COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2024
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Studies Network PREPARED BY:
Colleen Strauch, NVSSN Director
PREAMBLE The Nonprofit Voluntary Sector Studies Network
The Nonprofit Voluntary Sector Studies Network (NVSSN) is a collaborative network of academics, nonprofit leaders, voluntary sector professionals, and university students dedicated to fostering a thriving and sustainable nonprofit and voluntary sector in Saskatchewan. Through education, community engagement, and capacity building, NVSSN strengthens the sector’s ability to drive meaningful social impact.
Guided by a diverse Steering Committee composed of Luther College faculty, students, and nonprofit leaders, NVSSN’s work is deeply rooted in collaboration. The committee’s shared leadership ensures the network remains responsive to the evolving needs of both the sector and the students it supports.
In 2024, NVSSN continued to deliver on its mandate through the Nonprofit Sector Leadership and Innovation (NSLI) Certificate Program and a range of community engagement activities. These activities included networking events, skill-building workshops, and collaborative projects that connected students, faculty, and nonprofit professionals. NVSSN also played a leading role in advancing key initiatives, such as localizing
the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supporting organizations working toward climate adaptation and mitigation through net-zero strategies.
At the core of NVSSN’s impact is its commitment to engaged learning. Each NSLI course offers students hands-on opportunities to collaborate with local organizations, contributing to real-world solutions while earning academic credit. This experiential learning model not only enhances student outcomes but also strengthens the capacity of Saskatchewan’s nonprofit sector.
NVSSN is proud of be a part of Luther’s College strategic pillar of community development and service. This alights closely with Luther College’s vision of making transformative change for a more grace-filled, just and joyful world. Through its community partnerships, educational programming, and leadership on social impact efforts, NVSSN continues to build a stronger, more connected, and resilient nonprofit sector.
NVSSN Steering Committee Members:
Faculty:
Dr. Roger Petry
Scott J. Wilson
Dr. Vijaya Agasthian
Students:
Jun Gan
Audra Issac
Darlene Barss
Community Members:
Victor Roman Morrow, Director of Impact, South Saskatchewan Community Foundation
Jacqui Wesacase, Executive Director, Rainbow Youth Centre
Karen Henders, Retired Nonprofit Professional and Consultant
The NVSSN thanks the Steering Committee members for their invaluable guidance and contributions.
The NVSSN would like to thank Rhonda Rosenberg, Executive Director of the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, for her years of service on the NVSSN Steering Committee. Rhonda’s commitment to the nonprofit sector in Saskatchewan is commendable.
NONPROFIT SECTOR LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION CERTIFICATE
In 2024, three groups of NSLI interns partnered with local organizations to apply their skills and support meaningful community initiatives. These partnerships included Habitat for Humanity, where interns contributed to affordable housing efforts; Regina Food for Learning, supporting food security programs for children; and conducting a needs assessment and possible strategic plan for a Cathedral Business Improvement District.
The NSLI program saw 166 students registered in courses throughout the year, with 6 students graduating with the NSLI Certificate, strengthening the leadership pipeline for Saskatchewan’s nonprofit sector. Currently, there are 34 students that have declared the NSLI Certificate.
Over the last year, the program offered a robust selection of courses, including NSLI 100, NSLI 220: Community Advocacy and Development, NSLI 230: Nonprofit Communications, NSLI 260: Nonprofit Governance, NSLI 340: Nonprofit Program Planning and Evaluation, NSLI 370: Fund Development in the Nonprofit Sector, and NSLI 390: Capstone Service-Learning Internship. Through these courses and internships, NSLI students gained practical, hands-on experience, building the skills and knowledge needed to make a lasting impact in the sector.
