Impact: AFP Canada and the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada

FRANÇAIS

Highlights from 2021
 

Together, AFP Canada and the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada:

• Developed an ambitious and relevant 2022-2024 AFP in Canada Strategic Plan after a comprehensive 10-month process which included many opportunities for AFP leaders across Canada to provide input. 
• Co-hosted an extremely successful Virtual Canadian Leadership Retreat creating a space to learn, have challenging conversations and be inspired by exceptional leaders while offering hope and inspiration.
• Began the important work of identifying actions that AFP can take on Truth and Reconciliation in Canada offering AFP leaders the opportunity to contribute to this work while continuing their learning journeys. 

AFP Canada highlights:

• Incorporated a diversity, anti-racism, and equity lens into AFP Canada's work (e.g., committee workplans, board member recruitment and meetings) with a goal of increasing diverse perspectives and fostering an inclusive environment.
• Delivered four engaging sessions to 150 leaders on the Narrative for Canadian Fundraising and our media tools. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive with members seeing value not only for their volunteer roles with AFP but also for their work. (The webinar recordings are available – Narrative and Media.)
• Advocated for an equitable recovery from the pandemic. In addition to high member engagement, these efforts contributed to our sector being included in the federal budget and other organizations using our tools. Highlights include:
  • Budget 2021 campaign (30 meetings held with government officials and a revised pre-budget submission);
  • 2022 pre-budget submission; 
  • Election campaign (#fundraisersvote); and
  • Support of increasing the disbursement quota.
• Published 27 Canadian articles in English and in French last year.
• Offered support and guidance to AFP leaders responding to media inquiries. 
• In addition to publishing two supplements on our sector with the Globe & Mail, we ran four ads encouraging Canadians to support charities. 
• Participated in sector leader meetings, the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector and the CRA Technical Issues Working Group.

AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada highlights:

• Completed the fifth iteration of “What Canadian Donors Want." Both a report and webinar were produced. The report is available in English and French.
• The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada created a new case for support in 2021 confirming our funding priorities of:
  • Expand the National Scholarship Program and developing leadership training opportunities;
  • Bolster our understanding of Canadian philanthropy and fundraising through research;
  • Expand and enhance the Fellowship in Inclusion and Philanthropy Program; and
  • Expand our ethics training for both fundraisers and the Not-for-Profit Sector.
• The Fundamentals of Fundraising course curriculum was translated into French, and the AFP Quebec chapter used it in 2021.
• More than $21,000 in grants to AFP chapters was provided to provide important resources for the fundraising profession in their geographic areas.
• Inducted eight new members onto the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada board from many diverse backgrounds, making the board the most diverse in the Foundation’s history.

Plans for 2022
 

Together, AFP Canada and the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada plan to:

• Implement the actions identified by the working group on Truth and Reconciliation leading the way for AFP to begin taking meaningful steps in this important journey.  
• Support and inspire AFP leaders by offering a relevant, engaging, and thoughtful Canadian Leadership Retreat in Montreal July 21-23. Additionally, we plan to convene AFP members from Canada in conjunction with AFP ICON and AFP LEAD. 
• With the goal of continuing to be more inclusive and encouraging diverse leadership, review the language used in the nominating process for both AFP Canada and the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada. 

AFP Canada’s plans to: 

• Increase the credibility of our profession by continuing to champion the Narrative for Canadian Fundraising—focusing on the value of our profession and how it changes lives.  
• Raise the profile of our sector, our policy priorities and AFP through a fall government relations outreach campaign to Members of Parliament and government officials.
• Promote positive and consistent messages about our profession and AFP through the AFP Canada Media Spokesperson Program which trains regional media representatives who serve as resources for AFP and Canadian chapters.
• Review and revise to the Narrative for Canadian Fundraising with a decolonizing and social justice lens. Offer the Narrative Advocates' Training in conjunction with the Retreat this summer and support the Quebec chapter with the delivery of the first Narrative Primer in French. 
• Publish government relations tools and resources for AFP members including two policy position papers and a government relations information sheet.
• Respond to opportunities to raise the profile of our sector while positioning AFP as an influential thought leader and voice for the philanthropic and charitable sector. 
• Actively seek strategic opportunities to collaborate with AFP Global while highlighting the Canadian perspective. 

AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada’s plans to: 

• Offer scholarships to support education in fundraising to Canadians through the National Scholarship Program with deadlines of March 15 and September 15, 2022.
• Fund important Canadian-focused research on fundraising or philanthropy through a transparent call for research process. 
• Raise funds through the Every Member Campaign and major gifts in order to provide important benefits and resources for the fundraising profession in Canada like the National Scholarship Program, IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) related initiatives and research.
• Translate important resources into French for the francophone community.
• Offer a webinar on cultural awareness on racism in Canada.
• Raise funds for the Fellowship in Inclusion and Philanthropy program and evaluate the program structure for future cohorts.
   

About AFP Canada
AFP Canada, a nonprofit formed in 2017, was created to bring a Canadian perspective to AFP’s government relations and communications. AFP Canada represents more than 3,000 fundraising leaders across the country working to support causes and missions that help Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The organization serves as the voice of the fundraising profession in Canada and is part of the larger AFP Global network, the largest community of professional fundraisers in the world. For more information, go to www.afpcanada.org.  

About the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada
The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada, a registered charity, was created in 1999. As the philanthropic arm of AFP, the Foundation raises funds for its National Scholarship Program, the Fellowship in Inclusion and Philanthropy Program, research, ethics education, and leadership development. For more information, go to https://afpglobal.org/afp-foundation-philanthropy-canada.