2023 Platform Priorities Update April 6 - 13
Over 100 of you have already sent a letter to party leaders asking them to make nonprofits a core part of their election platforms! We are happy to see strong support for the 5 priorities: Appropriate Funding, A Workforce Strategy, Better Data Collection, A Door to Government, and An Empowered Sector and let’s keep that momentum going!
2023 Platform Priorities Update March 29-April 5
With a Provincial Election scheduled for May 29, Alberta’s provincial parties have a critical opportunity to ensure essential nonprofit services are there for Albertans when they need them. On the docket this week: the 5 priorities CCVO and The Nonprofit Vote launched garner attention in the legislature. Plus, find out what the City of Calgary and Calgary Chamber of Commerce want to see in provincial party platforms. Do you live in Calgary? Find your local candidates with Livewire’s handy map.
2023 Platform Priorities Update March 22-29
Election season is upon us!
With a Provincial Election scheduled for May 29, Alberta’s provincial parties have a critical opportunity to ensure essential nonprofit services are there for Albertans when they need them. Last week, CCVO and The Nonprofit Vote partners launched five platform priorities help us get there. They are: Appropriate Funding, A Workforce Strategy, Better Data Collection, A Door to Government, and An Empowered Sector.
Alberta nonprofits reveal sector’s top five priorities ahead of 2023 provincial election
On Tuesday, March 14, leaders from Alberta nonprofits gathered at the Kahanoff Centre on Tuesday to unveil the sector’s five top priorities for whichever party forms government after the looming election. The Platform Priorities come as the nonprofit sector, which contributes $5.5 billion to Alberta’s economy annually and employs nearly 300,000 Albertans, has struggled in recent years through the pandemic, inflation and surging demand amid a workforce crisis.
Alberta nonprofits reveal sector’s top five priorities ahead of 2023 provincial election
On Tuesday, March 14, leaders from Alberta nonprofits gathered at the Kahanoff Centre on Tuesday to unveil the sector’s five top priorities for whichever party forms government after the looming election. The Platform Priorities come as the nonprofit sector, which contributes $5.5 billion to Alberta’s economy annually and employs nearly 300,000 Albertans, has struggled in recent years through the pandemic, inflation and surging demand amid a workforce crisis.
Budget 2023 and Alberta’s Nonprofit Sector
In November 2022, CCVO and our partners sounded the alarm for the nonprofit sector in Alberta. With budget 2023, the alarm is still ringing. After more than three years of doing more with less, Alberta’s nonprofit sector remains in crisis. An Ipsos poll conducted in November 2022 shows 22% of Canadians and 30% of Albertans expect to access charitable services for their basic needs in the next 6 months. Budget 2023 does not address this reality; the strategic requests made by CCVO have not been met, and despite recording a $2.4 Billion surplus, Alberta’s 2023 Budget does not support Alberta’s essential nonprofit sector.
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.