Volunteer Alberta

📢 Funding for youth-focused organizations in Alberta! 📢

The TELUS Community Board is now accepting applications for projects aimed at supporting youth up to age 29, with a focus on health and education. Preference is given to programs that effectively use technology to enhance their impact, and organizations can apply for single-year grants of up to $20,000.

The current round of applications is open to organizations in Edmonton and Northern Alberta. The deadline to apply is August 6, 2024.

The second round of applications starts on August 27, 2024 and is open to organizations in Calgary, Edmonton, Northern, and Southern Alberta. The deadline for the second round is October 8, 2024.

Learn more and apply here: https://ow.ly/q0XQ50SIMS9

Over the past two years, Volunteer Alberta has worked to cultivate an internal practice to carve out time in our schedules for intentional (un)learning and skill development, aka "Magic Time." We've come to understand that operational demands can make it a little tough to find time for this work. As a result, during August 6–9, we will experiment with our first Focus Week—a week dedicated to (un)learning and discovery. ✨

Here's what we'll be up to during Focus Week:

💭 Do any work requiring deep thought, imagination, creativity, or concentration
📚 Dive into any reading or listening material related to professional (un)learning
💡 Work on anything related to our professional development and (un)learning plans
🤓 Work on any "side of desk" projects we've been meaning to get to
🤝 Engage in co-(un)learning with other folks on the team

Please note that during this week, responses to messages and emails may be delayed, and external meetings will be rescheduled. After this experiment, we'll evaluate how Focus Week went and share our findings. We appreciate your support as we take this time to grow and (un)learn so that we can serve you better. If you have any questions at all, please contact us at [email protected].

A recent article by WildApricot explains the importance of the volunteer onboarding process, emphasizing how it is crucial for building relationships, setting expectations, and improving retention. Check it out for tips on how to evaluate your current strategy and design an effective volunteer orientation process. 👉 https://ow.ly/IUNm50SGNQ7

✨Apply Today and Accelerate your Community Initiative!✨

ACSEL encourages the civic participation of Alberta youth by providing Canada Service Corps alumni support and resources to develop new or enhance pre-existing community-based projects. Participants will also receive a $5,000 grant to accelerate their community projects and participate in a series of learning workshops on project management and community service fundamentals!

To be eligible, you must:
💡 Have an idea for a community project
🙋 Be 16–30 years old (at the time of application)
📚 Have participated in a program or micro-grant opportunity provided by the Canada Service Corps (CSC)
🌾 Have a significant tie to Alberta (e.g., residence, education, etc.)
🍁 Have status in Canada (i.e., citizen, permanent resident, refugee status)

Know someone who might be eligible? Please share this info with them! 📣

To apply and view the information package & full eligibility criteria, visit us here: https://ow.ly/tHYw50SFwRq

Earlier this year, the CanadaHelps Giving Report identified a significant opportunity for charities: strengthening Canadians' social bonds and enhancing generosity. In a new article for The Philanthropist Journal, CanadaHelps CEO Duke Chang suggest four steps to cultivate connected communities: build communities through in-person gatherings, communicate success and impact to give hope, reduce barriers to entry, and solicit long-term support.

Read the article: 👉 https://ow.ly/bL2J50SFtte

CanadaHelps 2024 Giving Report: https://ow.ly/TCjK50SFttf

📣 City of Edmonton Anti-racism Grant Program – Applications Open📣

Edmonton City Council has approved $1.395 million in funding to support local community and nonprofit organizations through the Anti-racism Grant Program. The program aims to support initiatives that raise awareness of racism and its impacts, support community organizations working to dismantle racism, and build a diverse, inclusive, and equitable city.

The Anti-racism Grant Program has four funding streams (more info at the link below):
• Community Activation
• Local Anti-racism Capacity Building/Innovation
• Local Community Participatory Action Research
• Shifting the Perspective

The deadline for applications is Thursday, September 12, 2024.

