2004:02 FUNDING IN THE NON-PROFIT AND VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Whereas non-profit organizations play an important role in the well-being of individuals and the community in social, health, cultural, recreational, environmental, and other aspects of Canadian life and deliver services that build social capital; and
Whereas to function efficiently, these organizations need sufficient assured, long-term funding to maintain infrastructure and retain effective staff; and
Whereas in the past, non-profit voluntary organizations with a proven record of community service have been able to rely on a combination of public and private funding sources that provided funding stability; and
Whereas in recent years, government cutbacks and the move to project funding by both government and private funders have left organizations without the core funding needed for their ongoing operations; and
Whereas in the absence of sufficient assured long-term funding, non-profit organizations divert energies away from fulfilling their important work in the community and towards searching out short-term funding sources with onerous reporting requirements, which sometimes threatens the very survival of the organization; therefore, be it
Resolved that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy the necessity for support of government funding of the non-profit sector that will provide the stability, continuity, and predictability of funding that enables organizations to fulfill the missions for which they were created; and be it further
Resolved that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to:
a. establish a method of government funding for the non-profit sector with the aim of providing greater stability, continuity, and predictability by ensuring core funding to cover realistic administration costs and attract and retain effective staff;
b. establish guidelines for advocacy and for the services it wishes to support and fund those non-profit organizations whose mission is in accordance with these guidelines;
c. require reasonable and streamlined reporting from non-profit organizations; and be it further
Resolved that the National Council of Women of Canada urge Provincial Councils of Women to urge their provincial governments to:
a. establish a method of government funding for the non-profit sector with the aim of providing greater stability, continuity, and predictability by ensuring core funding to cover realistic administration costs and attract and retain effective staff;
b. establish guidelines for advocacy and for the services it wishes to support and fund those non-profit organizations whose mission is in accordance with these guidelines;
require reasonable and streamlined reporting from non-profit organizations.