Nonprofit Organizations in Calgary

Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society is an unbiased organization providing free patient support services in Alberta. We are a group of compassionate volunteers who share a common goal: achieving the best possible care for all patients.

OPERATION KICKSTART, a non profit society, reg'd in 1996, is seeking 5 volunteers. Applicants need to be retired, with at least 2 references, aged 50 + and a university degree. We assist the unemployed, teaching basic digital skills and providing those job seekers with access to computers, to search the internet for jobs. Our program assist with resume writng, cover letters, strategies for interviews. Each accepted applicant is assigned a case worker whose task it is to mentor that applicant. All volunteers shall attend a training course of several hours. Volunteers must be able to attend our offices on 3rd street sw, for at least 1 day a week. Office hours are from 9-noon and 1-4. Tasks of volunteers will be to answer phones, assist walk ins with filling out applications, setting appointments for classes. Calgary is in the midst of serious challenge as the economy is staggering and many need our help. FINDING A JOB IS A JOB-we cannot help everyone but our mission is to make sure serious job hunters have basic computers skills and direction of how to search online for jobs. Help us help these deserving people.

Operation Smile is a global medical charity helping to improve the health and lives of children in more than 60 countries. We’ve provided more than 300,000 children and young adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial differences with free life-changing surgical procedures and dental care. We train doctors and local medical professionals, ship donated medical equipment and supplies and provide year-round medical treatments through a network of comprehensive care centres.

Operation Smile is a global medical charity helping to improve the health and lives of children in more than 60 countries. We’ve provided more than 300,000 children and young adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial differences with free life-changing surgical procedures and dental care. We train doctors and local medical professionals, donate medical equipment and supplies and provide year-round medical treatments through a network of comprehensive care centres. Operation Smile Canada was established in 2011 and became a registered charity in 2012.

Optimist International is recognized worldwide as the premier volunteer organization that values all youth (15 to 24 years of age) and helps them develop to their full potential.  For more information on Optimist International, check out the website:  www.optimist.org As part of Optimist International, the Optimist Club of Calgary is committed to youth development activities and programming in the City of Calgary and the surrounding area. Since our club was chartered in 1938, our club has focused on the following areas: Education –school programming related to skills development, the fine arts, public speaking, essay writing, and scholarships (i.e. Mount Royal University, SAIT, Calgary Foundation). Health – mental and physical health, obesity, addictions, and bullying. Community – community programming related to skills development, picnics, and family days. Sports – junior curling, junior golf, disabled skiing. Looking for a Volunteer Opportunity? Become an Optimist and help change the lives of youth, your community, and yourself!

The Optimist Clubs' Park Society of Calgary supports youth-oriented projects in Calgary and area.  We are currently exploring opportunities for community parks development with the City of Calgary Parks Foundation.  In the past few years, we have provided funding to the YMCA (archery shelter and climbing wall at Camp Riveredge), Calgary Stetson Show Band (equipment truck), Calgary Stampede Foundation (Optimist Young Artists' Lounge), and Indefinite Arts Society (kitchen and art gallery).

P.L.A.Y.(Parents Looking after Youth) Community Child Development Centre (P.L.A.Y.) was established to provide high-quality childcare services for children from birth to six (6) years of age. We are a not-for-profit childcare centre that is spiritually, emotionally and physically rich; and inclusive of all regardless of economic status, gender, ability, race or age. Our goal is to create a standard of excellence in childcare, providing programs that meet the diverse needs of the community. OUR HISTORY P.L.A.Y. was established by parents in 1973. It was funded by a local incentive grant to provide quality care for children in the Hillhurst-Sunnyside area. OUR PHILOSOPHY Our philosophy is to provide an environment that is safe, secure and supportive of children’s developmental needs. We believe in providing a positive, nurturing environment that will encourage creativity, intellectual curiosity, social interactions, self-help skills, physical activity and emotional development for children. We provide age-appropriate programming that meets the developmental needs of the children. WHO YOU ARE: Due to our size, working at PLAY is like joining a family. Our team is close-knit, and our parent community is made up of families who have been at PLAY for several years. Finding a volunteer who is the right fit and shares our values is extremely important to us. This means that you'll need to be: flexible, open-minded, hard-working, take initiative, and enjoy working in a small team.

Nifty Fifties is a registered charity that provides a place where Calgary seniors 50+ can come together to enjoy social events, workshops, art classes, bridge and other activities that match their unique needs and social interests. We recognize that seniors strengthen the community and offer a place to enhance their physical, social and emotional well-being.

Parkinson Association of Alberta is the source for support, education and inspiration for people impacted by Parkinson disease and Parkinson’s Plus Syndromes, and engagement in important quality of life research with an emphasis on Alberta.

Parkinson Canada believes in a better life today for People Living with Parkinson’s, and a world without Parkinson’s tomorrow.  Canada has some of the world’s highest rates, and it is growing quickly.  People living with Parkinson’s are at the centre of everything we do at Parkinson Canada. We provide education and services, and we advocate with federal, provincial, and territorial governments on issues that matter to the Parkinson’s community in Canada. The Parkinson Research Program funds innovative research to search for better treatments and a cure.   People living with Parkinson’s count on us to be there at every step of their Parkinson’s journey. To learn more about us, please visit www.parkinson.ca.

Peer Mediation And Skills Training (PMAST) is a registered charity providing skills to youth to deal with bullying and manage conflict for over 22 years. Our mission is to equip youth, families, and communities with the skills to manage conflict peacefully where they live, learn, work and play. While we recognize the value of awareness campaigns and counseling services, we believe that to really make a difference we need to take a proactive approach and provide the skills to deal with conflict, bullying and violence; issues which affect their emotional and mental well being.  We share practical skills to help participants reduce bullying and tension in their social environments while building respect, compassion, empathy, and resiliency. PMAST programs go beyond acceptance and inclusiveness; we seek to encourage young people to embrace their differences and learn from the diversity of thought and experience each brings to the table. These programs focus on equipping youth with the tools to better communicate, manage conflict and advocate for themselves in situations where they may feel discriminated against.  The skills we are providing are life skills that our youth take with them to change family dynamics for this and future generations. PMAST delivers research-based programs which teach youth the practical communication and life skills to manage conflict. We use professional mediators and coaches to support learning in an experiential format in the classroom and we are in the process of converting our programs to online.  

Plastic-Free YYC is a nonprofit focused on inspiring individuals, collaborating with businesses, and encouraging governing bodies to evoke change and eliminate waste. Our team is made up of passionate waste-fighting warriors who bring their professional expertise across various areas of the business. All of the roles are created, not only to help promote plastic-free solutions but to provide first-hand, career-enhancing experience. Each core team member has the opportunity to shine, with the autonomy to make decisions and truly make a difference in their community.