HR Funders Task Group

"Building a vibrant nonprofit sector capable of attracting and retaining a workforce today and in the future."

The Funders Task Group was established to address systemic issues and deficiencies in current funding levels and practices as well as to promote the development of HR practices and plans through funding projects and initiatives. The group is comprised of representatives of local funders of nonprofit human services agencies including governments (local, provincial, federal), the United Way, foundations and private donors.

Examining Funding Issues

Identifying key funding issues affecting nonprofits is vital if we are to develop meaningful, long-term solutions. Reports which inform these issues include:

• Synopsis of Funding Issues Impacting Human Resources in the Nonprofit Sector
  Pat Rice, 2007
• Funding Matters: The impact of Canada’s New Funding Regime on Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations
  Canadian Council on Social Development, 2003
• Taking Stock: Examining the Financing of Nonprofit Community Organizations in Calgary
  Lynn Eakin, Matthew Kealey and Katherine Van Kooy, 2006
• We Can’t Afford to do Business this Way: A Study of the Administrative Burden Resulting From Funder Accountability and Compliance Practices, Lynn Eakin and Associates, 2007
• Drowning in Paperwork: Distracted from Purpose
  Project Streamline, 2008

Strategies

The Funders Task Group is exploring a variety of strategies to employ as individual funders, small sub-groups and as a collective.

• Providing/advocating for increases to funding levels.
  • Determining appropriate research needs to support an advocacy strategy in order to promote increased funding levels for nonprofit salaries and undertaking or supporting such research.
  • Supporting the development of a local advocacy strategy and collaborating around advocacy provincially and nationally.
• Addressing the issue of full funding for core infrastructure.
• Developing and adopting principles that the group will employ in funding relationships and thereby influence funding practices.

Funders Task Group Membership

Participation currently consists of representatives from each of the following:

• United Way of Calgary and Area (Funder lead)
• Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (Project lead)
• City of Calgary Family and Community Support Services
• Alberta Employment and Immigration
• Alberta Municipal Affairs and Housing
• Calgary & Area Child & Family Services
• The Calgary Foundation
• An Anonymous Donor
• Service Canada
• Calgary Homeless Foundation
• Alberta Community Development
• Social Venture Partners
• PDD Calgary

Questions?

For more information on the Funders Task Group contact:

Allison MacDonald
Capacity Building Coordinator
United Way of Calgary and Area
600, 1202 Centre St SE
Calgary, AB T2G 5A5
Phone: (403) 231-6295 Fax: (403) 266-1271
Email: allisonm@calgaryunitedway.org