Journal
Data is vital to community foundations, who mobilize and share community knowledge through programs like Vital Signs. Timely, accurate and local data helps focus public conversation, inspire civic engagement and guide activities and grant making in communities across Canada and around the world.
Vital Signs is launching in 2021 as we once again ‘take the pulse’ of our communities, following a year of drastic changes and increasingly urgent community needs. Join us for a discussion to explore how Vital Signs can be used to learn about how your community has changed. We will discuss the relevant themes and opportunities we can explore through Vital Signs; including the impacts of COVID, equity, impacts on community members most vulnerable, the SDG framework, and the priorities you share with us.
If you are new to the community foundation movement, or if you have never participated in Vital Signs and would like to learn more about it, join us for an interactive Vital Signs 101 session with Alison Sidney, CFC’s Vital Signs program manager.
Vital Conversations can collect insight and data from the community that can be used to guide future granting priorities, to guide conversations with new donors, or to raise awareness of your community foundation and its leadership. Vital Conversations are also an effective tool to bolster community engagement, as an opportunity to connect local organizations and resources and build new relationships.
Inspired by the value that Vital Conversations are bringing to communities across the country, Community Foundations of Canada’s national Vital Signs partner, Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. is providing $10,000 in both 2020 and 2021 to support Vital Conversations as part of their multi-year commitment to the Vital Signs program.
A Vital Conversation is a facilitated conversation with members of your community. Vital Conversations can collect insight and data from the community that can be used to guide future granting priorities, to guide conversations with new donors, or to raise awareness of your community foundation and its leadership. Key tips for organizing Vital Conversations, both in connection with the RBC Future Launch Community Challenge and for other community convening efforts.
Community foundations will have access to a digital platform to showcase their data online in early 2020. This webinar gives community foundations a sneak peak at how the platform will look and feel, and calls for input in its design. First, Kyle Wiebe, with the International Institute for Sustainable Development, provided a demonstration of the community indicator system currently in development. Next, Todd Barr, with the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, provided a demo of the foundation’s site on the platform.