To address funding issues, CCVO undertakes a variety of activiites including:

• research to better understand the issue and the potential solutions
• outreach to the sector and funders to understand the challenges and opportunities
• government relations work to address funding issues at the municipal, provincial and federal levels
• events to share information and resources with the sector, and to gain input and feedback.

Recent CCVO activities on funding issues include:

Government Relations

Municipal:

Pre-budget presentations to Calgary City Council's pre-budget process

Federal:

Submission to the Federal Pre-budget Process

In September 2006, CCVO provided input into and endorsed an Imagine Canada submission to the Federal Pre-Budget process outlining the concerns and recommendations from the sector.

Action on Funding Cuts (September 2006)

In September 2006, the Federal Government announced $1 billion in spending cuts. Approximately $200 million of these cuts directly affect the voluntary sector. The cuts were broad, and cut across many departments. Programs including adult learning and literacy, youth employment, adult skill development and employment, social development, research and public policy, environment, among others.

Submission to the Federal Blue Ribbon Panel on Grants and Contributions
In August 2006, CCVO provided input for and endorsed an Imagine Canada submission to the Blue Ribbon Panel on Grants and Contributions. The panel is an independent body mandated to provide advice on how to achieve strong accountability for the funds spent on grants and contributions, under the draft Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments, while allowing for their efficient management and effective access to them. The final report of the panel is anticipated in mid-February 2007.

Research and Studies

Taking Stock: Examining the Financing of Nonprofit Community Organizations

(4,362 KB PDF) May 2006.

This Calgary-based research by CCVO offers new insights into how nonprofit organizations are financed. The study examines how program-related costs are financed and the implications when a program's full costs are not met. Click here to see the Power Point presentation from the May 2 release event.

Financing Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations in Alberta: A Report on the Alberta Regional FInance Action Group (February 2006)

This report summarizes discussions from a meeting that brought together representatives from the voluntary sector; all levels of government; and funding organizations. The following key issues were discussed: the role of government in funding the voluntary sector; perceptions of duplication and proliferation of nonprofits and charities; funding of overhead and administrative costs; and project funding and core funding.

Study of the Better Business Bureau Charity Review Program (December 2005)

As part of CCVO’s ongoing work to address key issues facing Calgary’s voluntary sector, CCVO examined the Charity Review Program being re-launched by the Better Business Bureau of Southern Alberta (BBB). The study was undertaken in response to concerns from Calgary-based charities about the BBB's evaluation process, criteria evaluated and the presentation of the results.

Strength Under Stress: A Portrait of Calgary’s Voluntary Sector (June 2005)
This study explores the strengths and challenges of voluntary sector organizations in Calgary and is a snapshot of their capacity to address the issues and contribute to the quality of life in our community. The study complements national level studies.

Funding-Related Events

Funding Our Future (September 2004) - Keynote Presentation
Katherine Scott, Vice President of Research with the Canadian Council on Social Development and author of Funding Matters: The Impact of Canada's New Funding Regime on Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations. Ms. Scott's presentation provided a national perspective on the current funding regime as well as future directions on funding

Funding of Overhead (March 2005) - Keynote Presentation
Keynote Speaker Lynn Eakin, Consultant, Researcher and Author of Research Study: Community Capacity Draining: The Impact of Current Funding Practices on Non-Profit Community Organizations.