Resources & Links

Links

There are many excellent websites and reports that talk about the importance of volunteering and how it impacts society.

We've compiled a list of those sites and resources that we find most useful. Please contact us if there are other resources that you feel should be added to our lists.

Interested in Volunteering?

Need to find the Volunteer Centre in Your Community?

Alberta Government Site: Incorporating Societies

Although a society does not need to incorporate, there are several advantages to formally incorporating the society. One advantage is that a member of a society may not be held responsible for the debts of the society. A society may own property and may enter into contracts itself, as opposed to its individual members entering into the contract. The public's perception of a society is one having a more permanent status than an unincorporated group. An incorporated society may be eligible for government grants and to become a registered charity with Revenue Canada.

Board Development Program

The Board Development Program is a unique service that provides assistance to not-for-profit boards in the area of governance through workshops, consultations with board members, training of volunteer instructors, resource materials, and special presentations focusing on topical issues related to board governance in Alberta.

Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO)

The Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO) is a member-based organization working to strengthen Calgary's voluntary sector and provide leadership on matters affecting the sector as a whole. Calgary's voluntary sector includes about 2,500 registered charities and more than 4,000 non-profit and voluntary organizations.

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (formerly Revenue Canada)

Charities Directorate - The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) registers qualifying organizations as charities, gives technical advice on operating a charity, and handles audit and compliance activities. Registered charities are required to file an annual information return with the CRA, a portion of which is available to the public, and must meet certain requirements of the Income Tax Act concerning their expenditures and activities.

Charity Village®

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 Learning Network

The Community Learning Network (CLN) provides leadership, support and resources to 82 community Adult Learning Councils within Alberta.  These councils consist of representatives of the local community who work together to meet the goals of the organization.  The CLN builds member capacity and provides leadership to strengthen the community adult learning system.

The CLN is partnering with Volunteer Alberta and Literacy Alberta to bring videoconferencing (via the SuperNet) to communities around the province to enhance learning and volunteering.  This project is made possible through a grant from the province from the Access to the Future Innovation Fund.

Community Spirit Program

Purpose

To provide the Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture with recommendations on:

Consumer Tipsheet - Charitable Fundraising (Service Alberta)

Do you ask Albertans to donate to fund-raising campaigns? Do you solicit contributions that will be used for a charitable purpose? If you do, you must follow the rules that are set out in Alberta’s Charitable Fund-raising Act and regulation. These rules exist to protect potential donors from false and misleading requests for donations. Rules also exist to ensure the public has sufficient information to make an informed decision when making contributions. The law in Alberta requires many charitable organizations to be registered. This tipsheet tells you exactly who needs to be registered and how to apply. It also explains the rules and standards of practice that must be followed by anyone who asks for charitable donations – whether you are registered as a charitable organization or not.

Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO)

The Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations is a collaborative effort initiated by a variety of community-based not-for-profit organizations. The ECVO will strive to support the work of its members and partners, not to duplicate their efforts. That will be done through a range of initiatives: networking meetings, creating coalitions with other organizations, meetings with key-decision makers at various levels of government, information sessions with special speakers, and research and publications.

Energize Inc.

Energize Inc. is an international training, consulting and publishing firm specializing in volunteerism. Founded in 1977, Energize has assisted organizations of all types with their volunteer efforts--whether they are health and human service organizations, cultural arts groups, professional associations, or schools.

Executive Leadership in the Non-profit Sector program at MacEwan College

The Executive Leadership in the Non-profit Sector program is the new initiative offered by MacEwan College. This post-diploma certificate has been developed to assist you as a current or future leader of the non-profit sector to become more effective in providing leadership for your organization and community.

Volunteer Alberta launches govolunteer.ca in Alberta

govolunteer.ca is a one-stop-shop online portal where interested Albertans can easily search volunteer opportunities best suited to their skills and interests in communities across Alberta. Developed by Volunteer Vancouver, this sleek and user friendly site has been a major success in British Columbia.  We are now bringing it to Alberta! Volunteer Alberta has recently acquired provincial licensing rights to allow member organizations to access the services of this powerful online recruitment tool in a more affordable manner. Volunteer Alberta is committed to making it easier for people to volunteer and this initiative provides one affordable and hassle free solution for organizations to reach out to new volunteers in new ways.