Learn more about the grant and how to apply here: https://ow.ly/5Q2950SCSmm

City of Edmonton - Local Government

Volunteer Alberta works to nourish wellbeing and healthy communities of belonging by cultivating conditions for volunteering and civic engagement. We believe that one of those conditions is for people to have the time and energy to engage in their communities meaningfully.

In 2023, we continued the Flowing Fridays experiment from 2022 to encourage healthy workplace practices and culture. The experiment explored the question: “What if Volunteer Alberta created time and space for people on our team to experience wellbeing and connections in ways that were meaningful for them?”

We are excited to share our second Flowing Fridays (Un)learning Brief that reports and reflects on our experimentation with a four-day work week. It builds on the first brief by summarizing what we found in our initial exploration of the connection between rest and well-being. We also share our (un)learnings, findings, design methodologies, and grounding principles that guided our journey. We hope that briefs like this might encourage organizations and individuals to explore what wellbeing and inclusive workplaces can look like in the sector.

➡️Read Flowing Fridays (Un)learning Brief #2: https://ow.ly/YLYz50SBWnR
➡️Read Flowing Fridays (Un)learning Brief #1: https://ow.ly/F3ui50SBWnQ

Our partners at Co-operators have shared an article on how insurance protects organizations and their volunteers.

As someone who works with non-profit organizations and volunteers, you understand the value that’s created when people work together to help others. You may not realize that insurance companies aim to do the same. Co-operators – a leading Canadian financial services provider – explains how insurance can help build the financial resiliency of your organization.

Read more in this new blog: https://ow.ly/cEv950SA0LP

A new blog post written by Shaminda Perera, MEd., and Anita Newling for Volunteer Canada explains how intergenerational volunteering has the potential to bring older adults and youth together in mutually beneficial ways. Thoughtfully designed intergenerational initiatives that consider the needs of all participants can lead to several benefits, such as shared learning and understanding, improved health and wellness, and stronger community ties that can work to build a legacy of volunteerism.

Read the blog post here 👉 https://ow.ly/6Te350SzkBL

📣 VA's 2023 Annual Report is here! 🎉

We're excited to share the highlights, successes, and stories that defined the past year. A special thank you to our Members, Funders, and Collaborators. Your support is invaluable in helping us achieve our vision of thriving communities nurtured by caring humans across Alberta. We are grateful to have you with us, to do good, together.

Check out the report here 👉 https://ow.ly/hnn950SyoPC

📣 Funding Opportunity 📣

National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) is a time to celebrate the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and recognize efforts to remove accessibility barriers. Held annually starting the last Sunday of May, eligible organizations can receive up to $100,000 for projects in 2025 and 2026. These projects should enhance understanding of accessibility, reduce stigma, and share best practices within the disability community. Applications are open until July 17, 2024.

Learn More Here 👉 https://ow.ly/EoMZ50Sy8uW

📣 Screening Development Grant Deadline extended until July 31st, 2024📣

Are you looking to enhance your organization's volunteer screening process? Do your programs support vulnerable persons? Grants of up to $3,500 are available to select organizations that are working to update their volunteer screening processes or implement new screening practices. Funds can be used for:

➡️ Updating volunteer policies, manuals, position descriptions, or application forms.
➡️ Offsetting staff time or hiring a contractor for this work.
➡️ Professional development for volunteer managers to better meet community needs.

💡 For more information on how you could use the grant, see our Cost Eligibility Guide: https://ow.ly/lEQO50Swruu

Along with funding, eligible recipients will receive education, support, and a chance to connect with and learn from peers during the program. This is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen your organization's volunteer management and retain a dedicated volunteer community. 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️🙌

Don't miss out! Apply before the extended application deadline on Wednesday, July 31st at 11:59 PM. The SDG is available thanks to the generous support of YourAlberta (Government of Alberta).

