GrantStation Canadian Insider - March 2020

Volume II | Issue 3

National | Regional | Government | PathFinder | Online Education | Announcements | Subscribe

 

 

National Funding Opportunities

Support for Health, Education, and Environmental Initiatives
Max Bell Foundation

The Max Bell Foundation seeks to improve Canadian society by encouraging the development of innovative ideas that impact public policies and practices, with an emphasis on health and wellness, education, and the environment. The Foundation supports work that helps Canadians adapt to social, economic, and technological changes while positively impacting the quality of life in communities. Priority is given to projects which educate Canadians about public policy and practice alternatives. Types of support include project grants and development grants for organizations who wish to undertake short-term work that will better position them to succeed with larger projects. There are no deadlines for initial requests. Visit the Foundation’s website to learn more about the program priorities and application process.

Grants Promote Understanding Between Canada and the U.S.
Embassy of the United States – Canada

The Embassy of the United States in Canada provides funding through two programs. The Public Diplomacy Grants Program supports initiatives that promote bilateral cooperation and highlight shared values between the U.S. and Canada. Projects must include a public outreach component as well as an American perspective, societal or cultural element, or connection with American experts, organizations, or institutions in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and viewpoints. U.S. Speaker Travel Funding provides support to carry out a U.S. speakers program to strengthen bilateral ties between the U.S. and Canada. Eligible applicants for these two programs include U.S. and Canadian registered nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, government entities, and individuals. Proposals for both programs will be accepted on a rolling basis until July 31, 2020.

Funding Benefits Company Communities Across Canada
Shell Canada Corporate Giving Program

Shell Canada funds community initiatives located near the company's facilities and exploration interests throughout Canada through a number of programs. General Funding supports community projects and initiatives located near company operations in the following areas of interest: education, community skills and enterprise development, safety, environment, health, access to energy, and community development. The Post-secondary Student Development Fund seeks to provide opportunities for the education, training, and development of students from areas in which the company anticipates future hiring needs, and therefore supports the following programs from Canadian universities and technical colleges: engineering, business, power engineering, and instrumentation engineering technology. The remaining 2020 application deadlines for these two programs are April 15, June 15, and October 15. The Community Grant program provides funding of up to $5,000 to nonprofit organizations in selected communities near company operations in Alberta and British Columbia. The deadlines to apply for this program vary by community. The Shell Foothill Legacies Fund supports services in selected local communities in the greater Alberta Foothills region. Online applications are currently being accepted for this program. Visit Shell Canada’s website to review the guidelines for each funding program.

Program Targets Children, STEM Education, and Technology
Vendasta Corporate Giving Program

Vendasta supports community initiatives and organizations in Canada, with some emphasis on the company's home province of Saskatchewan. Investments are focused on three core areas: enriching the lives of children in Saskatchewan, digital literacy and STEM education in Canada, and promoting and advocating for a strong technology ecosystem in Canada. Online applications may be submitted at any time and are reviewed on a quarterly basis. Visit Vendasta’s website to learn more about the company’s giving program.

 

 

Regional Funding Opportunities

Support for Individuals with Disabilities in British Columbia
British Columbia Rehabilitation Foundation

The British Columbia Rehabilitation Foundation (BC Rehab Foundation) is committed to closing the gaps between people with and without disabilities. The Foundation offers grants through the following programs: Individual Grants provide funding to persons with physical disabilities for recreation therapy programs, driver’s rehab lessons, and a variety of equipment. Project Grants aim to create opportunities for the full participation of people with physical disabilities. Support is provided to nonprofit organizations and community groups based in British Columbia for initiatives and projects designed to benefit people with disabilities. Priority is given to projects that involve multiple community partners, promote universal access, and demonstrate community support. The upcoming application deadlines for both programs are May 22 and August 22, 2020. Visit the Foundation’s website to access the application guidelines and forms for each program. 

