Applied research

The INS draws on revenues from its endowment to support applied research activities relevant to Canada’s nonprofit sector. To focus these activities, the INS conducts and supports research within three broad streams:

Research priorities

  • Governance within the nonprofit and social economy sector
  • Sustainability of the nonprofit sector/ nonprofit organizations
  • Policy modelling, analysis, design, critique

2011 - 2012 Applied Research Funding Program

Canada’s nonprofit sector includes approximately 161,000 organizations, two million employees and with annual revenues of $121 billion. Despite its size and economic significance it is one of the least researched aspects of the Canadian economy and society.

In part, the INS was established to address the lack of research into the nonprofit sector. The INS has a mandate to engage in and support research activities addressing issues within Canada’s nonprofit sector.

To do this, the INS invites applied research proposals from Mount Royal and other post-secondary institutions across the Canada.

The Institute for Nonprofit Studies is looking to provide funding support to approximately four research projects annually. Any one application is eligible for a maximum of $7,500 in funding.

Funding has been made available through the endowment held by the INS.

 

Applied Research Application Information

Notes: 

Only university-based researchers/ scholars are eligible to receive applied research funds. 

Only full-time graduate students are eligible to receive the ANSER Graduate Student Award.

The next deadline for a full applied research application application is  May 14, 2012.  
A one-page Letter of Intent must be received on or before April 13, 2012. 

Queries regarding the applied research application should be addressed directly to Peter Elson, Senior Research Associate (pelson@mtroyal.ca).

Application guidelines and the format for a Letter of Intent:

The application form is available upon request and to all those who submit an Letter of Intent

2012 Letter of Intent

 

Applied Research Working Papers

Here are a series of Working papers based on research supported by the Institute for Nonprofit Studies


Working Paper #1 Building a Sustainable Culture in the Social Economy (2010) by Travis Gliedt and Paul Parker, University of Waterloo.

Working Paper #2 Organizational Representation of Visible Minorities (2010) by Agnes Meinhard and Farhat Faridi, Ryerson University.

Working Paper #3 There Is No Accounting for Landscape – Capturing the Demographics of Canadian Registered Charities (2000 – 2008) (2011) by Cliff Spyker, Mount Royal University.

Working Paper #4 Social Enterprise Legal Structure: Options and Prospects for a 'Made in Canada' Solution (2011) by Sean Markey, Simon Fraser University, Stacy Corriveau, BC Centre for Social Enterprise, Michael Cody, University of British Columbia, Brendan Bonfield, Simon Fraser University.

Working Paper #5 NonProfit Co-operatives: An alternative to state or the profit-making private sector for the delivery of public services (2011) by Larry Haiven and Judy Haiven, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Working Paper #6 Identifying Determinants of Implementation Success in a Program Adoption-based Sustainability Strategy: A case study of a small Alberta-based international development organization (2011) by Sid Frankel and Harvy Frankel, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Funded Applied Research Projects

The INS is supporting the following applied research projects: (click on the blue links for more information)

  • 2011 - 2012 Applied Research Program Fund Recipients
    • Dominique Diouf, Laval University, and Francois Brouard, Carleton University are exploring a process to measure and report the social value of social enterprises in the Ottawa-Gatineau Region.
       
  • 2010 - 2011 Applied Research Program Fund recipients
    • Guy Bellemare,  Université du Québec en Outaouais, is the lead investigator in a project that includes five researchers and three universities that will address the role that intermediary day care coalitions play in policy formulation.
    • Olaf Weber, University of Waterloo, will investigate the the contribution of social finance to the sustainability of nonprofit organizations and social enterprises. Social finance institutions will include credit unions and impact investors.
    •  Francois Brouard, Leighann Neilson and Anahit Armenakyan, Carleton University (sustainability) A comprehensive analysis of ten years of fundraising activities by small charities. The results will assist small charities to critically evaluate and possibly reorient their fundraising activities. 
    • Sean Markey, Simon Fraser University and Stacey Corriveau, BC Centre for Social enterprise (governance) An examination of a "made in Canada" solution to the development of a distinct legal structure for social enterprises. This timely research will inform an important debate concerning the nature of social enterprise and its current legal constraints.
       
  • 2009-2010 Applied Research Program Fund recipients
  • 2009 -2010 Graduate Student Research Awards
    • Suzanne Cook, PhD Candidate (OISE/ University of Toronto) is being funded to continue her work to research the link between work skills and volunteering choices by new retirees;
    • Gina Grosenick, PhD Candidate (Communications/ Carleton University) is being supported to examine the strategic communication practices of nonprofit organizations who advocate on issues of poverty, affordable housing, and homelessness.
  • Straw, Sticks, Bricks: What is the Voluntary Sector really made of? (2009) Peter Elson, PhD Principal Investigator. This research is a longitudinal analysis of voluntary sector/ government relations in four provinces across Canada: British Columbia, Alberta, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
  • A Comparison of Policy Frameworks for Social Enterprises and Nonprofits in Ontario and Quebec.(2009) Peter Elson, PhD Principal Investigator, and research assistants Robert Jones (Mount  Royal) and Andres Gouldsborough (Concordia). This research compares government policies supportive of social enterprises and nonprofits. Also funded by SSHRC through the Social Economy Centre, University of Toronto.
  • Governance in Arts and Culture Organizations. (2008) Anita Angelini, Principal Investigator, and Keith Seel, PhD. The research examines the uniqueness of governance within arts-based nonprofits.
  • Governance in Sports and Recreation Organizations. (2008) Anita Angelini, Principal Investigator, and Keith Seel, PhD. The research examines the uniqueness of governance within faith-based nonprofits.
  • Profile of Small and Rural Charities in Canada. (2008) Keith Seel, PhD and Cliff Spyker, MBA. This research uses the Canada Revenue Data Base to assess the financial profile of both small charities (under $100,000 in annual revenues) and rural charities.
  • Organizational Precursors that Lead to Conditions of Cooperation, Collaboration or Conflict Between Nonprofit and Private Organizations. (2008) Dr. Paul Varella Principal Investigator. This research explores the drivers of the relationship between private companies and NPOs; specifically, it is an attempt to understand the conditions under which such relationships lead to cooperation, collaboration or conflict.
  • Governance in Faith-based Organizations. (2007) Anita Angelini, Principal Investigator, and Keith Seel, PhD. The research examines the uniqueness of governance within faith-based nonprofits.
  • Nonprofit Education Portal. (2007) Naheed Nenshi, Principal Investigator. This research examines the courses and curriculum content of nonprofit management programs across Canada.
  • Disability Policy in Alberta: An Initial Exploration of Transition Implications. (2007) Dawne Clarke, PhD, Principal Investigator, Mitchell Clark, PhD, and Keith Seel, PhD. The research examines what happens to families and service providing organizations at the transition point between two disconnected policy envelopes.

For more information contact

Peter R. Elson  PhD
Senior Research Associate
Phone: 403.440.8722
Fax: 403.440.8811
E-mail: pelson@mtroyal.ca

 

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