Michael O'Toole’s Post

Are you a community focused organization? Stantec's Community Engagement Program could help you further your work. This global initiative provides funding for four key areas: - Arts: supporting visual and performing arts organizations, museums, art education programs, symphonies, and public media. -  Education: supporting youth in their pursuit of higher education through scholarships and educational programs - Environment: supporting programs that promote sustainable development and environmental responsibility -  Health and Wellness: supporting credible and recognized health charities, hospitals and centres Stantec is committed to investing a further $30 million into community organizations around the globe by 2030.  Applications are open and reviewed within a 90-day period. Learn more and read detailed eligibility criteria here: https://lnkd.in/ek2-JK5 Follow our #FundingHighlights to stay up to date on the latest opportunities. #ArtsGrants #YouthDevelopment #EnvironmentalSustainability #Health #CommunitySupport #GrantWriting #FundingStrategy #CommunitySupport #StrategicGrantseeking #MyGrantWriter

In 2023, grantmaking through Charityvest reached new heights. Our grantmaking grew considerably, funding greater impact, with organizations supported across all major charitable sectors. Here are some key grantmaking stats from 2023: ➪ $32M in grants (🔼60% from 2022) ➪ 6,855 unique organizations were supported (🔼17%) ➪ With a payout rate of 54% (Foundation Center method) ➪ A healthy payout rate is important to us. This payout rate of 54% shows that our donors get money out to their favorite charities. Taking a look at this considerable growth, we are thrilled to see our grantmaking expand. Here’s to enabling more people to give purposefully in 2024. 💙 You can read our full Annual Report, with more comprehensive stats below. https://lnkd.in/eNAmXtwf

Thank you Ubele Initiative for convening a community conversation on Monday about the racist and Islamophobic violence that has threatened the safety and dignity of our communities. The call for more and sustained investment in grassroots and community-based organisations echoes messages set out in https://lnkd.in/e94-skQ3   But it is a message that still needs to be more widely understood and responded to. Research shows that most funders see racial justice work as ‘too risky’; many shy away from supporting work on root causes; and there is very limited long-term commitment to substantive racial justice strategies or to grass-roots community organising: 'Funding Justice 2 analysed over £950 million worth of grants. It found that just 5.7% of UK foundation giving in 2021/22 went towards work to tackle injustice [and] 0.3% …. went towards building people power through organising. This is despite growing recognition that “community organising and local power building is simultaneously one of the best and one of the most under-resourced mechanisms we have to shift power to and secure just outcomes for (and with) communities”.’ (Baring, E. and Cracknell, J. (2023) Funding Justice: An analysis of social justice grantmaking in the UK, 2021-2022, Civic Power Fund.)   There is also a risk in these moments that too many individual funders turn to their grantees to ask what would be most helpful, at a time when they are responding to crisis. We encourage funders to tap into wider conversations: ➡ Migration Exchange (MEX) convened people identifying as having lived experience of the migration system and working in the migration field to share their thoughts and demands for change: https://lnkd.in/e86EMiBg   ➡ Fozia Irfan OBE's key points following a call attended by over 50 trusts & foundations: https://lnkd.in/e3qHNXZg

According to this column from The Washington Post, “The nation's 900 or so community foundations arguably deliver more tangible, meaningful results than their vastly larger counterparts. And they do so in a participatory, ear-to-the-ground fashion that can preserve, or build, the social capital and sense of common purpose that is in distressingly short supply in today's “bowling alone” America.” Community Foundations like GCF are a unique approach to philanthropy that centers close-knit community ties paired with regional expertise to amplify the power of giving. Learn how community foundations across the country are delivering meaningful results in their respective home regions. https://lnkd.in/eAJje_M8

