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Community Foundations in Canada
Canadian links - philanthropic
Canadian Links - voluntary sector, etc.
US Links
International Links
Other resources

Canadian links - philanthropic
  • ALTRUVEST
    ALTRUVEST Charitable Services is a registered charity founded in 1994 by a group of Canadian business leaders. ALTRUVEST builds charitable capacity and donor confidence by offering performance improvement solutions to charities at little or no cost.

  • BMO Financial Group
    BMO Financial Group and Community Foundations of Canada have created a unique alliance to help you make the most of your charitable giving.
    Supporting Your Community is the first Canadian program of its kind, bringing together the investment expertise of BMO Financial Group and the local charitable knowledge of community foundations.

  • Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP)
    The purpose of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners is to support philanthropy by fostering the development and growth of gift planning. The Association creates awareness, provides education and is an advocate of charitable giving.

  • Canadian Environmental Grantmakers' Network (CEGN)
    The Canadian Environmental Grantmakers' Network (CEGN) is a membership group of private, community, public and corporate foundations, and government and corporate funding programs that give grants in support of the Canadian environment.

  • GrantBenefit.org
    The purpose of GrantBenefit is to provide guidance, ideas, resources and practical tools to help community foundations and other funders begin to assess their benefit to the community. In an increasingly complex philanthropic environment, the ability to demonstrate that your foundation is achieving results is critical.

  • IMAGINE
    Imagine is Canada's national program to promote public and corporate giving, volunteering and support the community.

  • Imagine Canada
    Launched in January 2005, Imagine Canada is the new organization formed by the merger of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy and the Coalition of National Voluntary Organizations.

  • Philanthropic Foundations Canada
    Philanthropic Foundations Canada is a member association of private grantmaking foundations created to be a catalyst in building a community of foundations, and encouraging a climate of generosity, collaboration, and innovation.

  • The Ontario Trillium Foundation
    The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, receives annually $100 million of government funding generated through Ontario's charity casino initiative.

  • United Way of Canada - Centraide Canada
    United Way of Canada - Centraide Canada (UWC-CC) is a national organization created in 1939 and supported by 126 member United Ways and Centraides (UWs-Cs) in Canada. It acts as a voice for the members within the Canadian voluntary sector and international level.

  • Wild Rose Foundation
    A lottery funded agency created by the Government of Alberta in November of 1984. The Wild Rose Foundation provides funding to volunteer, non-profit organizations in Alberta, and fosters and promotes the use of volunteers.

  • Youth in Philanthropy Canada
    YIP is a growing movement that engages young people in building philanthropy in communities across Canada by connecting them with community foundations and Youth Advisory Councils (YACs).

Canadian Links - voluntary sector, etc.
  • Caledon Institute of Social Policy
    Established in 1992, the Caledon Institute of Social Policy is a private, non-profit organization with charitable status. The Caledon Institute of Social Policy does rigorous, high-quality research and analysis; seeks to inform and influence public opinion and to foster public discussion on poverty and social policy; and develops and promotes concrete, practicable proposals for the reform of social programs at all levels of government and of social benefits provided by employers and the voluntary sector.

  • Canadian Centre for Social Entrepreneurship
    The CCSE’s website is an information clearinghouse on the latest developments in social entrepreneurship in Canada and internationally.

  • Canadian Centre for Philanthropy - John Hodgson Library
    The library seeks to serve the interests of the nonprofit and charitable sector in Canada by collecting, organizing, analyzing, and disseminating information on philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, and voluntary action.

  • Canadian Council on Social Development
    CCSD is a non-profit social policy and research organization focusing on issues such as poverty, social inclusion, disability, cultural diversity, child well-being, employment and housing.

  • Canadian FundRaiser

  • Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN)
    "Our mission is to create knowledge and lead public debate on social and economic issues important to the well-being of Canadians. Our goal is to help make Canada a more just, prosperous and caring society."

  • Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development (CVSRD)
    The goal of the CVSRD is to enhance research for and about the voluntary sector in Canada.

  • Charity Village
    Canada's supersite for the nonprofit sector - 3,000 pages of news, jobs, information and resources for executives, staffers, donors, and volunteers.

  • Community Experience Initiative (CEI)
    CEI is a summer internship program that develops community-minded business leaders of tomorrow and strengthens the capacity of Canada's community sector.

