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Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations

Press Kit

ECVO Backgrounder

Established in 2003, the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO) exists to provide resources and a voice for nonprofits and registered charities in the Edmonton area. ECVO's primary focus is to enhance the voluntary and nonprofit sector's capacity to deliver programs and services by providing information and resources that strengthen organizational governance and operations; researching, analyzing and communicating information about broad issues that impact the sector's viability and vitality; offering leadership within the sector in order to increase awareness of the sector's contributions to quality of life and; to advocate for measures that support the sector's short and long term sustainability.

To meet our mandate, we offer training programs and workshops for Human Resources, Social Media, Board Governance and collaboration. Some of our initiatives include:

  • The Breakfast Series, a partnership with Volunteer Edmonton and The City of Edmonton, which presents early-morning training seminars on top nonprofit interests and concerns
  • The Nonprofit Jobline, Edmonton's nonprofit online job centre, at www.ecvo.ca
  • Collaborative work with The City of Edmonton Community Services, Edmonton Multicultural Coalition and Arts Habitat on shared-space solutions
  • Promotion of Edmonton's nonprofit community through leadership roles in collaborative events that build capacity for nonprofits, including the Board Leadership conference
  • Over 20 different workshops annually on current trends and topic affecting nonprofits including HR, social media, and collaboration
  • Continuous advocacy for sector sustainability support as a member of the Alberta Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector Initiative, the Alberta Nonprofit Workforce Council and the Alberta Human Services Coalition.

We are also responsible for the implementation of The Workforce Strategy for Edmonton and northern Alberta's charities, which includes new and innovative human relations practices and promotion of the sector as an employer of choice. The ECVO communicates nonprofit sector news, resources and events through our bi-weekly informational email, the E*Bulletin, our website and social media.

We collaborate with organizations including the City of Edmonton, the Resource Centre for Voluntary Organizations, and Volunteer Edmonton Alberta to bring new programs to the sector and work on initiatives to solve nonprofit concerns.

ECVO is a member of:

ANVSI (Alberta Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector Initiative), Imagine Canada, the Canadian Federation of Voluntary Sector Networks, the Human Resources Institute of Alberta, the HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector, Alberta Voluntary Sector Insurance Council;,the Alberta Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector Initiative Collaboration Committee, the Board Development Resource Committee, Partners for Better Boards, and the Board Leadership Conference Committee.

We work closely with the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations, Volunteer Alberta, and our members to represent the voices of all charities and nonprofits in Alberta in our role as a nonprofit sector advocate.

Visit us at or contact us at communications@ecvo.ca for more information.

Staff Biographies


Russ Dahms, Executive Director

director@ecvo.ca | 780-428-5487

Russ has been leading ECVO’s the growth and development since 2007. Under his leadership, ECVO has focused on strengthening the nonprofit sector through fostering, building and creating sustainable partnerships and providing valuable services to our members. Russ has also overseen the expansion of ECVO as a communicator and network hub, as well as the evolution of relationships between the organization and leaders in the nonprofit, government and business communities.

Russ brings over thirty years of leadership, communications, and negotiating skills to ECVO. He was previously the Executive Director for the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, and spent over twenty years in a variety of positions for the Community Services Department of The City of Edmonton. Russ holds a Bachelors of Arts in Recreation Administration from the University of Alberta.

Carla Howatt, Communications Director

communications@ecvo.ca | 780-729-3935

Carla has more than ten years communication experience with nonprofits and the association sector. As a result of her experience, she understands the nonprofit sector’s unique concerns.

As communications director, Carla is responsible for ECVO's communications, media relations and membership relations and programs. She is the editor of the bi-weekly E*bulletin, and provides ECVO's online and social media presence.

Mandie Abrams, Workforce Strategy Program Manager

workforcestrategy@ecvo.ca | 780-421-1660

Mandie joined the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations in May of 2009 as the Workforce Strategy Program Manager. She implements the strategy's priorities and improvement of HR knowledge and practice within nonprofits in Edmonton and North Alberta. Mandie is also responsible for several ECVO initiatives, including the Welcoming Workforce program and the Breakfast Series.

Mandie has worked in the nonprofit sector in Canada and internationally for the past 15 years. She has been involved in community development, organizational, policy and program development, capacity building, training and facilitation and fund development activities with Habitat for Humanity and the Government of the Northwest Territories. In 1995 Mandie earned a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in International Development from Rutgers University.

Lynn Ferguson, Programs Director

ecvoprograms@ecvo.ca | 780-429-4962

Lynn joined ECVO in July 2009. Lynn is an avid volunteer, and has served as Program Director, Treasurer and Chair on community, sport, and school association boards. Lynn previously spent over 10 years as a front lines worker and senior manager for a nonprofit agency that served individuals and families with developmental disabilities. Lynn holds a degree from the University of Victoria.

As Programs Director, Lynn is responsible for many of ECVO's collaborations with other nonprofits and funding agencies throughout Edmonton, including Shared Smarts and the annual Board Leadership conference. Lynn is also responsible for planning, logistics, and administration for the majority of ECVO's programming and special events, such as the Breakfast Series.