Public Policy Special Edition Digest - Key Developments Impacting Our Sector No images? Click here SPECIAL EDITION DIGEST - PUBLIC POLICY & PHILANTHROPY PFC has chosen Public Policy and Philanthropy as the focus for this first Digest of April. Our belief that a coherent and collective public policy agenda can greatly enhance philanthropy’s capacity to serve the common good informs this special PFC Digest.
Missed our past webinars? You can find them here. PFC BLOG - FEMINIST PHILANTHROPY WEBINAR RECAP: To mark International Women’s Rights Day this coming March 8, 2021, Philanthropic Foundations Canada, Community Foundations of Canada, Environment Funders Canada, The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples, and the Equality Fund have joined forces to discuss feminist philanthropy in a special edition of #WebinarWednesdays. Read more here FROM PFC - In this blog, Desiree McGraw, Special Advisor to PFC shares her insights and provides us with an update on the key developments impacting the charitable and non -profit sectors, such as Parliament Bill S-222, The Federal Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector's First Report, the Federal report on Diversity of charity and non-profit boards of directors, and more. Read more here Senator Ratna Omidvar's Report: Parliament Bill S-22: Senator Ratna Omidvar who on 2 February tabled in Parliament Bill S-222, entitled “The Effective and Accountable Charities Act.” Of note, the legislation amends the Income Tax Act to enable charities to establish equal partnerships with non-charities – such as not-for-profits, social enterprises, co-ops, or civil society groups – while still ensuring accountability and transparency. Report #1 of the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector: Hilary Pearson (founding President of PFC) and Bruce MacDonald (CEO of Imagine Canada) as co-chairs of the Federal Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector; wrote their first report entitled, “Towards a federal regulatory environment that enables and strengthens the charitable and nonprofit sector,” was publicly released on 12 March. Written Submission In Advance of The 2021 Federal Budget Submitted By PFC, March 2021: The pandemic has hit the charitable sector very hard. Many traditional sources of fundraising such as benefit events and earned income have dried up even as demand for several charitable services (e.g. from food banks to mental health and domestic violence) is rapidly increasing. Imagine Canada and the Ontario Nonprofit Network have estimated that one in five1 not-for-profit organizations have either suspended or drastically reduced operations. Read more here. Open Letter: Make It Easier for Charities To Do Good: The CRA Needs To Remove the ‘Own Activities’ Requirement: 37 of Canada’s charity lawyers have signed this open letter: Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) should remove the paternalistic, colonial requirement that charities have ‘direction and control’ over their own activities. This top-down approach prevents equal partnerships with local organizations, particularly in Indigenous communities and international development, and imposes unnecessary costs on charities. It doesn’t safeguard donor dollars and does not promote transparency or accountability. Read recommendations by Canadian legal advisors here The Business of Charities & Nonprofits: The Need for Change: Charities and nonprofits have long been entrepreneurial and innovative in developing new means of generating revenue to achieve their missions and serve our communities. The devastating effects of COVID-19 on the sector’s revenues will press organizations to be even more creative in finding alternative revenue sources. But, current rules make it difficult for Canadian charities – and even more difficult for nonprofits – to engage in ‘business’ activities (or what some refer to as ‘social enterprise’). These restrictions will hinder the sector’s ability to recover and rebuild following the pandemic. Reform is urgently needed. Read more here The Lyle S. Hallman Foundation’s Response to the Covid-19 pandemic: Year in Review: The Foundation recognizes that during this time of shutdowns, physical distancing, and financial uncertainty, the organizations supporting children and families may need different support than what the Foundation typically funds. Here are some of the ways in which the Foundation is shifting to respond to the immediate needs in the community. This page will be regularly updated with additional ways in which the Foundation is responding to this crisis as they occur. A brief summary is available here. Call for Applications: The Law Foundation of Ontario's Responsive: The Law Foundation of Ontario has merged its previous Small and Major Responsive grants into one single stream, with a single application process and timeline. Responsive grants enable The Law Foundation of Ontario to fund ideas generated by nonprofit community groups to improve access to justice. Responsive grants aim to encourage new ideas, approaches, and relationships that can help address emerging needs and connect more people to legal information and supports, especially people who are not currently being reached. Read more here Share with us how your organization is responding to COVID-19 on Twitter @PhilanthropyCDA |