Giving Program Benefits Selected Saskatchewan Communities
The Mosaic Company Foundation

The Mosaic Company and The Mosaic Company Foundation support nonprofit organizations in communities where they operate. Canadian communities include locations in Belle Plaine, Colonsay, Esterhazy, and Regina, Saskatchewan. The Foundation’s focus areas consist of the following categories: Food, including hunger, global agricultural development, and agricultural research and education programs; Water, with a focus on habitat conservation, nutrient stewardship and ecosystem management, and watershed restoration; and Local Community, including philanthropic or civic partnerships that enrich the long-term strength of company communities. In Canada, registered charities are eligible to apply. Applicants must be located in geographic areas surrounding Mosaic locations and offices, unless seeking a global or national partnership. Canadian grant requests will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until November 1, 2020. Visit the Mosaic Company’s website to download the funding guidelines and start the online application process.  

Grants Support Violence Prevention Initiatives in the Canadian Prairies
Prairieaction Foundation: Education and Awareness Grants

The Prairieaction Foundation funds action-oriented research to help end violence and abuse in Canada's prairie provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The Foundation’s Education and Awareness Grants support grassroots, community-based organizations that are working to prevent violence in communities. Grants ranging up to $7,500 support activities that increase knowledge and understanding about violence and abuse, actively involve the community by encouraging actions that will lead to a safe and violence free society, and promote awareness, discussion, and strategic application of the research results of RESOLVE and CARE projects. Letters of intent for Education and Awareness Grants are accepted throughout the year. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation to discuss their project idea before submitting a request. Visit the Foundation’s website to learn more about this and other grant programs.

Donations and Sponsorships Benefit New Brunswick Communities
UNI Financial Cooperation Corporate Giving Program

UNI Financial Cooperation's corporate giving program aims to support projects that create social, economic, environmental, and cultural value for the exclusive benefit of New Brunswick’s citizens and business communities. Donations are awarded to local activities or social or humanitarian causes that have tangible spin-offs for the community. Priority areas of interest include education and youth, mutual aid and solidarity, healthcare, environmental protection, and economic development and entrepreneurship. Sponsorships are also available, with a focus on arts and culture, economic development, education and youth, mutual aid and solidarity, and environmental protection. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Visit the UNI Financial website to complete the online donation or sponsorship application in French.

 

 

Government Funding Opportunities

Competition Seeks Innovative Foreign Policy Ideas
Global Affairs Canada

The International Policy Ideas Challenge 2020 aims to draw on the network of talented Canadian graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early-career civil society researchers to identify concrete, innovative solutions to emerging international policy challenges faced by Canada. Proposals should outline a trend or dynamic affecting Canadian foreign policy that needs additional study and sketch out preliminary policy recommendations bridging at least two of the three policy areas under Global Affairs Canada’s mandate—foreign policy, trade, and international assistance. Ten winning proposals will receive $3,000 each. The application deadline is April 17, 2020.

Capacity Building Grants Strengthen LGBTQ2 Organizations
Status of Women Canada

The LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund supports projects that will strengthen the capacity of LGBTQ2 community organizations and networks across Canada. Eligible applicants include both incorporated/registered organizations and unincorporated/unregistered organizations that are willing to take the steps to become incorporated or registered. Applications must be submitted by April 30, 2020.

 

 

PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional.

Nonprofits Are Messy
Are you a nonprofit professional looking to expand your knowledge on a wide range of issues? If so, you may want to listen to the Nonprofits Are Messy podcast on your way to work. Hosted by Joan Garry, this podcast features discussions on the most pressing issues facing nonprofit leadership, tackling topics such as the overhead myth, the best way to run special events, how to make a big fundraising ask, board-staff relations, and more.

 

 

Upcoming Online Education Trainings
Live Webinars

Unless otherwise noted, all Online Education Trainings are webinars,
are 90 minutes in duration, and are scheduled to begin at 2 PM Eastern Time.

