Introduction In March of 1999, 13 federal Cabinet Ministers convenedinOttawa for a working dinner. It was neither an official Cabinet nor a Cabinet Committee meeting, however, and attendance was voluntary. As one Minister quipped at the outset of the meeting, “It is the largest number of Ministers I’ve seen together in one room – when…
Contents: Volume 25, Issue 1 (2013)
Governance is a hot topic in the nonprofit sector, with largely volunteer-based boards of directors struggling to fulfil their governance responsibilities, as well as serve as major fundraising resources. Indeed, board members are often recruited for their fundraising prowess, with little expectation that they will actively monitor the nonprofit organization. The fact that nonprofit organizations…
This is the second and final issue based on the theme of the voluntary sector in transition. The first issue addressed a number of the themes, not the least of which was the change in the relationship of the sector with the federal government. This issue examines a number of areas where sector organizations are…
Introduction How can we better understand the role volunteering plays in strengthening citizen engagement, social inclusion, and building resilient communities? Reflecting on some of the transitions within the voluntary sector and trends in volunteer engagement that have emerged over the past five years will help us map out where we want voluntary action to be…
A charity is a very organic entity. After a charity has been established, it is not uncommon to find that its focus, mission, objectives, and programs have gradually evolved. “Mission drift” often refers to the gradual diversion of a charity’s activities from its stated purposes. It does not refer to a deliberate and strategic change…
Tim Draimin is fond of saying that while necessity is the mother of innovation, austerity is the mother of necessity. So how is the grandchild, innovation, faring? Two years ago the Philanthropist published an article entitled On Not Letting a Crisis Go To Waste: An Innovation Agenda for Canada’s Community Sector (Brodhead, 2010). Its central…
Introduction Most of what influences our health comes from outside the formal health care treatment system (Raphael, 2009; Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). There is also general recognition that the well-being of communities depends on numerous actors– especially nonprofit organizations—operating in many environments (Health Council of Canada, 2010). Unfortunately, there are significant health inequities that persist…