2014–2015Annual Report Enriching Canada through Indigenous education and by inspiring achievement. Annual Report • 2013 Table of Contents Message from the Chair ...................................................................................................................... 4 Message from the President and CEO ................................................................................................. 5 About Indspire ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Indspire Institute: Promoting Indigenous Education .................................................................................................. 8 Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships, and Awards ........................................................................................... 12 Rivers to Success: Mentoring Indigenous Youth ....................................................................................................... 16 2015 Indspire Awards .................................................................................................................. 17 Board of Directors & Staff .................................................................................................................. 19 Our Partners and Donors ................................................................................................................... 21 Financial Statements ......................................................................................................................... 34 Annual Report 2014-2015 | 3 This has been a watershed year for Indspire. On May 27, 2014 Indspire has been blessed with many strong government, Indspire launched our Building Brighter Futures campaign in corporate, and individual donors and partners, and on behalf Calgary, and our target was ambitious: to raise $10 million that of the board and staff of Indspire, as well as the Indigenous would be matched by the Government of Canada, creating students we support, I offer them all our heartfelt thanks. $20 million in funding for First Nation, Inuit, and Métis students. This was the biggest fundraising campaign ever As Chair, I am proud and grateful to serve on the board of undertaken by Indspire, and, as one of the campaign co-chairs, an organization that has an inspiring vision for the future of I was emboldened by the challenge. Indigenous peoples. I would like to thank outgoing board directors Skawenniio Barnes, Debbie Eisan, Dr. James Makokis On May 28, 2015, I was thrilled to announce that we exceeded MD, and the Hon. Gerry St. Germain P.C. for their service to our goal by nearly 20%, raising a total of $24 million for Indspire. bursaries and scholarships. This was fantastic news for the thousands of students who come to Indspire for post-secondary I would also like to recognize the unparalleled leadership of funding. The need never diminishes, but we have taken an Indspire’s President and CEO Roberta Jamieson and the hard- important step forward with the support of our donors. I would working staff at Indspire for their continued efforts to champion like to thank the entire Building Brighter Futures campaign the achievements and invest in the potential of First Nation, cabinet and my co-chairs Joe Dion, President of Frog Lake Inuit, and Métis students. The important work we do as board, Message Energy Resources Group, and Steve Williams, President and staff, and supporters is creating positive change for Indigenous CEO of Suncor Energy, for their leadership and for their many peoples and all Canadians. from the years of support for Indspire. David Gabriel Tuccaro The amount raised by the campaign brings the grand total Chair, Board of Directors Chair awarded by Indspire since 1985 to $79 million through 25,000 bursaries and scholarships! 4 | Indspire Annual Report • 2014-2015 The importance of what we do, the dedication of the partners Indspire also reaches out to those on the frontline of K-12 who help us, and the successes of the Indigenous students we Indigenous education, and this year, we offered increased serve were firmly in the spotlight this year as Indspire increased opportunities to educators for professional development the number of bursaries and scholarships awarded to students, through the K-12 Indspire Institute and its numerous programs provided more resources to more educators, and surpassed our and resources. fundraising target. Continuing our support for educators, the second annual Our efforts to close the gap in Indigenous education received a National Gathering for Indigenous Education was held in special distinction this year, as Indspire was recognized by the Toronto in November, where we recognized 10 outstanding Financial Post as one of their top 25 Charities of the Year on the individuals from across Canada with the Guiding the Journey: basis of accountability, transparency, and efficiency, based on Indigenous Educator Awards. data from 86,000 registered Canadian charities. Sustaining the educational achievement of Indigenous peoples The overwhelming response of donors and partners to – the youngest and fastest growing population in Canada – is Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures campaign, our bold critical for Canada’s future economic prosperity. These are fundraising challenge, affirmed the vital importance of the kinds of achievements that will resonate in the lives of supporting Indigenous education. This support allowed individuals, families, and entire communities. Message Indspire to award more than $14 million through nearly 5,000 bursaries and scholarships to First Nation, Inuit, and Métis Our partners, whose names you will read in the pages ahead, post-secondary students in a diverse range of studies, including have demonstrated leadership in this vital area, and their from the business, law, medicine, and social work. contributions are valued. We thank them for their commitment to the ongoing effort to close the gap in Indigenous education President This past February, Indspire released research about our and for supporting our youth in their pursuit of their dreams. funding recipients, and the numbers show conclusively what and CEO we have long known to be true: when given the means, Roberta L. Jamieson Indigenous students succeed – and succeed brilliantly. President and CEO, Indspire Executive Producer, Indspire Awards Our research report, entitled creating Positive Outcomes, shows that 93 percent of students funded by Indspire graduated from a post-secondary program, and 82 percent of those graduates are employed, the majority in careers that directly serve Indigenous people. These are truly results to celebrate! We also know that many of our youth have unique challenges, and they need role models, encouragement, and support while they are in high school to inspire them to graduate and pursue post-secondary studies and training. Providing that inspiration is the goal of our annual Soaring career conferences, which were held in Thunder Bay, Vancouver, and Calgary this year. Annual Report 2014-2015 | 5 2014-2015 by the Numbers $ 1,826 high school students 14.4 million & educators participated in Soaring career conferences awarded through 4,921 in Vancouver, Thunder Bay, bursaries and scholarships and Calgary 41% increase in amount awarded compared to last year K-12 Institute 793 high school students 485 members increased across Canada attendees at the explored careers in National Gathering by ~100% oil & gas, radio, for Indigenous from 2,340 to 4,193 television, and mining Education post-secondary students and professionals emerging and experienced educators 100 matched through Rivers to Success 148 matched through Peer Support 6 | Indspire About Indspire Indspire is an Indigenous-led registered charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people for the long term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. About Indspire With the support of its funding partners, Indspire disburses financial awards, delivers programs, and shares resources with the goal of closing the gap in Indigenous education. Through the K-12 Indspire Institute, it provides resources to educators, communities, and other stakeholders who are committed to improving kindergarten to grade 12 success for Indigenous youth. 93% of students funded by To date, Indspire has awarded $79 million through almost 25,000 bursaries and scholarships to Indigenous students, Indspire graduated making it the largest funder of Indigenous education outside the federal government. 82% of graduates are employed A report released by Indspire in 2015, entitled creating Positive Outcomes, indicates that 93% of students who received funding from Indspire graduated with post-secondary credentials, and 82% of our graduates are employed. $79 million through almost Each year, the organization presents the Indspire Awards, a gala celebration of the successes achieved by Indigenous 25,000 bursaries and people that is broadcast nationally. scholarships $79 million awarded through almost 25,000 bursaries and Recognition: scholarships since 198 creating Positive Outcomes: Graduation and Employment Rates of Indspire’s Financial Award Recipients February 2015 Nurturing Capacity: Building Community Success Top 25 Charities of the Year 2014 Annual Report 2014-2015 | 7 K-12 Indspire Institute: Promoting Indigenous Education The K-12 Indspire Institute is a virtual resource centre that “ To keep Indigenous education connects educators of