The Integrated Fundraising Model: Creating a Sustainable Fundraising Program (NEW)
The key to sustainability for any growing nonprofit is a structurally strong fundraising program—built on best practices, responsive to change, and created with a sensitivity to the unique culture of the organization. When we evaluate high-impact fundraising programs, we find they share five common traits that comprise what we call the Integrated Fundraising Model. These essential five characteristics, all within reach and accessible to every organization, are strategy, board leadership, culture, stewardship, and accountability. During this presentation Jen Pendleton, CFRE, from Aly Sterling Philanthropy, will discuss how your fundraising plans should integrate/compliment the strategic plan; how leadership, organizational culture, and board "buy-in" really impact your bottom line; and the significance of fundraising systems (that aren't just technology). We will also contemplate if stewardship and accountability are the end of the process…or just the beginning. Are we thinking about it all wrong? Join us to learn about the Integrated Fundraising Model and take home the tools to begin the process of integration immediately. This presentation is for nonprofit leaders (board members, executive directors, and fundraising execs) and anyone who wants to strengthen their fundraising program through big picture strategy. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

LIVE Workshop: Dashboard Design—Build Easy-to-Follow Dashboards for Your Nonprofit's Leaders
"I'm the Executive Director and I report to the board. I tried an Excel style dashboard but it needs improvement." "I struggle to adapt dashboards for different audiences. When I ask a stakeholder what type of data they need to drive decision-making, they practically shrug their shoulders and leave it up to me. I make the best decisions I can and hope for the best." "I want to design scorecards and corporate KPI reports that people are interested in reading." Does this sound familiar? If so, our Dashboard Design online workshop may be for you. In this 90-minute workshop, which focuses on building static one-page handouts or dashboards inside of spreadsheet programs like Excel, you'll see sample dashboards from organizations like yours. Ann K. Emery will share the story behind each dashboard so that you can learn about the dashboard's audience and goals. For example, some of the dashboards were designed to track progress towards goals. Other dashboards were designed to help organizations compare their different program areas. You can decide which elements of each dashboard would be most applicable to your own work. Then, we'll build a static dashboard inside of Microsoft Excel. These dashboards will live inside of Excel and get shared with stakeholders as PDFs through email or as printed handouts during meetings. The webinar will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2020.

LIVE Workshop: Tracking Special Fundraising Events in QuickBooks (DESKTOP Version)
Do you have a fundraising event? Do you do an annual gala dinner or luncheon perhaps with sponsorships, ticket sales, table sales, a silent auction, food and speakers? Or perhaps you run a golf tournament for charity? Figuring out the net profit from the event without messing up your books can be tough! What about the hours and hours of staff time spent getting ready for these events? Shouldn’t that be factored in as well? All of this and more can be easily tracked right in your QuickBooks software! In this high demand webinar, we are very excited to welcome back Gregg Bossen, a CPA specializing in nonprofits and president of QuickBooks Made Easy for Nonprofits, to show us how to easily track your various events without messing up the rest of your books and also to stay in compliance with nonprofit accounting standards. In this webinar, we will show you how you can easily track special fundraising events in QuickBooks. Topics include: what constitutes a Special Fundraising Event; how to use accounts, sub accounts, and contra accounts to easily see a net of the event AS PART of the Profit and Loss; how to enter the budget for each event; how to get a Budget to Actual report for the event as well as other reports; and how to enter amounts for staff time spent to get an honest picture of the true profit. Don’t miss this opportunity! You will be VERY glad you came!

 

 

GrantStation Announcements
The latest updates from GrantStation.

GrantStation Status Announcement
GrantStation has been a cloud company (all of our employees work from home) since 2012. Our systems and operations are designed for remote management and we expect no service disruptions. Because GrantStation is an online service, you can continue to use our tools, trainings, databases, and online education series from your home or office. We will keep you apprised of new grants designed to assist with COVID-19 response via the GrantStation Insider newsletter.

GrantStation Members, as well as our partners and subscribers, are foremost in our minds.

-The GS Team

 

Funding Alerts
More funding opportunities are featured on the GrantStation homepage. Click here to see the grantmakers spotlighted this week!

 


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Editor: Diana Holder
Contributing Writer: Ashlyn Simmons