Creating a Framework for Change April 28, 2008

Creating a Framework for ChangeApril 28, 2008 Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Strategic Partnership Initiative

Our Agenda Today: • Our Environment • The SVO Initiative • The Framework for Change • Invited Guest Presentation • Your Input • Next Steps

In Ontario • There are about 45,000 incorporated, non-profit groups. • The vast majority of non-profits are small and medium sized. • More than half of non-profits are run exclusively by volunteers. • A survey by Infrastructure Canada found 82 per cent of Ontarians consider volunteer organizations to be the most important contributors to modern life in our communities.

Statistics Canada assigns a value to Ontario’s volunteers’ time at over $10 billion annually, and charitable contributions at over $4.4 billion. • Over 5 million Ontarians volunteer yearly, contributing over 800 million annual volunteer hours – equivalent to more than 400,000 full-time jobs. • 86 per cent of Ontarians participate in informal volunteering by helping others directly. The national average is 83 per cent. (www.citizenship.gov.on.ca)

The Volunteer Environment: • Decrease in numbers of volunteers • People are too busy to volunteer • Competition for leisure time • People are seeking flexibility, short-term or task specific involvements (2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, available at www.nsgvp.org)

In Ontario: • 1 million fewer volunteers between 1997 and 2000 • decrease from 32% to 25% of population • 7% of Canadians give 73% of volunteer hours • 5% “super volunteers” give 34% of all volunteer hours (2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, available at www.nsgvp.org)

Canadian organizations report these challenges: • recruiting the types of volunteers the organization needs (57%) • obtaining board members (49%) • retaining volunteers (48%) • providing training for volunteers (41%) • a lack of paid staff to recruit and manage volunteers (34%) (Highlights from the National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations, 2004 (www.nonprofitscan.ca))

We are witnessing a decline in the number of volunteers that translates into a decreasing concern for the caring for others. Statement from an Article written by Donna Lockhart, a trainer, researcher and consultant with The RETHINK Group which appeared on Charity Village in May, 2007.

In June, 2006: • The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration provided funding to the Strengthening Voluntarism in Ontario (SVO) initiative • Led by Steering Committee (up to 20 members, representing cross-sectoral non-profit, voluntary organizations)

SVO Activities: • Formed the Steering Committee and four Working Groups, June 2006 • Conducted a Voluntary Sector Focus Group, November 2006 was • Released an Environmental scan and literature review, December 2006 • Launched Strengthening Voluntarism in Ontario website, February 2007

Held Key informant Interviews, February to April 2007 • Conducted five Regional focus groups, February to April 2007 • Hosted the Strengthening Voluntarism in Ontario Symposium, June 2007 • Established SVO Transition Working Group, December 2007 to March 2008

Based on the learnings from these activities the SVO Transition Working Group Goal was to: To create a mechanism / coordinating body to provide cohesion, leadership and support to our non-profit and voluntary sector

SVO Transition Working Group has developed: • Aspiration and Vision Statement • Framework for Change and Strategic Priorities • Draft Business Plan

Aspiration • Together, as citizens, we will build a stronger Ontario

Vision All citizens have a place in creating strong communities. Cleaning up a neighbourhood park, feeding the hungry, coaching a team or visiting the sick, each one of us has something special to offer to our neighbours and to our community. In fact, it is through the initiative, stewardship and leadership of volunteers that our communities transform from a place of roads and buildings into the very places that we are proud to call home. Therefore, it is important that we continue to create space for such leadership and to foster opportunities where each one of us may step forward. Now is the time for citizens, volunteers, organizations, businesses and government to come together to strengthen voluntarism and build a stronger Ontario

The SVO coordinating body will align strategic resources and investments to build and strengthen citizen and volunteer engagement in Ontario. Three priorities areas will focus our work to enhance volunteerism, build community capacity and sustain a welcoming policy environment which supports and values volunteers and the voluntary sector in Ontario. Valuing Volunteer Leadership Policy and Systems Change Alignment across Organizations and Sectors

What’s Next? Today . . . • We’ve prepared a draft Implementation Plan based on the three strategic priorities. • We’ve created questions which address each of the strategic priorities. We will be asking each table to respond to one of the three questions. Our facilitator, Ruth Armstrong will guide us through our discussions and summary of our table-talks.

Valuing Volunteer Leadership and Volunteerism • What does valuing volunteer leadership mean and how would it look? What activities might SVO undertake to honour and value volunteer leadership and increase inclusivity and opportunities across all sectors?

Aligning Organizations and Sectors • Traditionally, the non-profit and voluntary sector in Ontario has operated in silos. How would you suggest we create new networks, communicate new ideas and create an environment for sharing resources and best practices? How do we learn to speak with one voice and to work differently together? Who can we learn from?

Creating and Sustaining a Welcoming Policy Environment • How would SVO create a sustainable and welcoming policy environment for voluntarism and volunteers? How do we work with government and the private sector as partners to solve our common challenges? How do we build trust?

As part of the consultative process we are: • Seeking your input • Based upon your input, we will incorporate your ideas, suggestions and recommendations into the implementation strategy • We will circulate today’s proceedings to you

We will be asking you to consider what role you and/or your organization would like to take in moving the SVO forward. • Based upon your input today, we will be developing a final Business Plan to seek funding to support the SVO.

Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world…indeed it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

Creating a Framework for Change April 28, 2008