Learn more about or Volunteer Screening program here 👉 https://ow.ly/iYWS50SwruJ

Got questions? Email us at [email protected]

The Government of Canada is committing $7.5 million over three years to support Kids Help Phone (KHP) to sustain core services and mental health resources. The funding will help broaden services and reach, aid in data analysis, and provide professional development opportunities and self-care program for all KHP staff and volunteers.

Read the announcement from Employment and Social Development Canada 👉 https://ow.ly/Ru6z50Sws9i

Learn more about KHP 👉 https://ow.ly/RFLH50Sws9j

📣 Volunteer Specialist Resource 📣

CharityVillage shared a must-read blog post by Volunteer Management Expert, Lori Gotlieb, on the Volunteer Management Lifecycle! This article provides a high-level view of the Volunteer Management Lifecycle and offers a new way to look at the traditional framework. Check it out for insights on how organizations might update their volunteer engagement and retention strategies to align planning with the needs of the modern volunteer landscape.

Read the article here 👉 https://ow.ly/EaF350SrZz2

☀️Out of Office Memo☀️

A reminder that Volunteer Alberta will be out of the office from June 28th to July 1st. We'll be back on July 2nd to assist you with all your volunteering needs! We wish you all a safe and happy long weekend!

� VA Resource �

Are you looking for some help with the basics of policy development and identifying risks? Our free resource, “Developing Screening Policies and Assesing Risk” provides the essentials for your volunteer program.

This pre-recorded webinar explores good practices for writing policy, how to use VAs assessment matrix to evaluate risks, and policies that can help mitigate risks in relation to volunteer screening.

Access the webinar recording and slideshow at this link � https://ow.ly/Jo5250Sr6gJ

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day of reflection and celebration of the diverse heritage, knowledge, resilience, and contributions of Indigenous People across Canada.

Inspired by Indigenous knowledge systems, Volunteer Alberta seeks to become a good organizational ancestor. In doing so we are committed to meaningful reflection and critiquing of our ways of knowing, being, and doing. In the spirit of Reconciliation, we invite you to do the same and consider how you may contribute to decolonized, inclusive, and equitable practices, policies, and programming in the social impact/non-profit/voluntary sector, and beyond.

Join us in commemorating Indigenous Peoples and Communities today and every day. Listen, learn, and celebrate the diverse cultural expressions and stories of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Here are some resources that may aid your learning journey:
• Home on Native Land (free 10-part webinar course) https://ow.ly/3TvC50SlhJM
• Indigenous Canada (free 12-lesson MOOC from the University of Alberta) https://ow.ly/KfC650SlhJN
• The Digital Nonprofit – Indigenous Protocols For Nonprofits (video) https://ow.ly/v1TH50SlhJK
• The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund – A wide range of resources and programs to promote reconciliation and Indigenous history awareness https://ow.ly/h6Ct50SlhJT
• IPCA Knowledge Baskets – A toolkit for respectful collaboration with Indigenous Peoples https://ow.ly/Kq1f50SlhJJ
• The Yellowhead Institute – A platform for Indigenous issues in Canada https://ow.ly/rhbp50SlhJS
• Métis Nation of Alberta – Cultural resources and educational materials on Métis heritage https://ow.ly/juVv50Sm13Q

Find an event near you:
• Alberta https://ow.ly/SVLP50SlhJQ
• Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary https://ow.ly/xcgt50SlhJO
• Edmonton and surrounding area https://ow.ly/ZYoY50SlhJP
• Indigenous History Month (Edmonton and surrounding area) https://ow.ly/4MQs50SlhJL
• Canada https://ow.ly/WwKS50SlhJU

📣 Get Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA)! 📣

A CVA is an international professional certification in the field of volunteer resources management that certifies knowledge of effective volunteer management practices.