Vibya Natana, Bachelor of Social Work and Certificate in NSLI, presenting as part of the Reimagining Nonprofits Conference as part of the youth panel.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
“The NSLI Certificate program opened the door to a world of opportunity, connecting me with inspiring individuals, creative minds and an incredible support network. Through this program, I gained invaluable knowledge and experience as I had the privilege of collaborating with local organizations doing amazing work. The NSLI program challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone at times, but in doing so, helped me to grow in ways I never imagined - leaving me with newfound confidence, leadership qualities and a deep sense of fulfilment. Completing the NSLI certificate has been an impactful experience, and I am so incredibly grateful for the journey. “
– Sophia, Business/NSLI
“I am naturally a hands-on learner, so I was able to fit right in with the NSLI Certificate program very well. The unique thing about the NSLI curriculum is that every course is embedded with an experiential learning opportunity, allowing each student to connect with growing leaders in the nonprofit industry while gaining knowledge in the classroom from a real-life perspective. Coming from a Sport Management background and obtaining my NSLI Certificate, I am now able to explore more new job opportunities that I would never known before and giving me a competitive advantage over other candidates. My most memorable experience was having the privilege to build a Cathedral Business Improvement District (CBID) project as an intern.“
– Jun, Sports & Recreation Management/NSLI
“The NSLI Certificate program has been a valuable addition to my bachelor’s degree. The most beneficial aspect of the program has been its practical approach to learning. I appreciated the hands-on projects with non-profits in the community, which provided insight into how these organizations engage with communities and the challenges they face. The certificate has broadened my perspective on how non-profits drive social change, aligning with my long-term goal of making a meaningful impact on health and community development.
I would recommend the NSLI Certificate to students interested in leadership and advocacy or those wanting to understand the non-profit sector better. It provides theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for success in the workforce.
One of my most memorable moments was working on a communications strategy for EcoStress Saskatchewan. It was my first time crafting messaging for an organization, and seeing my ideas take shape and contribute to an initiative was incredibly rewarding.”
- Judith, Health Studies/NSLI
In 2024, the NVSSN facilitated 17 communityservice learning partnerships through NSLI courses and additional initiatives, creating valuable opportunities for students to apply their skills and contribute to meaningful community projects. These partnerships included collaborations with organizations such as the Saskatchewan Science Centre, Senior’s University Group, Calling Lakes Ecomuseum, Nature Saskatchewan, Regina Community Fridge, Regina Public Research Interest Group, Sask Association of
NSLI CERTIFICATE COMMUNITY-SERVICE LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS
Watersheds, Treaty Land Sharing Network, SEARCH, EcoAnxiety Saskatchewan, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, Rainbow Youth Centre, The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Regina Early Learning Centre, Bike Regina, Regina Energy Transition, and the John Howard Society.
Funding for many of these service-learning partnerships was made possible through the generous support of the Business and
Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), in partnership with the Government of Canada, whose funding empowered NVSSN to connect students with organizations advancing sustainability and green skills development. These hands-on experiences allowed students to engage with real-world sustainability challenges, fostering practical skills and deepening their understanding of community-based solutions. NVSSN is grateful for BHER’s support in making these impactful partnerships possible.
I believe the students benefited greatly by having a real-life, real-time “case study” to work on, which made the outcome something that could make an impact. In turn, SUG benefited by having multiple streams of inquiry (focus groups customized for different potential customer subsets), run by significantly more person-power than would have been realistic had we done this through commercial means. The amount of data delivered was huge, and we continue to learn from it (and the student summaries) as we design new programs each term.
– Neale Partington, President Senior’s University Group (SUG)
Bike Regina’s collaboration with Luther College prompted us to reflect deeply on our effectiveness as a non-profit organization whose mandate includes active transportation. We realized that we can enhance our impact in Regina by adopting a strategic plan, and then using it to focus our resources on truly making Regina more bike-friendly. We will be spending some of the grant money on a non-profit governance specialist to help us develop a strategic plan and help us correct other identified gaps, such as how to institutionalize our good initiatives, rather than having activities attached to a single board member. Without this partnership, Bike Regina would not have identified these opportunities for institutional learning. In the spirit of lifelong learning, we are deeply grateful to the Business and Higher Education Roundtable for this experience.