HR Council for the Voluntary/Nonprofit Sector

The HR Council for the Voluntary/Non-profit Sector is a national, non-profit organization committed to the development and enhancement of a skilled workforce that is focused on building better communities and improving the lives of Canadians. With more than 1.2 million employees working in 68,000 organizations, the voluntary/non-profit sector represents a significant portion of Canada's paid workforce. By providing leadership, knowledge and opportunities for collaboration, the HR Council aims to contribute to the development of a sustainable, vibrant and confident voluntary/non-profit sector workforce.

Literacy Alberta

Literacy Alberta is a provincial not-for-profit charitable coalition of over 300 members working to raise literacy levels in Alberta. The goals of the organization are to create and disseminate knowledge about literacy, to influence stakeholders to ensure that literacy thrives in Alberta and to enhance the capacity of Albertans to increase literacy levels. Literacy Alberta is partnering with Volunteer Alberta and the Community Learning Network to bring the SuperNet to sites around the province through a grant from the Innovation Fund.

Imagine Canada

Imagine Canada is a membership-based organization that works with charities, governments and corporations to advance the role and interests of the charitable sector for the benefit of Canadian communities.

Institute for Nonprofit Studies

Mount Royal College launched Canada's only Institute for Nonprofit Studies in Fall 2000. The first of its kind, the Institute brings together education, training and applied research tailored to meet the needs of Canada's rapidly changing nonprofit sector.

International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE)

International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) is an international non-governmental organization that promotes, celebrates, and strengthens volunteerism worldwide. IAVE has currently approximately 800 individual and organizational members in about 100 countries.

Mentoring Canada

Mentoring Canada is a program of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, made possible only through the support of the Muttart Foundation. Its primary focus is to promote and support mentoring initiatives in communities across Canada.

OASSIS Employee Benefits for Nonprofits

OASSIS, a not-for-profit organization, has been providing Employee Benefit Plans across Canada since 1990. To access these benefits in Alberta, organizations must first be a member of Volunteer Alberta.

NonprofitsCan.ca

NonprofitsCan.ca was created with the generous support of the Kahanoff Foundation's Nonprofit Sector Research Initiative and is managed by the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy.

Resource Centre for Voluntary Organizations (RCVO)

The Resource Centre for Voluntary Organizations (RCVO) contributes to the vitality and capacity of Alberta's nonprofit community through knowledge, resources and learning opportunities. RCVO's website provides information about its free consultation and referral services, access to the RCVO library catalogue, a full archive of Connections newsletters, frequently asked questions and step-by-step guides, book sales, annotated links, and the latest news and events of interest to the voluntary sector.

Statistics Canada

Canada’s national statistical agency. Visit the Volunteer Alberta Resources section for more information on Statistics and Trends

Tap In Program

The Tap In Program provides educational and training opportunities for volunteers and employees of non-profit associations and societies. There is no fee to join the program. Once a person has registered they are provided with a personal log-in code and can then enrol for any course on the site.

The Canadian Training Institute

The Canadian Training Institute is a National Voluntary Organization which provides training, consulting assistance, promotes collaborative action and undertakes applied research projects in contributing to the effectiveness of services delivered by criminal justice and related human service agencies in Canada.

The Wild Rose Foundation

The Wild Rose Foundation is a lottery funded agency created by the Government of Alberta in November of 1984. Governed by a seven person Board of Directors. Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture is the Ministry responsible for the Wild Rose Foundation. The Wild Rose Foundation provides funding to nonprofit/voluntary sector organizations that provide valuable services to Albertans; fosters or promotes the use of volunteers, or assists those who volunteer or use the services of volunteers in Alberta; and, fosters or promotes charitable, philanthropic, humanitarian, or public spirited acts or  assists those who perform them.

United Nations Volunteers

United Nations Volunteers program is the UN organization that supports human development globally by promoting volunteerism and by mobilizing volunteers.

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.

Volunteer Today

Volunteer Today is an e-newsletter for those who manage the work of volunteers in nonprofit, government or corporate programs.