The Council of Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) is offering an upcoming session on July 23 at 12 PM MDT on the CVA credential. Learn why certification is beneficial, how the exam is created, details on preparation, and more. Register here 👉 https://ow.ly/cZlt50Sm0Y7

Just starting your CVA journey? Our friends at Volunteer Toronto have a CVA study group and have extended a discount to VA members! For $50, you can get access to a wealth of resources and 5 live sessions. These sessions will offer live discussions August through September to prepare you for the October 2024 exam window. Registration deadline is July 15th, 2024. Find out more here 👉 https://ow.ly/a3rx50Sm0Y6

🌈 Happy Pride Month! 🌈

VA celebrates the amazing 2SLGBTQIA+ community and the positive impact they continue to make. We recognize the intrinsic value that every person brings and see first-hand how communities thrive when everyone can meaningfully take part and participate. To become good allies, we will continue to question long-standing practices in the nonprofit/voluntary sector in order to promote diverse and inclusive civic engagement and involvement. Together, we can nurture inclusive communities of belonging.

📣Funding Alert!📣

The Werklund Foundation is offering funding opportunities to nonprofits that help youth (ages 9–22) gain skills for their future.

✨ One-Year Program Grants: Up to $25,000 for existing programs that demonstrate measurable outcomes.
✨ Innovation Grants: Up to $25,000 for organizations working to find new approaches to helping youth develop their skillsets.

Applications are open until June 28th, 2024. Check out the funding guidelines and eligibility requirements here: https://ow.ly/lbxY50Sligy

Thank you for joining our 2024 AGM and Fireside Chat last week! 🔥 We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate and learn from you. The insights shared in this discussion will help bring our Strategic Compass to life.

Special thanks to our outgoing 2023–2024 Board Members: Lisa Gilchrist, Bonnie Chiu, and Dave Maffitt, for your invaluable contributions. A very warm welcome to our incoming 2024–2025 Board of Directors, as approved by our Members at our AGM: Corinne Ethier (Calgary), Aedon Janes (Grande Prairie), Naomi Mahaffy (Edmonton), Ken Kirk (Edmonton), Amanda Jensen (Lethbridge), Hala Ezzeddine (Grande Prairie), Meenakshi Ramanathan (Edmonton), and Robyn Blackadar (Strathcona County).

A big thank you to our Fireside Chat co-host, Annand Ollivierre, for helping us dig into the rich conversations about possibilities, realities, and shifts in the sector. Your guidance empowered us to see things from new perspectives.

Stay tuned for a share-back document of our Fireside Chat, coming soon. In the meantime, check out our 2023 Annual Report and Strategic Compass Document here: https://ow.ly/vGwC50Sl3K3

📢Volunteer Alberta's Screening Development Grant (SDG) is officially open for applications!📢

If you are part of an organization in Alberta looking to enhance your volunteer screening practices, the SDG could be just what you need to elevate your volunteer program. Grants up to $3,500 are available to select organizations that are committed to improving their volunteer screening processes or implementing new practices. This is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen your organization's volunteer management, grow capabilities, and retain a dedicated volunteer community. The SDG is available thanks to the generous support of the Government of Alberta!

⏰ Applications close on Monday, July 15th at 11:59 PM MDT. Apply and learn more here: https://ow.ly/1W6l50Sab02

📚 Volunteer Specialist Resource 📚

Looking for guidance on HR management and policies? HR Intervals is a free online toolkit by Imagine Canada. Launched in 2021, it's designed to help nonprofit managers, employees, and board members navigate people management. Enhance your organization's success with this comprehensive resource!

Access the toolkit at this link 👉 https://ow.ly/YCfm50Siu8u

Check out our latest Volunteer Specialist Resource blog on Volunteer Retention Strategies 👉 https://ow.ly/gNM850Siu8w

📣Great News!📣 The Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO) has just opened a new Volunteer Centre in Edmonton!

Whether you are part of an Edmonton-based organization that is looking to recruit new volunteers or if you are a volunteer searching for your next volunteer adventure, the knowledgeable team at ECVO can help! To learn more or to book an appointment with ECVO, visit their website here: 👉 https://ow.ly/ihp950SibVK

📣 VA Resource 📣

Need guidance on volunteer screening? Check out “Goals-Based Approach to Volunteer Screening: How to Nourish Relationships and Trust in Volunteer Programming” a free VA webinar recording from our recent Equity & Inclusion in Volunteer Screening series!