– Bike Regina
We were extremely impressed with the professional and creative plans provided by the workintegrated learning opportunity, created through the partnership between the Business and Higher Education Roundtable and Luther College at the University of Regina. We asked students and the instructor to support our organizations with ideas to enable outreach to young people and they provided a number of innovative and well-thought-out strategies for us. The students created many quality materials such as posters and videos. In addition, this grant funding allowed us to firmly establish our organization’s needs and goals, and on the flipside, it gave the students a chance to participate in real-world, hands-on learning. This clearly motivated many of them to go above and beyond the requirements of the course and do exceptional work that they will be able to use in their portfolios as they take off on their career path.
– EcoStress Sask
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
“The NSLI Certificate has been one of the most rewarding parts of my degree. I’ve loved how hands-on it is. Working with real organizations like Regina Food for Learning and EcoStress made everything feel so much more meaningful than just classroom learning. The best part for me was seeing how my projects had an impact, whether it was helping shape a communications strategy or creating content that a nonprofit could use. It’s also helped me think more seriously about the kind of work I want to do after graduation, especially in nonprofit leadership and corporate social responsibility. I’d recommend the certificate to anyone who wants to get real experience while making a difference. One of the most memorable moments for me was helping organize the volunteer appreciation event for Regina Food for Learning. It was so great to see everyone come together and celebrate the people who make the program possible.”
– Ella, Philosophy, Politics & Economics/NSLI
“The NSLI Certificate program opened my mind to the many different possibilities and opportunities that exist in the nonprofit sector. Prior to my experience I was unaware of just how diverse and impactful the work was; there are so many different niches within the non-profit sector that one can fit into, depending on their individual skillset and interests. With this program I was able to learn from experience and obtain practical knowledge through projects and initiatives that worked with local organizations, making contributions that were valuable and fulfilling. I would recommend the NSLI Certificate program to anyone considering pursuing the non-profit path and to those who value hands-on experience in conjunction with lecture-based learning.”
– Kamrym, Justice Studies/Cert in Sustainability
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS Growing Nonprofit Series and Professional Development
In 2024, the Growing Nonprofits Series, offered in partnership with the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, hosted 14 professional development events designed to strengthen the skills and capacity of nonprofit leaders. A total of 117 participants signed up for the sessions, with the recordings accessed numerous times. The series covered a range of timely and impactful topics, including Harnessing Community Stories for Social Change, An Introduction to Social Enterprise as a Revenue Diversification Strategy, Community Mobilization, Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Community Action, Navigating and Influencing Policy Makers, and Advocacy Coalitions & Collaborations. Other sessions explored practical skills such as Evaluating & Measuring Community Engagement Efforts, Leveraging AI-powered Tools for Strategic Communication, Nonprofit Video Storytelling, and The Art and Science of Storytelling in PR Writing. The series concluded with thoughtprovoking sessions on Strategic Media Engagement, Crisis Communication Essentials, and Practicing Truth and Reconciliation: An Organizational and Personal Call to Action.
In addition to the Growing Nonprofits Series, NVSSN hosted a one-day Advocacy Campaign
Planning workshop that trained 30 participants from 27 organizations on effective advocacy strategies. The workshop guided attendees through issue identification, problem definition, research, messaging, engagement with decisionmakers, and impact evaluation. Beyond skillbuilding, the event fostered valuable networking opportunities, potentially paving the way for future coalitions around shared advocacy goals. Participants praised the workshop, with one attendee sharing, “The excellent tutelage of the instructor boiled down what, for many of us in the nonprofit sector, is a big, scary thing into something that seems manageable and doable.” Another participant noted the value of personalized feedback, stating, “The option to get feedback specific to your advocacy plan is phenomenal.”
