Centre for Social Innovation - Where Change Happens!

Last year, the Ontario Nonprofit Network  became aware of two acts that were restricting the activities of nonprofits in Ontario. We took up the cause and called for changes to the Charitable Gifts Act and the Charities Accounting Act. Delightedly, the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the Public Trustee heard us and took action. Bill 212, The Good Government Act, a government omnibus bill, has now received second reading.

CSI is proud to be home to the Ontario Nonprofit Network, that has once again, played a leadership roll in moving the cross-sectoral issues affecting the nonprofit sector, forward in government. This time, their focus is on the Harmonized Sales Tax and what is means to your organization. Check it out below and at wwww.ontariononprofitnetwork.ca.

A fantastic social entrepreneur and insightful thinker, David Lepage, shares his thoughts on how to create demand for social enterprise services. His work in the creation of the original Social Purchasing Portal is just a start to what David has done to build markets for social enterprise. As we prepare for the Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise, creating markets is one of the pillars on the wiki. We would love your thoughts.

Scaling Social Enterprise sector will require an increase in demand for their goods and services.

We are delighted to have Tim Draimin as a guest blogger as a part of our conversation about social enterprise leading up to the Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise. We would love your thoughts both in response to this posting and through the Social Enterprise Wiki.... But now, check out Tim's compelling case for Comunity Interest Companies in Canada.

By Tim Draimin

We are delighted to have Karim Harji of Social Capital Partners and co-creator of SocialFinance.ca as our guest blogger as a part of our Social Enterprise Series. Karim provides a primer on social finance in Canada. What kind of money do you want? Is financing your major barrier or are there are capacity issues facing your social enterprise? Read Karim's case for social financing tools.

Increase Access to Capital for Social Enterprises

I recently had the pleasure of co-facilitating a consultation with the nonprofit sector in Thunder Bay on behalf of the Ontario Nonprofit Network  (ONN).  The consultations are in part to inform the ongoing work of ONN and to inform the upcoming Canadian Conference on Social Enterprise (this consultation is happening through the Ontario Social Economy Roundtable).  The results were fascinating and the following provides a high level overview of what I heard and learned.  I have prioritized the fe

Great article about one of CSI's incubated projects, the ONN - Ontario Nonprofit Network, by Elisa Birnbaum.... is starts.... Last month, a group of committed folk came together for the second annual Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) forum. Representing the diverse interests, concerns, and hopes of the Ontario nonprofit sector, it was apparent the 100-or-so attendees were ready to get down to business. Titled Our Sector, Our Vision: Shaping a cross-sectoral strategy, the event was unprecedented and opportune.

Canada Revenue Agency Guidance on Fundraising by Canadian charities

CRA has just released its Guidance on Fundraising. You can view the document in English at: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/plcy/cps/cps-028-eng.html and in French at:

There is a tremendous opportunity to support enterprising nonprofits through the economic stimulus fund. These social enterprises can play a key role in revitalizing both our communities and our economy.  From CSI's perspective, Toronto cannot be forgotten in and is home to social enterprises that want to be part of fixing our future. CSI is actively engaged in collaboratives that would begin shovel-ready projects.  We would love to see the fed's pay attention to the multiple bottom line solutions that we can create on the ground in Toronto.

Tonya