Non-Profit & Charitable Network
The Non-Profit & Charitable Network is committed to acting as a facilitator and catalyst to help the network access resources for organizational capacity building. The content on this page highlights resources from our workshops. Our goal is to begin strengthening the Perth-Huron non-profit and charitable sector as a key priority of our community.
October Non-Profit & Charitable Meeting: Making Your Case For Support
Why is fundraising so hard? Fundraising successfully requires us to step outside of our own heads and speak in terms our donors will understand. Because this is so difficult, many of us default to messages based on how our organizations look and sound to us. It’s logical. It’s factual. But it does not motivate donors. If you want to write fundraising material that will create dedicated supporters, you won’t want to miss this workshop! Join the experts from V Formation and learn how to write a two-page, donor-focused letter for foundations, businesses, and individual supporters.
Speaker Bios: Neil Hannam, MA, CEO
Neil has over 25 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector. Before establishing V Formation in 2013, he spent the previous 12 years in healthcare fundraising and was the Executive Director of the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation. Neil then moved to the Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health as CEO and served on both hospitals’ senior management teams.
Neil completed a Master’s degree in 2013. His thesis focused on organizational transformation.
Neil is currently on the Board of Directors for the DBIA in the City of Peterborough and was a Rotarian for 20 years. Neil served on the board of the Kawartha Gymnastics Club for four years, completing his term as Board Chair in 2019. Neil was the founding Board Chair of the Peterborough Regional Farmers Network and the treasurer for COSA Canada, a restorative justice organization.
Karen L. Ormerod, MM, Principal Consultant
Karen has worked in the not-for-profit and charitable sector for over 40 years. Described as a visionary leader and organizational change agent, she earned a Master’s of Management Degree for National Voluntary Sector Leaders from McGill University in 2003 and her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation in 2015.
In addition to her work experience leading local, provincial and national charities, Karen remains committed to the sector in her role as a volunteer. She currently volunteers as Treasurer for a Sports Club and has held volunteer roles with the Durham Community Foundation, Girl Guides of Canada, Scouts Canada, Pickering Village Soccer Club, and the Migraine Association of Canada.
September Non-Profit & Charitable Network: State of the Sector report
In May 2022, the Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) and l’Assemblée de la Francophonie de l’Ontario (l’AFO) engaged nonprofit Community Researchers to conduct a bilingual survey of Ontario nonprofit organizations. The focus was on the experiences of nonprofits between April 2021 and March 2022, with regards to their financial health, staffing and volunteers, and general operations. This followed three previous surveys conducted by ONN and l’AFO in 2020 and 2021.
Nonprofits in Ontario are in the midst of confronting fallout from the pandemic – unprecedented demand for services, a domino effect of record breaking inflation, deepening financial precarity, and a relentless HR and volunteer crisis. It’s clear that current solutions are not working; the sector’s health is worsening. There is an urgent need for a coordinated sector response and long-term public policy solutions to not only mitigate challenges nonprofits are facing now, but also to prepare us for future emergencies. Without action, the erosion of Ontario’s critical social infrastructure will only speed up.
The survey was conducted between May 11 and June 3, 2022 and received approximately 1,500 responses. It was open to all nonprofits, charities, and grassroots groups in Ontario with a mission to serve a public benefit. This includes volunteer-run organizations, nonprofit social enterprises, and nonprofit cooperatives. In an effort to shine a light on the specific impacts on organizations and groups that are often overlooked and underrepresented in policymaking due to systemic racism and colonialism, this year respondents were asked to indicate if they identified as Black-lead, -serving, and/or -focused, and/or Indigenous-led,-informed, -benefitting, or -partnership (B3 and I4 for short). Subsequently, three per cent of respondents identified as B3 organizations and two per cent as I4 organizations. We will continue to build on this data, working with network partners.
Speaker Bio: Candice Zhang
May Non-Profit & Charitable Network Meeting: Volunteerism
Volunteers are at the core of what many non-profits do.
- How things have been going from a national perspective
- Specific challenges non-profits are facing, and
- Ideas for expanding on or adapting your current volunteer engagement strategies
VIEW A PDF OF THE PRESENTATION
Research & Data Consortium Webinar: The Future of Small Communities
Over the past three years, rural communities and small cities across Ontario have experienced an influx of change. While there is a tendency to focus on the causes of these disruptions, it is imperative that local opportunities for progress are recognized.
