NDP MP proposes tax credit for volunteers

How much would you compensate a volunteer for his or her work and/or time? Should volunteerism be remunerated to reward the activity and, in theory, motivate others to give of their time and skills to worthy causes? These and other...

A gradual impact: Inspiring tomorrow’s leaders through higher education

As the mission-driven sector in Canada continues to grow, so does the need for young innovators and leaders who can confidently carry it forward. Stepping up to fill what has become a prominent educational gap in a country that prides...

Why RFPs should be a nonprofit leader’s best friend

You finally get the go-ahead. After much deliberation over many months, your project proposal has been given the green light by your board. You've got the money set aside to get it done, and even know of a company that...

Back from the brink: How nonprofits bounce back from crippling funding cuts

Nestled amongst the lush greenery of Langley, British Columbia, the Langley Senior Resources Society has spent the last 30 years offering services that help the elderly maintain their independence. Then, in 2009, the centre's contract for outreach programs – which included...

Governance Q&A: Limits on terms…or not?

I read articles for and against term limits for nonprofit directors. How would my organization decide what’s right for it? In Canada, most nonprofits now must have or implement term limits. The new legislation for both federally incorporated nonprofits and...

Vital Signs 2012: Halifax

On the morning of December 6, 1917, a munitions ship collided with another ship in the Halifax Harbour and caught on fire. As people hurried to evacuate, a railway dispatcher named P. Vincent Coleman paused to send a telegraph message...

Vital Signs 2012: Toronto

After 30 years living abroad, Maggie and Greg Wilkinson returned to Toronto in 2010. To commemorate their homecoming, the couple decided to give back to their old-new city by establishing a fund with the Toronto Community Foundation (TCF). “It’s a big city with...

Vital Signs 2012: Montreal

In 2010, when the Foundation of Greater Montreal (FGM) released their Vital Signs report, they informed a donor who held a particularly large fund with them that addressing steep high school dropout rates had been revealed as a pressing issue. There...

Vital Signs 2012: Clayoquot Sound

Each year, more than half a million visitors flock to Vancouver Island's Clayoquot Sound for sun, sand and surf. It's about as far west as you can get in Canada, and the region is well-known for its exquisite views of...