Organization Eligibility
To participate in CNiP, your organization must be a nonprofit/voluntary sector organization in Alberta. This means your organization:
- Is self-governing and exists to serve the public benefit
- Does not distribute profits to owners, members, directors, shareholders, or managers
- Is voluntary (benefits to some degree from voluntary contributions of time or money)
- Is currently operating in the Province of Alberta and has been for at least one year
- Is independent or institutionally separate from the formal structures of the federal and provincial government and the profit sector (municipal programs and services DO qualify)
Nonprofit/voluntary sector organizations and other nonprofit groups may be incorporated, established, or registered under the laws of Alberta or Canada, including the following Acts:
- Agricultural Societies Act
- Canada Corporations Act (non-profit sector)
- Cemeteries Act or Cemetery Companies Act
- Regional Health Authorities Act (foundations)
- Libraries Act
- Part 9 of the Companies Act (non-profit)
- Part 21 of the Business Corporations Act – Extra-Provincial Corporations
- Societies Act
- Special Act of the Parliament of Canada
- Special Act of the Alberta Legislature
If your nonprofit organization is not registered under these Acts, and you would like to apply to CNiP, please contact CNiP directly at [email protected]. You will be required to show that your organization operates to the standard of other nonprofit organizations. This may include providing minutes from your AGM and a list of your board of directors, along with other information.
In addition, a nonprofit organization will not qualify for CNiP if it is:
- A university, college, or other educational institutions (including Students’ Unions and their programs and services).
- A faith-based organization that does not provide philanthropic community programs/services to the broader community. All faith-based organizations that apply to CNiP will be required to submit a Description of Philanthropic Services to verify their eligibility.
- An organization that has a sole mandate to provide programs and services outside of Alberta or that does not provide philanthropic community programs or services to Albertans.
- An organization that is affiliated, either directly or indirectly, with a political party or group with a political mandate.