  • Developing Human Resources in the Voluntary Sector (HRVS)
    "The Developing Human Resources in the Voluntary Sector (HRVS) project, through a set of key deliverables, aims to help voluntary sector organizations attract, support and keep skilled and committed employees. We will provide practical HR tools and information — available on this site."

  • GivingandVolunteering.ca
    GivingandVolunteering.ca was developed by the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy in concert with Volunteer Canada. It is designed to provide you with the statistics and resources developed from the 1997 and 2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (NSGVP).

  • Government of Canada

  • IMPACS
    IMPACS (Insitute for Media, Policy and Civil Society) is a young and dynamic registered Canadian charity, filling an important niche in civil society. It works to strengthen communications between not-for-profit organizations, government and the media, both in Canada and internationally.

  • In Kind Canada
    Since 1993, In Kind Canada has distributed over $100 million of surplus business furniture, equipment and product inventory to charitable organizations across the country.

  • Institute on Governance - Board governance tools
    Linked to the overall Institute of Governance site, this site contains help with the theory and practice of governance issues.

  • Institute on Governance
    The Institute On Governance (IOG) is a non-profit organization with charitable status founded in 1990 to promote effective governance.

  • International Development Research Centre
    IDRC is a Canadian public corporation that works in close collaboration with researchers from the developing world in their search for the means to build healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies.

  • Knowledge Development Centre
    The Knowledge Development Centre provides grants to support research on volunteering and volunteerism. It also promotes the transfer of knowledge to voluntary organizations by disseminating information resources and products such as fact sheets, short reports, and other publications.

  • Non-Profit & Voluntary Sector Network
    Promoting knowledge sharing about cross-cutting issues related to Canada's voluntary sector.

  • NonprofitsCan.ca
    NonprofitsCan.ca is Canada's leading source of information on the nonprofit and voluntary sector.

  • Public Policy Forum
    The Public Policy Forum's mission is to strive for excellence in government – to serve as a neutral, independent forum for open dialogue on public policy, and to encourage reform in public sector management.

  • Tamarack: An Institute for Community Engagement
    Tamarack is a charitable organization dedicated to helping Canadian communities take ownership of local issues by making use of proven strategies for community engagement. Community Engagement is commonly defined as citizens from different sectors of a community joining together taking leadership, to address issues that affect them all.

  • Voluntary Sector Evaluation Research Project (VSERP)
    The Voluntary Sector Evaluation Research Project (VSERP) is a multi-year initiative to improve the capacity of voluntary organizations to evaluate their work and communicate their effectiveness to their funders, stakeholders and the public.

  • Voluntary Sector Human Resources Council Feasibility Study
    Ensuring a strong workforce in the voluntary sector requires attention over the long term and sustainable ways for organizations to focus on their HR needs and work together to meet them. To this end, Community Foundations of Canada and United Way of Canada - Centraide Canada are jointly exploring the feasibility of a national Human Resource Council for the Voluntary Sector. An HR Council is a sector-run body that brings stakeholders together to address HR challenges related to paid employees in that sector. This project is funded by the Government of Canada.

  • Volunteer Canada
    Volunteer Canada is the national voice for volunteerism in Canada. Since 1977, Volunteer Canada has been committed to supporting volunteerism and civic participation through ongoing programs and special projects.

  • Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI)
    The Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI) is a unique undertaking between the Government of Canada and the voluntary sector to enhance their relationship and strengthen the sector's capacity. Over the five year initiative they are working together to address issues including funding practices, policy dialogue, technology, volunteerism and research about the sector.

US Links
  • Association of Small Foundations
    The Association of Small Foundations (ASF) was formed to assist foundations in the US with no or very few staff.

  • BoardSource
    BoardSource, formerly the National Center for Nonprofit Boards, is the premier resource for practical information, tools and best practices, training, and leadership development for board members of nonprofit organizations worldwide. Through our highly acclaimed programs and services, BoardSource enables organizations to fulfill their missions by helping build strong and effective nonprofit boards.

  • The Center for Civil Society Studies
    The Center for Civil Society Studies of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies seeks to encourage the development and effective operation of nonprofit, philanthropic, or "civil society" organizations. The Center carries out its work through a combination of research, training, and information-sharing both in the United States and throughout the world.