We are SO grateful for our community partners. These partnerships are vital in the success of our mission at Crop & Kettle. Here are 5 ways that community partnerships make us better: 1.) Shared Knowledge - Community Partnerships grant us a richer depth of experience and wisdom with fresh perspectives. 2.) Shared Resources - They bridge the gaps of our independent organizations. 3.) Building Relationships - We love both connecting our partners and being connected by our partners to others through each of our respective networks! 4.) New Opportunities - When relationships are built, new opportunities develop through each other's networks. 5.) Greater Resilience - We're better together! These partnership provide us opportunities to support one another through change and challenges. We thank God for all of the incredible community partners we've had over the years. #CropAndKettle #cropandkettlepa #culinaryprogram #nonprofitorgs #pittsburghnonprofit #community #communitypartners #communitymatters #bettertogether #communitypartnerships #workforcedevelopment #socialdevelopment #culinarytraining #culinaryprograms #lifeskills #jobtraining #beavercountypa #newbrightonpa #aliquippapa #beaverpa #sewickeypa #easternohio #pghpa

🙏🌟 A big shoutout to BNPparibasfortis - & King Baudouin Foundation for orchestrating a day #impacttoghther filled with enlightening conversations among organizations that are making a daily positive impact on society. 🌍✨ Whether the discussions revolved around fundraising strategies or volunteer engagement, a universal insight emerged: a significant portion of our society thrives thanks to the relentless efforts of associations across various sectors - be it social, cultural, or aid services. This gathering reinforced the notion that our collective endeavors, regardless of the domain, are vital cogs in the societal machinery, driving change and fostering community spirit. Let's continue to support and elevate each other, amplifying the positive ripple effects throughout our communities. 🤝💡 #SocialImpact #CommunityEngagement #Fundraising #Volunteering #CulturalChange #AidServices #PositiveChange #NonProfitSector

On September 30th, communities accross Northeast Ontario will come together to reflect on the legacy of residential schools and the ongoing journey of reconciliation. At United Way, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Indigenous communities and amplifying Indigenous voices. As we lead up to this day, we wanted to share ways how you can get involved: 1. Educate Yourself: Explore resources like the TRC reports and Indigenous Foundations. 2. Attend Local Events: Join in on community gatherings to honor Indigenous culture. 3. Support Indigenous Organizations: Consider donating or volunteering. 4. Engage in Conversations: Talk about the importance of reconciliation within your networks. 5. Reflect on Your Role: Think about how you can contribute to healing and understanding. Let’s commit to listening, learning, and taking action. Together, we can build a more just and inclusive society. #TruthAndReconciliation #UnitedWay #IndigenousVoices #ReconciliationJourney 🌍💚

Change takes time. It also takes a village. A town. A region. A community. But where do you start to support positive change, especially now in the colder months as millions of people's urgent needs become more significant? ❄ It's a tough choice whether to support people's mental health, heating bills, bereavement support, food hubs, youth clubs, or financial aid. However, giving through one channel - a community foundation - can address all the immediate issues within your own community and help to support longer-term solutions, regardless of an area's size or location. How is this achieved? Accredited community foundations are dotted all over the UK. They work with grassroots groups and charitable networks to transform people's lives within the community, and they do this thanks to the fantastic commitment of donors. Here's an example of the work happening at Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, thanks to the commitment of people supporting their county: 📽 https://lnkd.in/gajKYJQq You can find your local community foundation here: 🗺 https://lnkd.in/dCjjWWS #TransformLives #Investment #CommunityFoundations #Philanthropy

My first post-election action is simple: Double down on supporting the organizations and institutions I know are critical to the issues I am most connected to. As a new Board Member of Shelterforce I know their independent reporting on housing justice issues will be essential to understanding how the next four years will impact front line affordable housing and community development organizations. Please consider making a donation to this vital work. Until Dec 31, your donation is doubled by #NewsMatch. Please give today: https://lnkd.in/erK76R36  I have relied on Shelterforce: 🌟 As an educator: Assigning well-reported articles to undergraduate students new to the field who want to understand the housing and community development 🌟As a practitioner: Situating my local work within a broader national context and making connections to other places + organizations 🌟 As a grantmaker: Understanding the landscape of critical housing issues and who is doing innovative, solutions focused work

Younger people & ethnic minority groups most likely to volunteer this year, report finds: Young people and those from ethnic minority communities are the most likely to volunteer with their local communities this year, according to a new report from the National Lottery Community Fund.