Three graduate students in the School of Public Policy and Administration will soon be developing tools and strategies for non-profit organizations, thanks to two new awards.
Stephen Lieff, BScHon77, and Ann Lieff launched the awards with an unusual combination of an endowment and a grant. “It’s a very innovative approach to giving,” says Edward Jackson, former associate dean (research) in the Faculty of Public Affairs.
He notes that the non-profit sector operates in a challenging environment, where resources are limited but needs are great. As a result, creative approaches are vital. “Innovation in the non-profit sector is a real priority.”
The three award winners will work with a faculty advisor and non-profit groups in a wide range of fields. Their goal is to produce practical tools and strategies for the voluntary sector. The Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development, attached to the School, will monitor the progress of recipients, stay in touch with community partners and help administer the scholarships.
MA student Katarzyna Polanska, the first recipient of the Graduate Award in Social Innovation, will be researching ways that Ottawa non-profit groups could set up a “collaboration studio.” In this shared space—which could be physical, virtual or a combination of both—organizations working in fields
such as the arts, the environment and social justice could come together to exchange ideas, knowledge and strategies.
She is excited about the chance to focus on this work for a Lieffs establish new social innovation awards year, thanks to the award. “This is an amazing learning experience and a great research opportunity that allows for working for two audiences—academia and members of the community.”
Oli Sengupta, a student in the graduate diploma program in public policy and program evaluation, is one of two recipients of the Fellowship in Social Innovation. While volunteering with the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation (3ci) in Ottawa, she became aware of a crucial need to help unemployed people over 50 to start their own businesses. So she began developing a program for them called Entrepreneurship Boot Camp.
“I had conceived the idea of the project while working as a volunteer at 3ci, but could not develop it further due to limitations in time and resources,” she says. “The SI award will now allow me to dedicate much more time to fully implement the project.”
MA student Alana Glenwright also received the Fellowship in Social Innovation. She will be working with the Canadian Co-operative Association to help develop training for boards of directors of cooperatives in Malawi and Ghana. “I’ve seen how important it is to have a well-functioning board,” says Glenwright, who worked in the non-profit sector before enrolling at Carleton.
She is pleased that the awards support capacity development in the non-profit sector, since many charitable donations are focused on individual projects, such as building a health clinic. Supporting specific projects is important, she says, but organizations also need to develop their staff and their infrastructure to run those projects effectively. “I’m just thrilled that the donors of this award were so visionary.”