In this webinar, you will learn an alternative approach to the 10-step screening process that emphasizes safety and trust in volunteer programming. You will also learn how to cultivate meaningful connections and adjust screening practices to foster a more inclusive volunteer environment.

Link to the webinar recording and slideshow here 👉 https://ow.ly/yCXk50Shcoz

🌟Happening in ONE Week! 🌟

Join us for our free Volunteer Screening Webinette on June 18th at 11 AM! 🕚

Learn what a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) is, who really needs a VSC, some tips on relationship-based screening, and types of financial support that are available through Volunteer Alberta, including the VSC Fee Waiver and Volunteer Screening Development Microgrant.

👉 Secure your spot now! https://ow.ly/tnAw50S84Mj

📣 Only 3 days until our AGM on June 13 @ 10 AM – 12 PM MDT! 📣

Join us for formal AGM business at 10 AM, and be sure to stick around for an engaging virtual fireside chat with Annand Ollivierre (J5 Design) and Miki Stricker-Talbot (Volunteer Alberta) starting at 10:45 AM as they discuss the calibration of our 2024–2026 Strategic Compass.

In our fireside chat, participants will:
▪️ Gain an understanding of VA’s new Strategic Compass
▪️ Join breakout sessions to explore the possibilities and tensions highlighted in the Compass and share how these might appear in their own contexts

🔗 RSVP NOW: https://ow.ly/x4Gf50S7rsK

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AGM Agenda:
▪️ 9:45 am MDT: Sign in/Register
▪️ 10:00 am MDT: AGM Business
▪️ 10:45 am – 12:00 pm MDT: Fireside Chat and Breakout Discussions

If you're a current 2024 VA Member, and no one from your organization can attend the online AGM event, ensure your vote is counted by completing the proxy form: https://ow.ly/Xs0h50S7rsI

🔗 AGM Webpage: https://ow.ly/vQt250S7rsJ
🔗 Strategic Compass: https://ow.ly/WWY550S7rsG

Thanks to OASSIS Benefit Plans and YourAlberta (Government of Alberta) (through ECAP) for their support!

🎉 We're thrilled to announce the return of our Screening Development Grant (SDG) on June 17th, thanks to the generous support of the YourAlberta (Government of Alberta)!

If you are part of an organization in Alberta looking to enhance your volunteer screening practices, the SDG could be just what you need to elevate your volunteer program and prepare your organization for growth.

Grants up to $3,500 are available to select organizations that are committed to improving their volunteer screening processes or implementing new practices. This is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen your organization's volunteer management, grow capabilities, and retain a dedicated volunteer community.

⏰ Applications close on Monday, July 15th at 11:59 PM MDT.

To apply and learn more, visit our website at the link below:
https://ow.ly/1W6l50Sab02

🌟 Funding Opportunity 🌟

The Government of Canada is offering funding opportunities for programs that remove barriers to accessibility, increase inclusion, and empower persons with disabilities to engage fully in their communities. Priority will be given to projects produced in one or more Indigenous languages or the production of more than one alternate format reading materials in hard copy and/or digital alternate formats. Up to $2 million per year is available for eligible projects over three years, starting in 2024. Apply by June 19th, 2024, 1:00 PM MST.

Read the guidelines and apply here 👉 https://ow.ly/WuFP50S96B7

🌟 Don't Miss Out! 🌟

Join us for our free Volunteer Screening Webinette on June 18th at 11 AM! 🕚

Learn what a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) is, who really needs a VSC, some tips on relationship-based screening, and types of financial support that are available through Volunteer Alberta, including the VSC Fee Waiver and Volunteer Screening Development Microgrant.

👉 Secure your spot now! https://ow.ly/tnAw50S84Mj