2010 News and Calendar / Actualités et Calendrier 2010
Non-Profit Performance Evaluation
Frequently Asked Questions
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
APPLICATION FORM QUESTIONS
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
1. Is our agency eligible for a Donner Award?
We have very few limitations on eligibility as we wish to encourage participation in our program. The agency applying to the Donner Awards must be a Canadian non-profit delivering services or programs (within Canada) in at least one of our seven service categories. Our category definitions are quite broad, again to encourage participation rather than discourage it.
2. Are there some general definitions for each category to help me select one?
Category definitions are fairly broad to foster inclusion rather than exclusion. When determining your agency or program's suitability for a category, focus on the type of service actually delivered to clients.
- Counselling Services/Crisis Intervention - agencies or programs that provide support and information through counselling (whether it is by telephone, in written form, one-on-one, or in a group) or to those in distress (it tends to be an immediate crisis response).
- Education - agencies or programs providing education (continuing, alternative, or traditional) and training.
- Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse - agencies or programs that promote wellness and assist people in dealing with drug and alcohol addictions.
- Provision of Basic Necessities - agencies or programs that provide at least one of three basic life necessities: food, clothing, and shelter.
- Services for Children - agencies or programs that provide care and development for children outside a classroom environment.
- Services for People with Disabilities - agencies or programs that provide goods and/or services for people with a disability.
- Services for Seniors - agencies or programs that provide goods and/or services for people who are senior citizens.
3. We offer services in more than one category. I am not sure which category to select for my organization.
You must choose only one category for each application. When determining your agency or program's suitability for a category, focus on the type of service that you deliver to your clients.
If your organization offers services in more than one of the listed categories, you may submit multiple applications, but remember that one application must be submitted for each program. Also, when you submit multiple applications you must select “Program” instead of “Agency” for question 8A and then answer all following questions based on your program (unless otherwise indicated).
4. Our agency offers more than one program. Can we submit multiple applications?
Agencies may submit multiple programs, as long as the programs are independent. Please remember that an application must be submitted for each program that you wish to submit.
The question to answer when determining whether to submit an integrated application (one application for the whole agency) or multiple applications (one application for one program) is whether the programs are independent or supportive of one another. For example, an agency that provides day care as part of its substance abuse program would submit one application for its substance abuse program and include its day care services. Alternatively, a similar agency may provide both programs (i.e., substance abuse and day care), but in an unrelated manner. This agency may submit two applications, one for each independent program offered.
5. What supporting documents do I need to submit to complete my application?
To complete your full submission to the 2009 Donner Awards, please ensure that you send us:
- One copy of the "most recent year's" annual report (or equivalent).
- One copy of the "most recent year's" financial statements.
You may email these reports to coordinator@donnerawards.org with your agency's full name in the subject line. These materials must be emailed no later than the deadline date.
Alternatively, forward these reports, post-marked no later than the deadline date, to:
Donner Canadian Foundation Awards
401-1491 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4T 1Z4
Make sure that your supporting documentation is for the same period that you are referencing as the “most recent year” throughout your application.
6. What do you mean by “Annual Report" (or equivalent)?
The equivalent document for an Annual Report would be the minutes of the meeting where the organization’s financial statements are ratified. This is usually the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Correspondence sent to donors or volunteers such as a newsletter may also be submitted. Make sure that any supporting documents you send are from the same year that you submit as the “most recent year” in your application.
7. Do I need to submit a signed copy of the application form if I have submitted an online application form?
You do not have to submit a signed copy of the form if you have completed an online application form. Pressing the “Submit” button online indicates that you agree to the legal terms that are listed immediately above the “Submit” button, thus you are not required to send us a signed copy of the application form.
APPLICATION FORM QUESTIONS
1. Question 2A (iii) and (iv): Program vs. Non-Program Spending
In our Guide for Applicants we define Total Program Spending as the amount spent on providing all agency programs including administrative expenses (such as rent and utilities) that are directly associated with delivering programs.
Total Non-Program Spending is defined in the Guide as the amount spent on items that are not generated as a result of the agency’s programs.
When determining whether an item is due to program spending or not, we ask that you consider whether the item is a direct result of offering your program(s). If the item is directly associated with the program(s), then it should be included as program spending. If not, then it should be non-program spending. Sometimes items may be both, whereby we ask that you estimate the proportion that is directly associated with the program(s) and calculate accordingly. An example of this may be the salary of the Executive Director who spends part of their time delivering programs and part of their time administering the organization.
A key question to ask yourself in determining whether an item is program spending or non-program spending is, “Is this item directly due to offering our program(s)?” If the answer is “Yes”, include it as program spending. If it is still not clear, ask, “If we closed this program, would we still incur this expenditure?” If the answer is “No”, then this would also suggest that the item is indeed due to program spending.
2. Question 3A: How Many Sources of Revenue does your Agency Maintain?
When answering question 3A, “How many sources of revenue does your agency maintain,” would I count fundraisers, such as bake sales or curling bonspiels, as one source or do I count each person that donates money at these fundraisers?
You should count each person that donates money at these fundraisers, when answering question 3A. In any case, the individual donating should be counted and not the event or venue in which the donations were made. In some cases it can be challenging to account for each individual or it can be difficult to not double count individuals. In these cases we recommend that you make the best estimate possible.
3. Question 7D: Percentage Turnover of your Agency’s Total Program Staff in the most Recent Year?
In question 7D, where it asks for the percentage turnover of your agency’s total program staff,” does this include the turnover rate of ALL of the agency’s programs or only the program that is being submitted?
Question 7D is referring to the turnover rate of total program staff for ALL of the agency’s programs.
4. Question 8A: Selecting “AGENCY”
If I select “AGENCY” in question 8A can I submit multiple applications for my agency?
If you are planning on submitting multiple applications, you must select “PROGRAM” in question 8A and list the program name in question 8B. You must submit only one program per application and the programs you submit must be fully independent from one another. If you select agency you can only submit one application to the Donner Awards Program because the answers you supply for your agency would include all your agency’s programs.
5. Question 8B: Name of the program being submitted for recognition
If I select “AGENCY” in question 8A, do I leave 8B blank?
If you select “AGENCY” in question 8A, please enter the name of your agency again in 8B. Throughout the remainder of the application form, please substitute “AGENCY” for the “PROGRAM” when answering questions.
Note: Further questions may be emailed to coordinator@donnerawards.org.
