2010 CSGVP

Statistics Canada released the results of its 2010 Canadian Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP) last Wednesday. Released every three years, this iteration again provides some intriguing updates to how much (and how many) Canadians are giving back to...

Charity strikes a chord with Canadian musicians

Even Justin Bieber gives to charity. Actually, there's a bevy of Canadian artists and musicians that are heavily involved with giving back to their communities across the country, and yes, the Biebs is one of them. This charitable spirit in...