Refocusing government's community investments

Over the past year, the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit visited 50 communities - big and small - across the province.

He took a close look at the impact government's community investment programs are making, from the perspective of the volunteers and organizations involved. Two messages came out loud and clear:

  1. These programs provide vital supports to Alberta communities.
  2. There was duplication between some of government's grant programs, causing unnecessary administrative work for nonprofit and voluntary organizations ' for example, organizations receiving Wild Rose Foundation grants also meet criteria for Community Initiatives Program.

During the upcoming year, government will conduct a review of community investment programs to make them more effective and efficient - including grant processes and their associated boards, agencies and commissions.

This review will help improve our services to Albertans, while also ensuring our grant programs continue to be sustainable, don't create unnecessary work for the sector, and that government is managing public funds effectively.

As a first step, government is merging the criteria for the Wild Rose Foundation's Quarterly Grants Program with the Community Initiatives Program (CIP) and the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP). These programs serve many of the same community needs. In addition to the grant maximum being higher for both CIP and CFEP, Culture and Community Spirit will also be looking at other ways to improve process to benefit the voluntary sector; including changing the criteria of both programs to ensure small, community-based projects are eligible to receive grants on a non-matching basis. Application processes will also be streamlined to make it is easier for organizations to apply.

To reaffirm government's commitment to building community volunteer capacity, the annual Vitalize conference and Board Development Program, among others, will continue as department initiatives. More details on funding international development programs and projects will be shared shortly.

Government is continuing to build stronger communities through $166 million in support of programs that benefit the non-profit and voluntary sector. These investments include the Community Facility Enhancement Program, the Community Initiatives Program, and the Community Spirit Donation Grant Program; as well as an estimated $80 million through the Community Spirit Program's Enhanced Charitable Tax Credit.

The Minister will also be regularly meeting with members of the nonprofit and voluntary sector to ensure there is a direct, ongoing line of communication between these organizations and government. He has also committed to working with the Ministers responsible for the Alberta Non-profit and Voluntary Sector Initiative (ANVSI) to discuss opportunities and challenges facing the sector and to examine programs and processes to ensure coordinated support.

Budget 2009-12

Updated: April 24, 2009