TRAINING ON HOW NGOS OPERATE IN CANADA

The Congolese Community of Hamilton (CCH), led by its president, Ms. NANCY MUINDA, held a training session on Saturday, 07/03/2026, in the hall at 132 Blake Street in Hamilton, on the theme: SOUND FINANCIAL REPORTING AND HOW NGOS OPERATE IN CANADA.

Speaking first, Ms. SARAH acknowledged the territories on which we are gathered and explained their origins, followed by Ms. ERLINDE, who read the biography of the first speaker and introduced him to the participants.

The first speaker, Mr. EDDY MOMAT, a communications expert, spoke about “HOW NGOS OPERATE AND THE LAWS GOVERNING NON-PROFITS IN CANADA.” His presentation covered the following points:

• Definition of an NGO
• Definition of a non-profit organization (NPO)
• Difference between NGOs and NPOs
• Interactive questions
• The mandate of an NPO
• The laws governing NPOs in Canada
• Questions

In short, an NGO is defined as a non-governmental, non-profit organization made up of people who operate at the local, national or international level and that is free of any government control, while an NPO is a group of at least two people who decide to pool their resources to carry out an activity whose main purpose is something other than their personal enrichment.

Another difference lies in how they operate: an NGO often works on a global scale and focuses on large-scale issues such as famine or human rights, and often engages in advocacy, lobbying and political influence, whereas NPOs generally focus on delivering services directly to communities, usually act at the local or national level, and are affiliated with a government. Some points of his presentation prompted questions and answers from the participants.

The second speaker, Ms. ANIKA KUHNERT, lead coordinator of ACFO régionale Hamilton, covered the following points:

• Why do governments fund organizations?
• The main funding themes
• How to find grants
• How to apply for a grant
• The responsibilities of funded organizations
• Financial governance mechanisms.
• Due diligence and transparency
• Conclusion.

On why governments fund organizations, she explained that every grant has a specific purpose: supporting complementary public services, meeting local needs, promoting social equity, encouraging civic participation…

As for the main funding themes, she discussed social inclusion, economic development, immigration and integration, culture and heritage, youth and education, and community development.

It should also be noted that in Canada there is specific funding for francophone communities aimed at protecting the French language, cultural development, French-language services and the vitality of francophone communities.

To find grants, consult government websites, funding portals, community networks and partnerships.

And to apply for a grant, you need to: identify the program, check eligibility, prepare the project, submit the application and wait for the assessment.

The responsibilities of funded organizations include: using funds appropriately, respecting funding conditions, producing reports and managing finances transparently. For financial governance mechanisms, she cited: -Board of Directors -Financial policies -Transparent decision-making processes -Risk management

On due diligence and transparency, she explained that laws on government funding require financial due diligence, not financial transparency, while stressing that transparency is a public-trust strategy that can be both an advantage and a risk.

Finally, the coordinator concluded that grants are essential for organizations; they strengthen communities; and they require responsible management and collaboration between government and organizations.

The training ended in a positive atmosphere, with questions from participants and answers from the speakers.

A call went out to the whole Congolese Community of Hamilton to recognize the value of the community and to take part in the various meetings called by the leadership team.

LIEVIN-N. MUBENGA.