Call for Nominations/Expressions of Interest: Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience Advisory Council - June 2024

Overview

The Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR) was launched in March 2022 with the vision of creating a digitally enabled nonprofit sector, where Canada’s diverse nonprofits use data and technology to advance their mission and multiply their impact. The work of CCNDR has been led by a small team of nonprofit sector leaders, including Imagine Canada, SETSI, NTEN, Tamarack Institute, and the Digital Governance Council (referred to in this document as the “co-founders”).

In April 2024, the co-founders announced a series of changes that will continue to evolve CCNDR’s functioning. These new initiatives, anchored in the collective’s commitments to governance excellence, accountability and transparency, include moving responsibility for the day-to-day operations to Imagine Canada, engaging more organizations in governance through a new CCNDR Advisory Council, expanding the roster of funded projects, and enhancing communications and knowledge mobilization activities.

To advance these changes, we are seeking the engagement of dedicated volunteers to join the new CCNDR Advisory Council.

If you are keenly interested in the digital future of charities and nonprofits, want to contribute to the evolution of CCNDR, and are passionate about the role of technology in advancing social good, then this is the place for you!

As a national organization representing a diverse sector, Imagine Canada has embarked on an anti-racism and anti-oppressive organizational change process and is committed to diversifying its Board, committees and councils. We particularly encourage applications from Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, people with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and those with varied areas of expertise and lived experiences.

CCNDR Advisory Council

Five (5) to seven (7) positions are available for interested individuals or organizations to join the co-founders and funder representatives on this new Advisory Council.

Advisory Council members will generally serve a three-year term. Terms will be staggered to ensure no more than one-third of Council members depart in any given year. The Advisory Council reports to Imagine Canada’s Board of Directors.

The Advisory Council is expected to meet four times a year through videoconference meetings. Given that this is a new entity, there may be additional meetings in the Fall of 2024 to allow the group to get established and create its own meeting cadence. The Advisory Council will bring subject matter expertise, networks, and skills and will play an important role in ensuring the relevance, credibility, and accuracy of CCNDR’s offerings. It will also play a key role in propelling forward CCNDR's activities, structure, and organizational design. The time commitment varies, but will likely average 2-4 hours per month. Council members will not be paid or reimbursed for their time, however they can be reimbursed for travel, accommodation, and other incidental expenses.

Priority Areas

CCNDR is continuing to evolve as it contributes to the digital future for the nation’s charities and nonprofits. As such, it is important that the Advisory Council reflect the breadth and depth of the sector. Priority areas include:

Subsectors – Individuals with current or previous experience with mission/cause areas not currently reflected by the co-founders or funder collectives;
Skills/Experience – Individuals with experience and expertise in digital resilience, digital transformation, AI, and/or cybersecurity; understanding of the evolving digital environment within which charities and nonprofits operate;
Geography – Anywhere. The Council will retain a uniquely Canadian perspective, but is open to contributors from around the world.
Demographic background – Individuals with a variety of experience due to gender, age, ability and ethnicity, or other factors;
Leadership - Demonstrated experience operating in a consensus decision-making process; and experience with change management.

Call for Nominations/Expressions of Interest

Nominations and expressions of interest should be submitted by July 12, 2024 to Danielle Ferguson-Shivrattan at dshivrattan@imaginecanada.ca.

Timelines

Mid-July 2024: Co-founders will review all applications and make recommendations to the Imagine Canada Board of Directors.
Early August 2024: Imagine Canada’s Board will vote on a shortlist of candidates.
Early August 2024: All applicants, both successful and unsuccessful, will be notified of the nominating decisions.
By mid-August 2024: Work to convene a September video conference will begin.