Alberta Budget 2023, Coming Tomorrow!
The provincial budget will drop on February 28 and CCVO has been invited by the Minister of Treasury Board and Finance to an embargoed briefing before the budget is released publicly. We are very pleased to accept that invitation as it will give us time to look at the budget and respond quickly on what it might mean for nonprofits in Alberta. This year is an interesting budget year because the provincial election is in May, just three months away, which means that commitments in the budget should be viewed as an unofficial campaign launch.
CCVO Releases 2023 Provincial Pre-Budget Submission
CCVO’s 2023 Provincial Pre-Budget Submission has been released. The two budget requests CCVO is making are a commitment to indexing all granting programs to inflation and growth and an investment budget in a strategic Community Prosperity Fund, eligible only to nonprofits totalling $300 million over 3 years.
The Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act
Bill 1, The Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, has been tabled, passed third reading and will be law once it reaches Royal Assent, which Premier Smith has indicated will be in this fall session. There is currently potential for this Act to impact any nonprofits and charities in Alberta that fall under the Act’s definition of “provincial entity”.
Alberta nonprofits call for $30 million in emergency funds to keep sector afloat
Members of Alberta’s nonprofit community stood alongside business leaders at carya Village Commons on Tuesday to call for an urgent one-time cash injection of $30 million from the provincial government to keep the nonprofit sector afloat.
The ask for an urgent, one-time top-up of $30 million comes as nonprofits across Alberta juggle heightened demand for services with increasingly complex client needs while revenues decrease.
An Introduction to Utilizing Key Performance Indicators in Your Organization
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are a way to measure progress towards business or agency goals. Whether it be for profit, employee retention, or general costs, KPIs as a tool have been used for decades by many businesses. The issue for many Not-for-Profits (NPO) is that the majority of these indicators seem to be based on the idea that one is generating profits for the business. This is not always the case, and KPIs serve a valuable purpose in the NPO world as well.
Government of Alberta 2023 Budget Consultation
The Government of Alberta is currently looking for feedback to help decide the direction of the 2023 budget. A short online survey is open until January 15, 2023. The survey covers spending priorities and options for what to do with the projected 2022/2023 surplus.
Nominate a Calgary Nonprofit Leader for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal program recognizes outstanding service from Albertans who have dedicated themselves to the community. CCVO is grateful to be able to recognize and present the Medal to 10 Calgary community leaders. The Medal will be awarded to 7,000 Albertans throughout 2022 in recognition of significant contributions to the province.
Structuring a Board in a Not-for-Profit
Structuring a Board is a strategic and in-depth process. Many Boards consist of professionals in other sectors or positions that serve on a Board on a volunteer basis. Sometimes it can take a couple of attempts to create the perfect scenario. A Key element one should look for in a Board member in a director position is that they have an understanding of the mission of the not-for-profit and are ready and willing to donate the time required.
Government of Alberta Announces Plan to Spend $50 Million on Childcare Spaces
The Government of Alberta has announced that $50 million is now available to eligible Alberta nonprofits in order to increase the number of available childcare spaces. This funding is open to “non-profit groups interested in creating new child-care spaces and providing child care in a licensed child-care program in Alberta”. The funding is part of the $3.8 billion of federal funding under the Alberta Canada Early Learning and Child Care agreement. The Government of Alberta aims to create 10,000 spaces this year with a target of “42,500 additional spaces in non-profit child-care programs by the end of March 2026”. Interested organizations can apply here.
Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Releases Final Report of Lobbyists Act Review
The Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future has released the final report regarding their review of the Lobbyists Act. Last year, CCVO, in partnership with ECVO, provided a joint submission as well as a made a presentation directly to the committee recommending that the exemption for public benefit nonprofits be upheld as it had been in previous reviews. CCVO is pleased that the committee has heard the voice of nonprofits and recommended that the exemption be upheld. This decision will ensure that the Lobbyists Act does not create both unnecessary red tape for the Government of Alberta and unnecessary work for the Alberta nonprofits working in the public interest and for public benefit.
Government of Alberta Provides Update on the Stabilize Program
In their recent announcement, the Government of Alberta provided an update on spending during the second phase of the Stabilize Program, which supports the live-experience sector in Alberta. According to the announcement, “About $5.6 million in community support went to 60 organizations, including matched funds from 68 pledges”. More specifically, “about $1.7 million went to 56 non-profits that host live experiences or that own and/or operate live-experience venues through the Adapt and Innovate stream of the Stabilize Program”. The announcement does not mention any future funding for the Stabilize Program.
Government of Alberta Announces Partnership with the United Way of Calgary and Area to Expand Social Innovation
The Government of Alberta has announced a partnership with the United Way of Calgary and Area to foster social innovation across the province through an expansion of the Social Impact Lab. According to the announcement, “With $1.75 million to be distributed over the next four years, the United Way Calgary and Area will expand its Social Impact Lab model with permanent locations in Edmonton and Lethbridge and pop-up labs across Alberta”. More information on ways your organization can get involved with the Social Impact Lab can be found here.
Government of Alberta Announces Results of Community Initiatives Program Funding
According to the latest results of the Community Initiatives Program funding, $4.4 million will be released to nonprofits working in the community. Under the project-based funding stream, “a total of $2.3 million is supporting 69 projects, including new or enhanced programs and community events”. Under the operating based funding, “a total of $2.1 million is supporting 34 non-profits working to deliver services to vulnerable and disadvantaged Albertans. This funding can go to core operations and organizational development activities”. A list of successful past recipients can be found here. The next application deadline for this funding is May 15th. More information on how to apply for the project-based stream can be found here while information on the operating stream can be found here.
Premier's Council on Charities and Civil Society Releases Report on Supporting Women's Economic Recovery
The Premier’s Council on Charities and Civil Society has released a new report titled Supporting Women’s Economic Recovery. The report provides “advice on how civil society and government can work together to address challenges faced by women, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic”. CCVO participated in the open call for input into this report and published our recommendations which can be found here. The report incorporates several of the recommendations made. We commend the Council for taking on this work and encourage them to continue to explore the creative ways that nonprofits can address systemic issues faced by women.
Government of Alberta Announces Recipients of Nonprofit-Specific Funding
The Government of Alberta has announced the successful recipients of the Civil Society Fund and the Women’s Economic Recovery Challenge Grant. A total of 22 nonprofit organizations will receive the Women’s Economic Recovery Challenge Grant, which aims “to help enhance economic opportunities for women and girls”. The amount of funding available increased from the original $1 million to $3.6 million due to high demand.