Across the nonprofit and voluntary sector, organizations are being asked to use data more confidently to support planning, funding, evaluation, and community engagement. At the same time, many people working in volunteering, giving, and participation roles have limited opportunities to build practical data literacy in ways that feel relevant to their day-to-day work.
The Certificate of Completion in Data-Driven Engagement was created to support that learning.
This certificate recognizes sustained participation in a structured series of learning sessions delivered through the Data-Driven Engagement initiative, led by Volunteer Canada, Imagine Canada, the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Canada / AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada, and Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada, with support and guidance from Statistics Canada.
At its core, the certificate is about making data feel more usable, more human, and more connected to the real work happening across communities.
What is the Certificate of Completion?
The Certificate of Completion in Data-Driven Engagement recognizes participants who complete a defined set of learning activities focused on:
- Understanding Canadian social data
- Interpreting Census and survey data responsibly
- Navigating the StatsCan website with confidence
- Applying data to real nonprofit and community contexts
- Case-study based learning
The certificate emphasizes applied learning and engagement, rather than technical or statistical specialization. It is designed to meet people where they are and support learning that can be taken back into organizations, teams, and communities.
It is intended to acknowledge the time, attention, and care participants invest in building confidence, literacy, and practical skills related to data use in the volunteering, giving, and participation sectors.
Who is this certificate for?
The certificate is designed for people who:
- Work or volunteer in nonprofit or voluntary organizations
- Manage or support volunteers
- Lead programs, strategy, or community engagement
- Use data for planning, evaluation, research, or funding applications
- Are new to working with national datasets and want a supported entry point
- Are postsecondary students looking to increase their knowledge in nonprofits, giving, fundraising, and participation
No prior technical or statistical background is required. Curiosity and openness to learning are enough!
What is required to complete the certificate?
To earn the Certificate of Completion in Data-Driven Engagement, participants complete a 10-webinar learning pathway, made up of three connected components:
1. Statistics Canada webinars (6 sessions) — required
Participants must attend six Statistics Canada–led sessions, which form the core foundation of the certificate. These sessions focus on understanding, accessing, interpreting, and responsibly using Canadian data, with an emphasis on practical relevance for the volunteering and giving sector. All six sessions must be completed — they cannot be substituted with Case Study or Skill Development webinars.
2. Case Study or Skill Development webinars (3 sessions) — required
In addition to the six Statistics Canada sessions, participants must attend three Case Study or Skill Development webinars. Case Study webinars show how data, volunteer management practices, and evidence-informed decision-making are applied in real organizational and community settings. Skills Development webinars offer an opportunity to learn new skills in data use, Excel, and more (great for beginners!). Both types count toward this requirement.
Note on participation: Individuals who are interested in attending one or more of the StatsCan or Case Study webinar sessions without completing the full certificate program are welcome to register for and attend any webinar of interest.
3. Summary and Group Reflection session (1 session)
Participants attend one summary session, led by the Data-Driven Engagement project team. This session brings the learning together, creating space to reflect on key themes, connect ideas across sessions, and think about how learning can be applied moving forward. The date and time of these sessions will be shared in June 2026.
Together, these ten sessions are designed to balance data literacy, practical application, and thoughtful reflection.
Eligible Statistics Canada sessions
The following Statistics Canada webinars count toward the certificate requirement. Please visit individual registration pages for exact timing details. Links will be provided three weeks prior to the session date.
Upcoming sessions
| Date | Session | Action |
|---|---|---|
| July 28, 2026 |
Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub
An overview of Statistics Canada’s Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub, highlighting disaggregated and intersectional data relevant to understanding diverse populations. |
Register |
| September 22, 2026 |
Communicating Data Like a Human
A practical session focused on data storytelling, visualization principles, and communicating statistics clearly and accurately. |
Coming Soon |
| November 24, 2026 |
Inform or Fool: Use and Misuse of Statistics
A data literacy session exploring misinformation, disinformation, and how to critically assess data-based claims in everyday information environments. |
Coming Soon |
Past Statistics Canada sessions
| Date | Session | Action |
|---|---|---|
| January 27, 2026 |
Getting to Know Your Community: 2021 Census of Population
This session explores how Census data can support community profiling, planning, outreach, and service design for organizations working in volunteering, giving, and participation. |
|
| February 24, 2026 |
Exploring Municipal and Rural Statistics on the Statistics Canada Website
An introduction to community-level and disaggregated data available for small and mid-sized communities, with a focus on practical local decision-making. |
|
| June 9, 2026 |
Finding Indigenous Peoples Data on the Statistics Canada Website
An introductory session on locating Indigenous-related data, surveys, and reference materials, with an emphasis on responsible learning and contextual understanding. |
Eligible Case Study webinars
Participants must also attend three Case Study or Skill Development webinars. Additional sessions will be added over time and identified as certificate-eligible.