  • Center for Effective Philanthropy, Inc.
    The mission of the US Center for Effective Philanthropy is to provide executives and trustees the management and governance tools needed to define, assess, and improve overall foundation performance.

  • CF Tech
    A resource center for community foundation staff who manage their organization’s technology.

  • Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth
    The Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth (CCFY) is a network of over 200 community foundations in communities across the United States dedicated to securing improved conditions for children, youth and families.

  • Community Foundations Institute
    Developed under a planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the US-based Community Foundations Institute (CFI) is the result of efforts by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and the Professional Development Action Team of the Council on Foundations Community Foundation Leadership Team to develop a comprehensive resource for research, training, and education in the community foundation field.

  • Council on Foundations
    US nonprofit membership organization for grantmaking foundations and corporations (including community foundations).

  • Environmental Grantmakers Association
    The EGA is a voluntary association of US foundations and giving programs concerned with the protection of the natural environment.

  • The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
    The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers is a national network of local leaders and organizations across the United States that support effective charitable giving. The Forum’s network focuses on the philanthropy of the city, state, and multi-state areas of the US and encompasses 28 regional associations of grantmakers (known as "RAGs").

  • The Foundation Center
    The Foundation Center’s mission is to support and improve institutional philanthropy by promoting public understanding of the field and helping grantseekers succeed. Based in the United States, The Foundation Center is the US’s leading authority and resource on institutional philanthropy.

  • GrantCraft
    An initiative of The Ford Foundation, GrantCraft is a source of practical wisdom from grant makers on the tools and techniques of effective grant making. GrantCraft offers guides, videos, and case studies that present the practitioner's view of philanthropy.

  • Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)
    Grantmakers for Effective Organizations is dedicated to promoting learning and encouraging dialogue among funders committed to building strong and effective nonprofit organizations. GEO’s mission is to advance and expand organizational effectiveness practices in and by the philanthropy community.

  • National Center for Family Philanthropy
    The mission of the National Center for Family Philanthropy is to promote philanthropic values, vision, and excellence across generations of donors and donor families.

  • National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
    The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy is an organization in the United States dedicated to promoting philanthropy that addresses the unmet needs of disadvantaged populations. NCRP conducts action research, provides technical assistance to nonprofits, and engages in policy advocacy. NCRP's reform activism targets foundations, corporations, individual donors, and workplace fund-raising.

  • National Network of Grantmakers
    The US National Network of Grantmakers (NNG) is an organization of individuals involved in funding social and economic justice. NNG is committed to the goal of increasing resources, financial and otherwise, to organizations working for social change.

  • The Neighbourhood Funders Group
    The Neighborhood Funders Group is a national network of grantmakers in the US working to expand support for organizations that help low-income people improve their communities. One of the Group’s publications, the ‘Community Organizing Toolbox: A Funder's Guide to Community Organizing’ has been particularly recommended as a useful resource.

  • The Philanthropic Initiative
    The Philanthropic Initiative, Inc.
    is a non-profit philanthropic consulting firm founded in 1989 to help donors increase the impact of their philanthropy.

  • The Synergos Institute
    The Synergos Institute is a nonprofit organization based in New York that works with local partners around the world to fight poverty.

  • The Urban Institute
    The Urban Institute is a nonprofit policy research organization established in Washington, D.C., in 1968.

  • Youth Grantmakers
    Youthgrantmakers.org is a communication of the Michigan Community Foundation Youth Project (MCFYP) of the Council of Michigan Foundations, with funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.

International Links
  • The Aspen Institute
    Founded in 1950, The Aspen Institute is a global forum for leveraging the power of leaders to improve the human condition. Through its seminar and policy programs, the Institute fosters enlightened, morally responsible leadership and convenes leaders and policy makers to address the foremost challenges of the new century. The Institute is based in the US but operates internationally.

  • Changemakers
    Changemakers is an initiative of "Ashoka - Innovators for the Public" that focuses on the rapidly growing world of social entrepreneurship. Its mission is to provide inspiration, resources, and opportunities for those interested in social change throughout the world.

  • World Alliance for Citizen Participation (CIVICUS)
    An international alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world.

  • The Community Leadership Association
    The Community Leadership Association is a non-profit organization, founded in 1979, dedicated to nurturing leadership in communities throughout the United States and internationally.

