Spark matches organizations working on critical issues in our city with people wanting to donate their professional skills for social good.
Our Latest
Chris Carther-Krone: Spark Outstanding Pro Bono Award Winner!
Every year Spark presents the Spark Outstanding Pro Bono Award at the Volunteer Manitoba Volunteer Awards Gala. We look forward to this day every year because it gives us a chance to recognize some of our volunteers and the impact their pro bono work has on the...
Tracy Groenewegen: Spark Outstanding Pro Bono Award nominee!
Every year Spark presents the Spark Outstanding Pro Bono Award at the Volunteer Manitoba Volunteer Awards Gala. We look forward to this day every year because it gives us a chance to recognize some of our volunteers and the impact their pro bono work has...
Sumegha Gupta: Spark Outstanding Pro Bono Award nominee!
Every year Spark presents the Spark Outstanding Pro Bono Award at the Volunteer Manitoba Volunteer Awards Gala. We look forward to this day every year because it gives us a chance to recognize some of our volunteers and the impact their pro bono work has on the...
High-impact, short-term, skill-specific pro bono matches
Start Here
Organizations
eligible to work with Spark?
You:
- include or benefit marginalized populations located in Winnipeg, and
- are a community organization, nonprofit, or worker co-op located in Winnipeg, and
- are addressing a social, economic or environmental issue in Winnipeg, using a community development approach, and
- have a demonstrated relationship to your community, and
- have the time to work with a pro bono consultant on the project, and
- have the capacity to carry out the project after the volunteer has done their part, and
- have a limited or no ability to pay for the services required.
Volunteers
eligible to work with Spark?
You:
- live in or near Winnipeg.
- are passionate about what you do.
- have experience in your profession.
- can plan and lead a short-term project that uses your professional skills.
- are able to work with people who may be unfamiliar with your professional realm and language, but need your help.
- will remain committed to the project until the agreed-upon completion.
- believe in making Winnipeg stronger.
Next Steps
Organizations
How to start a project with Spark
- Identify a specific project or challenge that needs professional skills, and is something that your organization has the ability to carry through after the match is done
- Alternatively, identify an opportunity for a mentorship match that pairs an employee who is new to a role in your organization with an experienced professional to accompany them on their learning journey
- Learn about Spark’s social enterprise development services
- Get in touch with us to explain your challenge. If your project is eligible for a match (see above), we’ll set up a meeting
- Meet with us so we can explain our process, learn more about your organization and your needs, and explore solutions
Volunteers
How to start Volunteering with Spark
- Email us a brief introduction including your resume, and connect with us on LinkedIn
- Tell us why you want to volunteer, and what skills you’d like to put to use to benefit Winnipeg’s community organizations and the people they help
- Unfortunately not all skills are needed by the organizations we work with, or suit the particular types of matches we make. We’ll let you know either way, and if your skills are needed, we’ll arrange to meet
- Meet with us so we can explain what we do, and get to know you and your skills
Short-Term | Skill-Specific | Pro Bono
We build short-term, skill-specific projects that strengthen Winnipeg’s community organizations, enabling them to move ahead with their important work.
To make sure our matches are high impact, we’re dedicated to finding the right professional to meet an organization’s needs: we think about the skills, experience, personalities, and causes each side is passionate about, and bring the right folks together.
Once we’ve found a good match, we help build a work plan, then get out of the way so you can get the good work done, such as:
- communication plans
- marketing and branding
- graphic design
- mentorship for those new to their role (Executive Directors, communications staff, human resources, etc.)
- legal assistance (e.g. leases and contracts)
- IT systems and challenges
- HR help
- policies and procedures
- interior or landscape design planning
- accounting and bookkeeping systems and challenges
- and just about anything in the way of pro bono expertise
Who Are We?
Spark is a Winnipeg-based service of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network. Our purpose is to strengthen community groups dedicated to social and economic change. To do that, we pass on knowledge, resources, and expertise through referrals, workshops, and pro bono matches with skilled professionals.
We are committed to getting people engaged with the important poverty reduction and community building work that local organizations do, by getting professionals involved through volunteering their skills.
Spark is a proud member of the Global Pro Bono Network.
Who works here? Learn more about Geoff, Lindsey and Gen.
Our Network
The Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet) believes in sustainable and inclusive communities directing their own social, economic, and environmental futures. It is a member-led nonprofit comprised of hundreds of organizations and individuals who are part of a movement creating community-based solutions to local and global challenges.
Become a member of Canadian CED Network today.
Donate to Spark through the Canadian CED Network.
Partners
Partnership
Partners
Partnership
Studies show that companies who allow employees to volunteer their skills on company time have higher employee satisfaction and retention rates, and their employees are more energized to get their jobs done. We’d love to talk to you about how pro bono can help in your workplace, and how we can help make that happen.
Funders
Sponsorship
Funders
Sponsorship
Together with our colleagues at Canadian CED Network Manitoba, we plan an annual event that brings together over 500 individuals and organizations involved in community development from all over Manitoba to connect, learn, and celebrate. Learn more about The Gathering, and call 204-943-0547 to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Interested in sponsoring Spark directly? Let’s talk!
Contact Us
We are located on the 2nd floor of the Social Enterprise Centre. The front door is on the South side of the building. Turn off Main St, on to Sutherland, then right on to Austin St. South. Go all the way to the end and turn right again into our parking lot. Use parking spot #6
Bike parking available in the SEC parking lot.
On Treaty 1 territory – the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Ininew, Oji-Cree, and Dakota peoples, and the homeland of the Red River Métis nation.
SEC Directions
We are a service of the Canadian CED Network. Together, the Network is building fairer and stronger local economies and communities.
Sound like you? Learn more, and consider joining!