Upcoming sessions
| Date | Session | Action |
|---|---|---|
| July 15, 2026 |
Giving in Canada: Insights from the Latest GSS-GVP on a Shifting Donor Landscape
Canada’s giving landscape has shifted sharply in recent years. Drawing on Statistics Canada’s most recent release of the General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (GSS-GVP), this webinar examines giving patterns across age, gender, education, income, and more — and applies a critical lens to what the instrument can and cannot see, including forms of generosity that fall outside the formal tax-receiptable frame. Case Study |
Register |
| July 29, 2026 |
Two Declines, One Story: What the Data on Volunteering and Donating Tells Us About the Future of Giving in Canada
Drawing on the GSS-GVP — the only longitudinal dataset that tracks giving and volunteering simultaneously at the national level — this session examines the parallel decline in donor and volunteer rates and what this means for concentration risk, early-career engagement, and organizations that manage volunteer and donor functions separately. Case Study |
Register |
Past Case Study and Skill Development webinars
| Date | Session | Action |
|---|---|---|
| June 23, 2026 |
Innovative Approaches to Fundraising — Centre for Dreams
A case study in volunteer management and fundraising modelling. Case Study |
|
| March 31, 2026 |
Agriculture Wellness Ontario and the Guardian Network
Volunteer management supporting rural settings. Case Study |
|
| March 3, 2026 |
What Are Data? — Charity Insights Canada Project
Breaking down what “data” really means in a nonprofit context, explaining common terms in plain language, and exploring how data can be used thoughtfully and ethically to support decision-making, storytelling, and community impact. Skill Development |
|
| April 28, 2026 |
Spreadsheet Basics for Nonprofits — Charity Insights Canada Project (CICP)
A practical, hands-on introduction to working with data in Excel and Google Sheets, covering navigation, simple formulas, sorting and filtering, and why these tools are often all you need for effective data management in a nonprofit context. Skill Development |
|
| May 5, 2026 |
Excel & Google Sheets: Level-Up Skills for Nonprofits — Charity Insights Canada Project (CICP)
A practical skill development session on using Excel and Google Sheets effectively in a nonprofit context, delivered by the Charity Insights Canada Project. Skill Development |
|
| June 16, 2026 |
Telling Your Story With Data: Using CICP Dashboard Data
A case study on using Charity Insights Canada Project dashboard data to communicate organizational impact and tell compelling, evidence-based stories. Skill Development |
What does the certificate represent?
The Certificate of Completion signals that a participant has:
- Engaged in a sustained, multi-session learning pathway
- Built foundational data literacy
- Developed greater confidence working with Canadian-based survey data
- Learned from industry leaders about their experiences within volunteering, giving, and participating
- Learned how to apply data thoughtfully in planning, communication, and decision-making contexts
It can be used to demonstrate professional development, continuing learning, or internal capacity building.
How is participation tracked?
If you are interested in completing the Certificate of Completion in Data-Driven Engagement, please indicate your interest through the Expression of Interest – Certificate of Completion in Data-Driven Engagement form.
Participation is tracked through:
- Submission of the Expression of Interest form, and
- Attendance records from each eligible webinar registration.
Certificates are issued once all ten required sessions have been completed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to datadriven@volunteer.ca. We’re excited about this offering and look forward to learning with you!
The Certificate of Completion in Data-Driven Engagement is a recognition of participation in a structured learning pathway. It does not represent an accredited credential, but acknowledges sustained engagement and applied learning aligned with sector needs.
