On May 27, 2008, Canada’s nonprofit sector descended upon Toronto’s Metro Convention Centre for an unprecedented one-day event. With the tagline, “advancing the sector, an action plan,” The Summit was the first of its kind in the country. Organized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Imagine Canada and Volunteer Canada, the conference brought together sector representatives for a full day of discourse, analysis and action planning. And with its straightforward mandate – an opportunity to define and deliver an action plan to increase our influence, our resources and our impact on our communities – it was clear that organizers were expecting results.

With the bar set high, it’s no wonder the group fell into serious debate right at the starter’s gun and remained focused until the very end. The one-day symposium was divided into three plenaries and three sessions, each focused on one particular area of concern – finance, standards, and public policy. The summit began with an introductory speech by the Honourable Vic Toews, president of the Treasury Board. Introducing the government’s new Action Plan to Reform the Administration of Grant and Contribution Programs Management, Mr. Toews reiterated his government’s commitment to the sector.

Getting the ball rolling

Then, setting the pace for the critical discourse to follow, was a keynote address by Mel Cappe, president of the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP), who offered his perceptions of the state of the sector today. While it’s in pretty good shape, he said, it still has a long way to go. Cappe contemplated the sector’s designation as just that, a sector, claiming its diversity may undermine the self-proclaimed title. “Maybe it is a sector,” he mused, “but, if so, it needs to be treated as a differential one.” Cappe then listed the varied challenges the sector faces, including: the need to professionalize; establish planning capacity; ensure quality control; and counter the public ennui born of never-ending solicitation. Demonstrating an inherent paradox, Cappe explained how sector successes – while laudable – can create government over-reliance. Too much, too little, too big, too small. Unquestionably, Cappe’s oratory inspired the room to roll up their sleeves and begin discussing.

Strategizing public policy

A good place to start was at the session titled, “Advancing Public Policy: Strategies for Success”. Facilitated by Sean Moore, public policy advocate, the panelists included Will Stewart, principal at Navigator, a research-based strategy firm, Teri Kirk, vice president of public policy and regulatory affairs at Imagine Canada, and Velma McColl, principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group. One theme that dominated the session was the need to find common ground so the sector can work cohesively instead of disparately. “The sector undermines its collective power,” said McColl. “The divide and conquer approach is a losing scenario,” she added, saying it only creates a public policy paralysis.

Kirk further suggested that the lack of common action helps explain the sector’s ambivalence around who and what it is. “There’s a tenuous commitment as to whether we’re a sector, and until we answer that basic question, it will be hard to communicate with a common voice,” she said. Stewart reminded the participants of the results-oriented and tightly scripted government currently in power. To gain the ear of politicos, he added, it is imperative that the sector speak their language. “The conciliatory approach is much more effective in the long run,” he offered, explaining how media activism is not appreciated on Parliament Hill these days. He also advised groups to turn to local talk radio to promote their causes, as it seems the medium of choice for the Harper government. “And use geography to your advantage too,” he added. “Be involved on a local level, such as in your riding associations, and make sure to have a consistent voice.”

Financial sustainability

Next on the agenda was “Advancing Sustainability: Growing Public and Private Funding”, led by Marcel Lauziere, president of the Canadian Council on Social Development. The panelists included Tim Draimin, CEO of Tides Canada Foundation, Dianne Lister, vice president of external relations and advancement at Trent University, and Hilary Pearson, president of Philanthropic Foundations Canada. Lister started the conversation by echoing the general sense of frustration felt by many. “I’m seeing many of the same faces dealing with the same issues for decades,” she began. “If the sector wants to progress, it needs to determine its relevant role vis-á-vis the government and the private sector.”

