Becoming a Member of CCIC

Be part of a vital and effective coalition working to end global poverty.

1. Who are CCIC's Members
2. Benefits of Membership
3. Criteria and Procedures to Become a Member
4. Membership fees

Who are CCIC's Members?
CCIC members include approximately 90 Canadian non-profit organizations working, both in Canada and overseas, on the front lines of social justice, humanitarian aid, economic and democratic development. Among them are religious and secular development groups, professional associations, co-operatives, labour unions and groups devoted to literacy, education and youth. Their volunteers, supporters and partners live across Canada and throughout the world.

CCIC members work with co-operatives, citizens’ groups and NGOs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe to:

• improve local access to safe water, sanitation, food, shelter, education and primary health care;
• promote respect for human rights;
• press for corporate social responsibility, environmentally sustainable development and equitable distribution of global resources;
• encourage citizen participation in government policy making; and
• conduct policy research and campaign for global food security, debt relief, fair trade, child welfare, land reform and improved labour standards

Click here to see the list of CCIC's Members

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Benefits of Membership

Distinct Voice
The Council promotes a sense of common identity for civil society groups and NGOs. It provides the weight of a combined sector wide voice on key issues of international cooperation. CCIC is Canada’s central body for NGOs and civil society groups working in international development and humanitarian assistance; its 90 member organizations constitute a Who’s Who of Canadian NGOs.

Effective Analysis
CCIC is the “go to” source for the latest trends in Canadian aid spending and practice. Canadian aid policy is analyzed and compared to donor practices around the world – elements of development effectiveness and good development are assessed.

Media, government departments and member organizations use the Council’s web site, and its e-publication Flash to gain up-to-date analysis of Canada’s aid spending. CCIC is also a leading member of the Reality of Aid global network which provides independent analysis and reports on global aid flows.

Network Opportunities
Opportunities for direct contact with key sector leaders, knowledge sharing, and an exceptional learning environment are all results of ample networking opportunities made available through the Council. CCIC is the key sector convener on issues of aid, development and global social justice.

Special working groups like the Americas Policy Group, Africa Canada Forum and the Asia-Pacific Working Group are places where members bring their expertise and keep up with developments in regions in which they work. The Council was the facilitator of Canada’s national Open Forum consultation on Civil Society and Development Effectiveness. The Council’s Charity Law Education Project meant special workshops and resources to help charities understand their obligations under the Income Tax Act.

Ethics
CCIC is a leader when it comes to high standards of operation. Openness, transparency and accountability are key elements of CCIC’s Code of Ethics and Operational Standards. The Code outlines the principles of development, standards for partnership, governance, management and human resources, as well as fundraising communications and financial management.

All members of the Council subscribe to the Code of Ethics and regularly review and certify their practices against the standards contained in the Code. CCIC was one of the first in the world to adopt a code of ethics that included both “Principles of Development” and a “Code of Conduct”.

Advocacy
CCIC is an influential advocate described by Ottawa’s newsweekly Embassy as a government watchdog and “…passionate accountability and effectiveness advocate on international development.”

The Council has a proven track record in swaying government policy. It adds profile and weight to key policy positions of members and coalitions. CCIC advocacy includes corporate accountability, food aid, access to medicines and development effectiveness. The Council is an expert witness at many parliamentary committees and frequently offers media commentary on the quality and quantity of Canadian foreign aid. The Council helped acquire game changing outcomes with the passage and enactment of Canada’s “Better Aid” law – the Official Development Assistance Accountability Act.

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Criteria to become a member
Organizations interested in becoming members of the Council must meet the following criteria:

• Be federally or provincially incorporated as non profit corporation for a minimum of two years.
• Indicate in writing that they agree to be in compliance with the Code of Ethics within three years of membership approval.
• Submit to CCIC their last Annual Report and audited statements along with their Letters Patent and By-Laws.
• Forward with their application two recommendations from member organizations which are clearly positive in nature based on firsthand knowledge and signed by the chief executive officers.

Procedure
Completed Application Forms are forwarded to the Membership Committee for examination and review.

The membership Committee then makes recommendations to the Board of Directors on the acceptance or rejection of the application. If the application is rejected by the Board of Directors, the applicant may reapply two years after the date of the original application. Applications accepted by the Board during a given year are ratified by members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

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Membership Fees
The new CCIC membership fee formula, approved at the 43rd AGM, May 2011, in effect beginning April 1st 2011 for the fiscal year 2011-2012, is the following:

• Membership fees are based on the income of member organizations allocated for development and development education activities for the year immediately preceding the year for which fees are being paid.
• The formula used to calculate membership fees is: 0.4% for the first $1 million of eligible income and 0.15% of income thereafter, to a maximum fee of $15,000. The minimum fee is increased from $150 to $300. 
• The maximum fee payable may be adjusted annually to reflect the inflation rate for the preceding year.

The fee is payable by April 1 of each year.

For information on how your organization can become a member of CCIC, contact Jack Litster at (613) 241-7007 ext. 307 or e-mail jlitster@ccic.ca.