This panel discussion will present expert insights into critical considerations related to wealth, labour and housing. Rural communities and small cities have an unprecedented chance to thrive in a post-COVID Canada.
Moderator & Chair:
Leith Deacon · University of Guelph
Leith Deacon is an Associate Professor at the University of Guelph in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development and a Registered Professional Planner with the Canadian Institute of Planners. Leith’s primary research interest is focused on resilient communities and the intersectionality of critical social, economic, environmental and legislative considerations. Find out more
Mike Moffatt · Ivey Business School
Mike Moffatt is a Canadian Economist and Professor of International Trade. He will speak about his report, “Baby Needs a New Home” — narrowing in on Perth and Huron Counties. Find out More
Ellen Sinclair & Danielle Letang · Rural Ontario Institute
Ellen Sinclair is the Executive Director of the Rural Ontario Institute which provides leadership development training as well as research and analysis.
Danielle is the Rural Ontario Institute’s Rural Housing Information System Data Analyst.
Ellen and Danielle’s presentation will highlight workforce trends in rural communities across Ontario and identify considerations for a resilient workforce. Find out more
Eddie Matthews · Chamber of Commerce
Eddie Matthews is the General Manager of the Stratford and District Chamber of Commerce. He will discuss the 2022 Ontario Economic Report, focusing on the economic outlook for Perth- Huron.
April Non-Profit & Charitable Network Meeting: Conversation Cafe & Elections Canada
Let’s encourage civic engagement by increasing voter accessibility!
Meeting Resources
May 2022 ∙ Volunteerism ∙ Watch the Recording ∙ Volunteer Reengagement Presentation
May 2022 ∙ Research & Data Consortium webinar: Future of Small Communities ∙ Watch the Recording
April 2022 ∙ Conversation Cafe & Elections Canada ∙ View Presentation ∙ Accessible Voting Handout EN ∙ Visit the About Accessibility page of Elections Ontario
March 2022 ∙ Workforce, the Impact of Gender and Mental Health ∙ Watch the Recording
January 2022 ∙ Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace -Where to Start ∙ Watch the Recording
November 2021 ∙ Storytelling and the Use of Social Media ∙ Flyer ∙ Download the Presentation ∙ Watch the Recording
October 2021 ∙ Organizational Resiliency: Recovery Through Radical Accountability ∙ Flyer
September 2021 ∙ Ontario Business Registry (OBR) and Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) ∙ Flyer ∙ Download the Presentation
June 2021 ∙ Workplace Diversity & Inclusion ∙ Flyer
May 2021 ∙ Recruiting Volunteers During & After Covid-19 ∙ Flyer
Third Party Resources
- Four County Labour Market Planning Board website: planningboard.ca
- Canada Helps – Canada’s Charities Ready for Digital Transformation? Report: canadahelps.org
- Tech Soup – connects charities to donated and discounted technology, and offers learning resources and courses for non-profits: techsoup.ca
- Canadian Charity Law – free online course to inform about becoming a board member or director of a Canadian charity or non-profit: canadiancharitylaw.ca
- ONN Non-Profit Survey Results: theonn.ca
- Humanizing Our Differences video series – Immigration Partnership of Huron County: huroncounty.ca
- Cyber Seniors – provides free tech support and training for seniors using an intergenerational, volunteer model: cyberseniors.org
- HRintervals (Nonprofit Sector HR Toolkit): hrintervals.ca
- Changing Work: Valuing decent work in the not-for-profit sector: theonn.ca
- The University of Guelph: Vulnerable, Inequitable, and Precarious: Impacts of COVID-19 on Newcomers, Immigrants, And Migrant Workers in Rural Canada – Download the PDF HERE
- Statistics Canada new data on experiences of discrimination among the Black and Indigenous populations in Canada
- The Ontario Nonprofit Network election toolkit includes a detailed section on election rules for non-profits and advocacy, inspiring ways to engage communities, and a list of resources from the sector and beyond. Access the toolkit.
Tell us about your resource needs and suggestions
As you think about your organization’s needs, what additional information or resources might help you feel better equipped?
* Please note that we have made our best effort to vet and review all resources and links shared above but as we are linking to external sites United Way cannot ensure the ongoing quality and reliability of links.
