Nonprofit Organizations in Vancouver

ONE TO ONE is a unique children’s literacy program that provides one-to- one tutoring to elementary school students who struggle with reading. Our trained volunteers work with students in schools during school hours. These students are identified by their teachers as needing a boost in their literacy skills. The program is aimed at the grey-area students, those who do not receive any other resource support directly from the schools (i.e. no designated learning issues) but are not yet reading at grade level and often receive little or no literacy support at home.

ONE TO ONE provides these children with an opportunity to practice their reading in an environment where it is okay to take risks, make mistakes, and learn at their own pace. It is our goal to bring these students up to reading at their appropriate grade level, providing them an opportunity for academic success and hope for a brighter future.

We need the ocean. The ocean needs us.

Ocean Wise builds communities that take meaningful action to protect and restore our ocean. Together – with business leaders, researchers, community members, governments and ocean lovers around the world – we are monitoring and protecting whales, fighting climate change and restoring biodiversity, protecting and restoring fish stocks, innovating for a plastic free ocean, educating and empowering youth.

We will need millions of people, those on the coast as well as those landlocked individuals, to join us for our ocean. Our ability to thrive on this planet depends on it.

We’re giving every senior in long-term care in the province the chance to have a visitor and a voice. Volunteer to brighten their days, listen to their stories, and give back to your community. You will be trained to conduct an in-person, standardized interview with the residents about their quality of life. Questions cover topics including food and meals, privacy, safety, staff responsiveness, visits with family and friends, activities, and more. This is a chance to see inside long-term care, brighten the lives of your local seniors, and know that you’ve been part of improving the future of long-term care in BC. Volunteers should apply online at: https://surveybcseniors.org/volunteer/ We ask for a minimum commitment of 40 hours over the course of 6-8 weeks, inclusive of training.

We’re a free literacy tutoring program backed by a mission to help children develop lifelong literacy skills. ONE TO ONE’s program is free to all parents and schools and is available to any elementary school student whose teacher believes they need a reading-skills boost. Each student meets two to four times a week with a ONE TO ONE volunteer tutor. For 30 minutes at a time, they read in an environment where it is okay to take risks, make mistakes, and learn at their own pace.

The Open Air Orchestra Society has supported community music in Vancouver since the mid-2000s. Originally formed to support <a href="https://thecarnivalband.com/">the Carnival Band</a>, the Society has also established the <a href="https://greenhorn.openairorchestra.com/">Greenhorn Community Music Project</a>, a free music program for youth in Vancouver, as well as <a href="https://honkbc.org/">HONK! BC</a>, a festival that showcases street bands from all over the world!

We strive to build partnerships with Vancouver’s rich resource of professionally trained musicians to conduct public workshops in creative performance. We focus on culturally diverse and locally composed musical performance, with the vision of fostering community spirit, empowerment, creativity, and skill.

OpenTable centers on a gathering at Cityview Church every Thursday at noon.

OpenTable provides a safe place to enjoy a warm, nourishing meal and provides a community that offers hope and friendship for all, including those struggling with housing, food security, finances, addiction, or mental/physical health challenges.

The gathering also includes a short message, bible reading, and prayer.

Options for Sexual Health is based in British Columbia and is Canada's largest non-profit provider of sexual health services through clinics, education programs, and the 1-800 SEX SENSE information and referral line. Our clinics specialize in providing sexual and reproductive health services. We offer low-cost contraceptives, sexually transmitted infection testing, Pap testing, pregnancy testing, and pro-choice pregnancy options counselling. Our mission is to provide comprehensive education, accurate information, support for sexual expression and reproductive choice, and confidential clinical services that help British Columbians enjoy healthy sexuality throughout life.

TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH ACCESS TO QUALITY EYE HEALTH

As pioneers in global eye health, we see an opportunity to cultivate better futures where we work. With steadfast partnerships, boundary-pushing tools, techniques and training, we can collaborate to achieve optimal, quality eye health for all. And, by improving access to quality eye health, we’re sharing our vision.

Orbis is a nonprofit organization that works to prevent and treat blindness through hands-on training, public health education, improved access to quality eye care, advocacy and partnerships with local health care organizations.
Through training, research and advocacy, we work to strengthen local eye care institutions, train eye care professionals and advocate for supportive policies to increase awareness about the importance of quality eye health. In programs supported by Orbis in 2013, we've enhanced the skills of more than 22,000 eye care professionals, and provided treatment to more than 5.7 million blind and visually impaired people.

Our Cityride is a 17km bike ride through scenic downtown Vancouver! Our Cityride celebrates the spirit of local communities in a non-competitive all inclusive mass participation ride that will be held in the heart of cities globally. The ride will be host to participants of all ages and abilities, focused around a fun and festive atmosphere. The inaugural event is taking place on August 19, 2017.

Our Social Fabric (OSF) is Vancouver’s only non-profit textile recycling organization. We have been in operation since 2009 with a mission to eradicate textile waste from landfills. We receive donations of textiles and sewing-related supplies from individuals, manufacturers, designers, and the film industry.  Our powerful team of volunteers then processes the donations for sale at amazing prices through our retail shop and online store.

Outsiders and Others is a not for profit arts society with a focus on bringing non-traditional artists to the forefront.

This includes outsider, folk, self-taught, visionary, intuitive, and artists with disabilities.

Outsiders and Others operates a window-gallery at 716 East Hastings Street and at 938 Howe Street, both in Vancouver.