Yet, an overriding sense of inferiority still underlies much of the discussion and language and that needs to change. “We need more of a sense of straightforwardness of why we are relevant,” said Lister, adding that communities are crying out for storytellers. Nonprofit groups need to make their voices heard to garner the funding they deserve. And the time for action is now. “We can’t have slow incrementalism anymore; we’re past the point of putting up with bureaucracy,” she said. Funding will come if we can articulate that role effectively and often. Effectiveness being the key word, according to Pearson. “We may be good at talking about our numbers, but we’re not so good at talking about our effectiveness,” she said. Some questions need to be answered first, though: what are the benchmarks, best practices, how does one quantify success, what else can we do to be effective? “To the extent that those questions are answered, we will all be better for it,” she explained.

And, with the sector ever-evolving, the panelists seemed to agree that thinking outside the funding box was imperative. Draimin, for one, promoted the idea of social enterprise and social finance as the future models of financial sustainability. “Individual donations won’t cut it anymore,” he said. By adopting these new funding paradigms, particularly social finance, the sector can ensure it is building a financially resilient community, said Draimin, who is also involved with Causeway, a new national collaboration promoting social finance options for charities and community organizations.

Inspiring volunteerism

A lunch plenary led by Martha Parker, former executive director of Volunteer Calgary, on the topic of “Advancing Volunteerism”, gave participants much food for thought. Claiming this was the most difficult presentation she ever had to prepare, Parker expressed her weariness dealing with the same issues year after year. “The system is blocking talent that could add value to our organizations,” she said of the many prospective volunteers not effectively engaged by the sector.

The concept of volunteerism needs to be approached from a new construct, one that takes into account the changing face of volunteers and what they bring to the sector. “Volunteers need to be relevant to the current environment,” she explained. And while Parker is concerned about the state of volunteerism, she disagrees with those who claim it is on the decline. Citizen engagement is still high and the work of the sector is as important as ever. However, while citizens keep trying to be engaged, the sector is making it hard for them to do so, she said, ending her delivery with a word of caution: “Be deliberate about building an exciting place for the next wave of volunteers in the sector.”

Setting standards

The last session, “Advancing Self-Regulation: Transparency, Governance and Accountability”, was moderated by Penelope Rowe, CEO of Community Services Council of Newfoundland and Labrador. Don McCreesh, president of the Garnet Group and chair of Imagine Canada, and Scott Haldane, president and CEO of YMCA Greater Toronto, led a discussion on the standards for good governance and ethical practices recently developed by a group of nonprofit representatives and convened by Imagine Canada.

With the aim of strengthening the transparency, governance, and accountability of charitable organizations, McCreesh expressed his belief that if standards weren’t created by the sector, they would eventually be imposed on it. “We don’t want a Sarbanes-Oxley in the charitable sector,” he said. “Self-regulation is important and a good step forward,” added Haldane, whose organization has taken part in the ongoing efforts. “Donors need to know what is happening with their money.” Standards, he said, are a reputation management issue, helping to establish trust among the public.

The ensuing conversation was interesting and oft-heated. While a consensus existed on the need for standards and self-regulation, some wondered what would become of other codes and standards already in place in the sector. Others were concerned about human and financial costs involved with implementing the standards, especially with regard to smaller organizations. And still others wanted to know whether a volunteer and governance code should be added to the fundraising and ethical code currently in development. Would a comprehensive approach be more effective, they wondered.

In closing…

At the closing plenary, conclusions from each workshop were reiterated and a call to action was advanced. “We don’t want to just talk about it, we want to move ahead with an agenda,” said McCreesh. Summing up the day was Timothy Burcham of AFP International. “The future of public policy lies in collaboration,” he said. And while differing perspectives can make it hard to find consensus, it is precisely because of the wide variety of voices that the sector is best positioned to be involved in the key social issues affecting Canada. Developing a set of shared challenges and an action plan is, therefore, key to moving forward, he explained. “This summit is the essential first step in organizing the sector to develop strategies to make sure our voice is heard loud and strong.”

Elisa Birnbaum is a freelance journalist, producer and communications consultant living in Toronto. She is also president of ellecommunications.ca and can be reached at: info@ellecommunications.ca.