The Community Foundation is exploring how it can help strengthen local charities in ways that go beyond traditional grantmaking. As an initial step, we hosted a conversation that we called our “Charity Check-In.”
Checking In With Charities
In January of 2023, we convened a group of local charity leaders to consider the following question:
How is your organization doing?
Through a series of facilitated exercises and peer to peer conversations, the group identified a number of areas where their organizations could be strengthened, and how the Foundation might help in that work.
The following is the Summary of Activities from the Charity Check-In:
We see the Charity Check-In as the beginning of a continuing conversation, and we’ll continue to look for ways to engage with charities in support of their ongoing development.
Organizational Development Resources
As an initial response to some of the organizational challenges identified by charities at the Check-In, we’ll be building a self-serve resource list on this page. The list will start small, and evolve as we identify more resources we want charities to know about.
If your charity has successfully used a resource and you think it should be included here, please contact Kevin Ronaghan, our Grants Administrator, at grants@cfso.net.
Leadership Development Opportunities
Thriving Non-Profits: entrepreneurial learning for non-profit leaders. Now accepting applications for their Fall 2023 Cohort here; you can also register for their online information session on May 29th.
Impact & Leadership Development Program: offers coaching and support to BC Interior-based social purpose organizations seeking to deepen community impact and strengthen financial sustainability. Offered by Purppl; apply by June 13th for their upcoming cohort.
Grant Proposal Writing
Learn more about the Foundation’s Grant Writing Workshops here.
Governance
Board Voice offers a robust collection of links to resources on a wide variety of board and governance topics, including strategic planning, succession planning, financial statements and risk management.
The Board Development Program of the Alberta Community Development Unit offers online webinars. They focus on strengthening the governance of Alberta non-profits, but much of the information presented is applicable across jurisdictions.
Technology Support
TechSoup Canada: provides free (or almost free!) software to charities and non-profits from companies like Microsoft and Adobe through their Technology Donations Program.
Impact Measurement
Purppl’s blog post (Five essential practices of good impact measurement) provides a good starting point on the topic of impact measurement. For a deeper dive, explore the Common Approach to Impact Measurement.
