Name of Center
The Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development (CVSRD)
A joint initiative of Carleton University and the University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.cvsrd.org
About the Center
Dr. Maureen Molot
Director, CVSRD
Paula Speevak Sladowski
Managing Director, CVSRD
Dr. Susan Phillips
Lead Researcher, CVSRD
Established in 1999 as a joint initiative of Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, in collaboration with the voluntary sector, The Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development (CVSRD) has emerged as a leading centre of expertise, a convener of multi-sector initiatives, and an animator of networks across the country. CVSRD manages a diverse suite of programs and services and facilitates innovative responses to emerging trends, legislative issues, and the evolving landscape in the Canadian voluntary sector, enabling non-profit organizations, charities, and citizen groups to better serve Canadians and contribute to community vitality. (For more information on our programs, services, and networks please visit www.cvsrd.org)
Major Education Initiatives
- The Community of Inquiry has engaged close to 400 academic researchers, practitioners, community leaders, private consultants, and members of the public service with an interest in sharing knowledge about the voluntary sector. (www.nvsn.org)
- Trilateral Civil Society Education Consortium involving universities in Canada, United States, and Mexico, supporting the exchange of students in public administration, non-profit management, and humanities with a focus on civil society. (http://www.cvsrd.org/eng/education/index.html / www.studycivilsociety.org)
- The Canadian Federation of Voluntary Sector Networks brings together 13 local, regional, territorial, and provincial networks aimed at building connection, cohesion, and capacity in the voluntary sector within Canada. Serving as the secretariat for the Federation, CVSRD has developed pan-Canadian links to grass-roots organizations and serves as a conduit for sharing of information, best practices, and resources. (http://www.cvsrd.org/eng/federation/index.html)
Major Research Projects
- Board-Governance Studyis a pan-Canadian study, currently underway, examining of practices, trends, and challenges among Canadian charities and non-profit organizations. Using a variety of research methodologies, including a web-survey, focus groups, community round tables, a literature review, and key informant interviews, a comprehensive report and workshop series is expected to be launched in the spring of 2006.
- The Voluntary Sector Evaluation Research Project promotes and supports performance assessment in voluntary organizations by making resources available through a dedicated website, as well as supporting community based research networks, and organizing public seminars at no cost to participants. In partnership with Imagine Canada, VSERP has produced some groundbreaking research on evaluation practices. (www.vserp.ca)
- The Policy Internships and Fellowships Program (PIAF) is an innovative Program that promotes policy knowledge, experience and skills in the federal government and the voluntary sector. PIAF gives the opportunity for policy staff to work in the other sector for a period up to 10 months. This Program was initiated by the Joint Capacity Table of the Voluntary Sector Initiative and is carried out in partnership with the Centre for Public Sector Studies at the University of Victoria. We have placed 14 senior managers from the voluntary and public sector to work and experience the other sector. For further information please visit (www.cvsrd.org/eng/piaf/index.html)