Archive for January 2011

There’s an approaching grant deadline for Canadian Heritage.

Canada Interactive Fund (CIF) second call for proposals
The Department of Canadian Heritage is launching its second call for proposals under the Canada Interactive Fund (CIF) for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.The objective of the CIF is the support the creation of online Canadian cultural interactive content and applications developed by Official Language Minority Community (OLMC), Aboriginal, ethnocultural and other not-for-profit cultural organizations. Innovation is a key element of the CIF. The CIF will provide funding to projects that enhance interactive digital cultural content and applications, presented originally and creatively using the latest technologies and platforms. All projects must offer their audience an interactive and enriching experience, such as in Web 2.0, between the user and the content.

Who can apply? OLMC, Aboriginal, ethnocultural and other-not-for-profit cultural organizations; First Nations Tribal or Band Councils, Inuit organizations and Métis organizations; Canadian educational institutions; and Provincial/ territorial or municipal government institutions, e.g. museums, cultural associations.

The 2011-12 Canada Interactive Fund Guidelines are available on our Web site below. Please note that the application deadline is February 14, 2011. If you require additional information, please contact our office at: Telephone: 1-866-811-0055 (toll free) or 819-997-0055 (National Capital Region)

E-mail: ac.cg.hcpnull@cif-fic

Web: http://www.pch.gc.ca/fic-cif/index-eng.cfm

Also, Yannick found out about Google’s grant to do in-kind advertising for non-profit organisations.

Google Grants is a unique in-kind donation programme awarding free AdWords advertising to selected charitable organisations. We support organisations sharing our philosophy of community service to help the world in areas such as science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy and the arts.

Only organizations with charitable status can apply.

Seth Godin, author, entrepreneur and popular blogger has some interesting ideas about the business of philanthropy in this interview posted on The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Seth thinks that all businesses, especially charities, should act like artists by pouring passion and creativity into what they do.

Seth’s idea of an artist differs from the usual definition. In his new book Linchpin Seth writes:

“Art isn’t only a painting. Art is anything that’s creative, passionate, and personal. And great art resonates with the viewer, not only with the creator. What makes someone an artist? I don’t think it has anything to do with a paintbrush. There are painters who follow the numbers, or paint billboards, or work in a small village in China, painting reproductions. These folks, while swell people, aren’t artists. On the other hand, Charlie Chaplin was an artist, beyond a doubt. So is Jonathan Ive, who designed the iPod. You can be an artist who works with oil paint or marble, sure. But there are artists who worked with numbers, business models, and customer conversations. Art is about intent and communication, not substances.”

Take the time to watch the interview. What do you think? Does your organization follow Seth’s model?