  • Institute for the Development of Social Investment (IDIS)
    One of the many organizations working around the world to support the development of community foundations and other community philanthropy organizations, IDIS is based in Brazil.

  • European Foundation Centre (EFC)
    Established in 1989 by seven of Europe's leading foundations, the EFC today serves a core membership of more than 200 members, associates and subscribers; 350 community philanthropy initiatives; as well as a further 50,000 organisations linked through a network of 58 information and support centres worldwide. The EFC hosts WINGS (Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support), a global network of some 100 grantmaker associations and support organisations.

    As an independent international association, the European Foundation Centre (EFC) is the gathering point for independent funders active in and with Europe. Foundations and corporate citizens from all over Europe and the world are members and partners of the EFC, which promotes and underpins their work.

  • International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR)
    ISTR is a major international association promoting research and education in the fields of philanthropy, civil society and the nonprofit sector.

  • Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy
    The Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy is an independent, non-profit, support organisation. It was established in August 2001 to lead philanthropy promotion in Pakistan. The Centre promotes voluntary giving and serving in Pakistan. It believes that bringing together the business sector, citizen sector and the government in this sentiment can make a powerful difference in addressing the challenges of poverty.

  • Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN)
    The Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN) was created in 1999 to promote the development of community foundations on both sides of the Atlantic, and particularly in parts of Europe and North America where the community foundation concept was just beginning to take root. It is a learning community comprised of four dozen community foundations and support organizations from close to a dozen countries. The Network has produced a series of free resources targeted to emerging and developing community foundations, available on the Network’s website.

  • Worldwide INitiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS)
    Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS) is a global network of around 100 membership associations and support organizations serving grantmakers, which have joined together to create opportunities to learn from and support one another; develop modes of communication and collaboration; and
    contribute to the strengthening of philanthropy worldwide.

  • Worldwide INitiatives for Grantmaker Support - Community Foundations (WINGS-CF)
    Part of the larger WINGS network, WINGS-CF includes organizations supporting the development and work of community foundations in different areas around the world.

Other resources
  • Alliance magazine
    Alliance is an unique quarterly magazine on the funding of civil society throughout the world.

  • Canadian FundRaiser
    Since 1991, the Canadian FundRaiser™ newsletter has been updating nonprofit managers twice-monthly on news, trends, tips and analysis of developments in the fields of fundraising and nonprofit management. Visit the site to subscribe to the print newsletter or the shorter (free) e-news.

  • The Chronicle of Philanthropy
    A newspaper of the non-profit world, based in the United States.

  • Community Foundation Global Status Report
    Updated annually, this report is normally available in English and Spanish from the WINGS Web site.

  • Compendium of Resource Materials for Community Foundations
    This on-line resource is housed on the WINGS-CF Web site.

  • Front & Centre
    Front & Centre is Canada’s bimonthly national newspaper covering the charitable sector. It provides the sector’s news, delves into key sector issues, and highlights trends in fundraising and management techniques. Find subscription information on this Web page.

  • Nonprofit Good Practice Guide
    The Guide captures and organizes good practices to assist nonprofits and foundations in improving their efficiency and effectiveness. The free online Guide provides nearly 7,000 tips and resources organized within ten topic areas including Accountability and Evaluation, Advocacy, Communications and Marketing, Foundations and Grantmaking, Fundraising and Financial Sustainability, Governance, Management and Leadership, Staff Development and Organizational Capacity, Technology, and Volunteer Management.

  • Nonprofit Quarterly
    The Nonprofit Quarterly is a unique print magazine that leaders count on to provide them with values based management information and proven practices. Each issue is themed.

  • Registered Charities Newsletter (Canada Revenue Agency)

  • Sowing the Seeds of Local Philanthropy: Two Decades in the Field of Community Foundations
    A report on the Flint, Michigan-based Charles Stewart Mott Foundation's experiences and lessons learned after 20 years in the community foundation field.

  • Stanford Social Innovation Review
    This US journal presents "the best ideas in nonprofit management, philanthropy and corporate citizenship".

  • TechSoup
    The technology Web site for nonprofits. At TechSoup, nonprofits can receive donated and discounted technology products for a small administrative fee. TechSoup also provides a wealth of free technology information: Articles & News, Tools & Resources, Interactive Community, and a weekly e-newsletter.