Equitable Treatment of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women in The Voluntary Sector (October 2006)

This study examines workplace issues experienced by immigrant and visible minority women working and volunteering in human services in Alberta. It shows that while the women enjoy serving the community, there are systemic, funding and workplace issues and barriers preventing equitable experiences.

Talking About Charities (2006, 2004,2000)

This series of Canada-wide opinion polls commissioned by The Muttart Foundation surveys Canadians on their views about charities and issues affecting charities. The 2006 study is the third wave of a research initiative. Previous surveys were conducted in 2000 and 2004. The Foundation has committed to repeating the study in 2008. Visit The Muttart Foundation online to download the studies.

From Restless Communities to Resilient Places: Building a Stronger Future for All Canadians (June 2006)

This report by the Federally appointed External Advisory Committee on Cities and Communities provides a long term vision of the role cities and communities should play in sustaining our prosperity. It includes a number of recommendations for communities and all levels of government.

Building Blocks for Strong Communities (March 2006)

This CPRN/Imagine Canada report compares the characteristics, economic and social contributions, and public policy supports for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Small and Medium Sized Organizations (SMOs) in Canada. The report finds significant gaps in our knowledge of community organizations and advocates better support for them.

NSNVO Regional Reports (June 2006)

Imagine Canada has released a new series of regional reports and sub-sector fact sheets provides in-depth analysis of the sector across the country, including an Alberta report by Canada West Foundation's Rob Roach.

Strengthening the Capacity of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations to Serve Canadians: Recommendations Based on the National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations (June 2006)

This report provides recommendations on what government, businesses and organizations can do to strengthen the capacity of the sector to better serve Canadians.

Statistics Canada Data

Satellite Account of Nonprofit Institutions and Volunteering
Statistics Canada resource that provides statistics about the economic contribution of the nonprofit sector in Canada. Reports issued annually. Currently available reports published in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Survey of Performing Arts

This Statistics Canada survey collects data about for-profit and non-profit performing arts companies in Canada. Areas covered include theatre, musical theatre, dinner theatre, opera, dance, musical groups, independent musicals, artists and others.

Survey of Heritage and Cultural Institutions

This Statistics Canada survey collects data about for-profit and non-profit heritage institutions in Canada including museums, historic sites and other related institutions such as exhibition centres, planetariums, aquariums and zoos, botanical gardens, arboretums and conservatories.

Cost of Screening Volunteers in Alberta

This survey by Volunteer Alberta suggests that Alberta's voluntary sector is facing escalating costs because of growing demands for volunteer screening. The demand for improved voluntary sector risk management is increasing the use of police checks, and is becoming a standard operating policy for many organizations. Visit the Policy Channel website to download the full report or click here to see an Edmonton Journal article about the survey.

Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP)
June 5, 2006 - New 2004 CSGVP Report Released

This national survey is the most comprehensive look at the contributions of Canadians to one another and to their communities ever undertaken in Canada. The CSGVP asks Canadians a series of questions about how they give money and other resources to individuals and to charitable and nonprofit organizations; volunteer time to charitable and voluntary organizations and directly to individuals; and participate in organizations by becoming members.

Proliferation of Charities- United Way of Calgary and Area (May 2006)

This paper by the United Way of Calgary and Area investigates the perception that the number of charities is growing. Topics include where this concern may come from; if it has any basis in fact; some of the factors behind the growth in number of charities; some of the problems that proliferation can create; and the extent of the public’s concern.

voluntarygateway.ca

Information and resources for Canada's voluntary sector. Topics includes: administration, boards, funding, leadership, marketing, planning, staffing, technology, volunteers, and current news items.

Voluntary Sector Awareness Project

Greater than the Sum of Our Parts: Community Conversations Summary Report February, 2006 (French version)
Summary of the feedback provided by nonprofits and charities from across Canada.

Greater Than The Sum of Our Parts (discussion paper) September 2005

Discussion paper released as part of the Voluntary Sector Awareness Project, headed up by Imagine Canada as part of the Voluntary Sector Initiative, to springboard a series of Community Conversations with organizations across Canada that will result in a national awareness campaign for the sector.

Centre For Non-Profit Excellence: A Study (2005)
Research by the Muttart Foundation of Edmonton testing a model of a “Centre for Non-Profit Excellence” that would provide various types of services to charities and, potentially, other not-for-profit organizations.

The Canadian Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Comparative Perspective
First report from a two-year research collaboration between Imagine Canada and the John Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector to assess how Canada’s nonprofit and voluntary sector compares in its size, scope, and contributions to the nonprofit and voluntary sectors of other countries.

National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations (NSNVO)
A national study that provides the first comprehensive picture of voluntary and non-profit organizations across Canada.

Talking About Charities 2004
A national public-opinion poll in commissioned by the Muttart Foundation that reveals Canadian’s impressions about charities and issues affecting charities. Data is broken down to the provincial level.

www.nonprofitscan.ca and the Knowledge Development Centre
Two Imagine Canada websites offering information about the nonprofit and voluntary sector including an online library and access to past and current research.

Canadian Policy Research Network publications:

Comparing the Satellite Account and the National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations with CPRN's Mapping of the Non-profit Sector (Feb 2005)
In this report, Grant Schellenberg and Kathryn McMullen map data from the Business Register and the Workplace and Employee Survey to examine the size of the sector and compares this with data from Statistics Canada’s Satellite Account of Nonprofit Institutions and Volunteering and the results of the National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations [NSNVO].

Social Innovation in Canada - How the non-profit sector serves Canadians and how it can serve them better (Nov 2004)
Report by Mark Goldenberg, former federal assistant deputy minister, examines the role of the non-profit sector in social innovation and what needs to be done to make the most of it.

The Future of Social Innovation in Canada (Nov 2004)
Summary of the outcomes a CPRN roundtable to develop a vision of what social innovation could look like by 2010, and to propose an action agenda for the next few years.

Voluntary Sector Initiative - Voluntary Sector Research resources
Links to resources and information about voluntary sector research developed as part of the Voluntary Sector Initiative.