Name of Center

The Centre for Voluntary Sector Studies (CVSS), Faculty of Business, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
www.ryerson.ca/cvss

Centre Director: Dr. Agnes Meinhard
Associate Director: Dr. Mary Foster
Principal Research Associate: Dr. Ida Berger

Contact info: Tel: 416-979-5000 ext. 6739; Fax: 416-979-5124 or email cvss@ryerson.ca

About the Center

The Centre for Voluntary Sector Studies (CVSS) was established in 1995 in order to enhance understanding of the voluntary sector in three significant ways: 1) by conducting research relevant not only to academics but also to policymakers and nonprofit managers; 2) by providing educational opportunities such as the Certificate Program in Interdisciplinary Studies in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management, as well as through specialized workshops and seminars; and 3) by extending consulting and research services to nonprofit organizations.

CVSS at Ryerson University and York University co-hosted ISTR’s 6th Annual International Conference: "Contesting Citizenship and Civil Society in a Divided World" in 2004.

Major Education Initiatives

Certificate Program: Ryerson University offers a certificate program in Interdisciplinary Studies in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management through the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. The program was designed by an interdisciplinary team of experts under the auspices of CVSS. It draws on the strengths and varied perspectives of three academic disciplines related to nonprofit management and leadership: Business Management, Public Administration and Social Work. All courses in this certificate are available online in addition to traditional classroom delivery. The Centre for Voluntary Sector Studies provides the program with academic support and knowledge to ensure that the material in all courses is comprehensive and up to date. Care is taken to ensure that the material is relevant to both paid employees and volunteers working in various organizational positions.
For more information on the Certificate Program, click here.

Major Research Projects

1. Employer-supported volunteerism (ESV) in Canadian financial institutions. Analysis of the prevalence, effectiveness, HR practices, and successful mechanisms of ESV programs in leading financial institutions.
2. School-based community service programs in Canada. A nation-wide survey of existing programs and best practices.
3. Client-volunteering in organizations serving individuals with psychiatric and intellectual disabilities. Focusing on the benefits of and barriers to volunteering among one of the most stigmatized groups in society.
4. Ethnicity, voluntary behaviour and social integration. Focusing on how is ethnicity related to volunteerism and civic participation and how can voluntary organizations bridge understanding across ethnic cultures, thereby increasing social integration.
5. Multiculturalism and successful integration. The role of ethno-cultural and immigrant organizations in the integration of newcomers into Canadian society.
6. Challenges and best practices of Human Resource (HR) management in small nonprofit organizations in Canada.
7. Collaboration among government, non-profit, and for-profit organizations: Addressing food insecurity in Brazil.

Past Research Projects (partial list):

1. Responses of women’s voluntary organizations to the changing social, political and economic environment. A Canada-wide survey of 645 organizations to understand the impact of policy changes on the sector.
2. Community Service Programs in Toronto’s Secondary Schools.A Toronto-based survey of high school students’ experiences in community service programs. (An extended national survey of such programs is currently underway).
3. Closing the Loop.Perspectives on the evolving relationship among the public, nonprofit and corporate sectors in Canada.
4. Commercial ventures in nonprofit organizations. Identifying key indicators that can assist nonprofit organizations embarking on entrepreneurial ventures to contribute to the determination of their probability of success, prior to the investment of organizational capital.
5. Island or Iceberg? Liability issues in nonprofit organizations. A nation-wide survey about the rising costs of liability and insurance issues faced by Canadian voluntary organizations.

To share research results with interested scholars, students and practitioners, CVSS has produced numerous working papers. They can be downloaded free of charge from CVSS website: www.ryerson.ca/cvss

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