People working in charities understand the growing pressures facing the sector and the millions of Canadians who rely on it. Demand for services is rising, fundraising is challenging, volunteer participation has weakened, and many organizations are facing staff shortages, burnout, turnover and the challenge of keeping pace with technology and AI.
Yet one issue receives far less attention: Canada invests very little in the infrastructure that could strengthen the charitable and social sector as a whole.
Individual charities can strengthen their own organizations, but they cannot solve sector-wide challenges such as workforce development, declining generosity, volunteer participation, technology adoption, shared data and measurement, shared purchasing and the spread of best practices.
These are collective challenges. They require collective solutions.
The idea of a Social Sector Fund
GIV3, a Canadian registered charity working to strengthen generosity and the charitable sector, has proposed that the federal government work with the sector to explore a Social Sector Fund.
This would not be another grant program for individual charities. Instead, it would invest in shared infrastructure that could strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of organizations across the sector.
CharityVillage is pleased to support this initiative for the benefit of the sector as a whole.
Imagine, for example:
- new approaches to strengthening volunteering and generosity;
- support for workforce, leadership and HR capacity;
- shared services and cooperative purchasing to lower costs;
- practical technology and AI support for smaller organizations;
- shared research, data and impact measurement; and
- identifying and spreading proven best practices.
GIV3 is asking the federal government to begin a structured consultation with the charitable and social sector to determine what such a fund should do, how it should be governed and how it could be financed. The details should be developed with the people and organizations who understand the sector best.
Why your voice matters
Those working and volunteering in charities see realities that can be difficult to understand from Ottawa. You know how much more could be accomplished if these shared challenges were addressed.
If you believe Canada should explore greater investment in the infrastructure and capacity of its charitable and social sector, please consider sharing your voice.
GIV3 has made it quick and easy to email your local MP:
- Click this link to access the platform.
- Add your name and postal code. The platform will automatically identify your local MP and populate the letter.
- Review the letter and click “Add Your Voice” to send it.
With the federal budget expected this fall, now is an important time to make your voice heard.
On behalf of GIV3 and CharityVillage, thank you for your support.