NVSSN hosted a Nonprofit Law event featuring Dan LeBlanc, which provided nonprofit and voluntary sector organizations with practical legal insights. This session offered an accessible introduction to nonprofit governance, legal compliance, and best practices for meeting regulatory expectations. Many small and volunteer-led organizations attended, seeking guidance on the often-complex legal landscape
nonprofits navigate. This informative session helped equip participants with the knowledge needed to strengthen their organizational compliance and governance practices.
This graphic was created by Molly Hall-Cunningham as part of a service-learning internship with Dr. Brenda Anderson’s Women and Gender Studies course, Feminisms and Activism.
NSLI Interns working with Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan
Elder Lorna Standingready, Elder in Residence at Luther College sharing her wisdom in support of local nonprofit organizations
Partnership event with the Regina Public Library and the Centre for Experiential and Service Learning
Community-engagement on building sustainable communities through nonprofit and government partnership
Community-Engagement at Luther College
NSLI Interns working in partnership with Regina Food for Learning
Service-Learning Partnership with the Regina Early Learning Centre
Reimagining Nonprofits Conference 2024: Integrating Radical Approaches to Equity
Offered in partnership with the Saskatchewan Nonprofit Partnership and Ivy & Dean Consulting, The Reimagining Nonprofits Conference was another major highlight of the year. Held at Luther College at the University of Regina, the 2024 conference welcomed 134 registered attendees, including 78 paid registrants, 30 sponsor and organizer attendees, and 26 speakers. Over the course of two days, an estimated 101 participants actively engaged in the conference. With the theme “Integrating Radical Approaches to Equity”, the event featured sessions on Human Resource Management, Conflict Resolution, Building Meaningful Partnerships, Disability Justice, and more. The keynote speaker, Larissa Crawford, founder of Future Ancestors Services, inspired attendees with her intersectional insights and leadership.
Post-event feedback demonstrated the conference’s success, with 67% of participants strongly agreeing and 29% agreeing that the sessions were relevant to their needs. Additionally, 71% strongly agreed and 25% agreed that the sessions expanded their knowledge, while 60% strongly agreed and 33% agreed that the sessions were engaging. The keynote sessions were particularly well-received, with 73% strongly agreeing and 15% agreeing that they enjoyed the keynote.
GRANTS & SPONSORSHIPS
Funding to Community Based Organizations through our BHER Grant
In 2024, $57,000 in partnership dollars went to nonprofit organizations in our community through our Business and Higher Education Grant.
Funding to Students
In 2024, $9,000 in bursaries were awarded to students in the NSLI program
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR SPONSORS
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and funding partners whose generous support has made it possible for us to deliver impactful programming, strengthen the nonprofit sector, and empower students and community organizations. Their contributions have enabled us to host professional development events, conferences, and workshops, while also fostering meaningful community partnerships and creating valuable learning experiences for students.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation for their continued partnership in the Growing Nonprofits Series, which provides nonprofit professionals with access to relevant, high-quality training.
We are also thankful to the Business and Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) for their support in advancing green skills development through service-learning partnerships that connect students with organizations driving sustainability efforts in our communities.
We recognize the Community Initiatives Fund (CIF) for their vital role in supporting the Reimagining Nonprofits Conference. We are grateful to all our conference sponsors: South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, Regina Public Interest Research Group, Creative Options Regina, Sask Culture, Brazen Fundraising, Nonprofit Governance Solutions, The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, The Centre for Experiential and Service Learning, The Community Engagement and Research Centre,
Faculty of Arts, Affinity Credit Union, MNP, 1080 Architecture and Design, Hill Levene School of Business, Courageous Leaders Project, and Gerrand Rath Johnson LLP.
We would also like to thank our conference collaborating organizations, Ivy & Dean Consulting and the Saskatchewan Nonprofit Partnership, for their dedication to enhancing nonprofit capacity, fostering collaboration, and advancing equity.
Your support makes a lasting difference, helping us equip nonprofit professionals, students, and community partners with the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to create positive, sustainable change across Saskatchewan. Thank you for your commitment to our shared mission.
Luther College, University of Regina
3829 Lee Gren Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2