The Critical Importance of a Secretariat for the Charitable Sector in Canada
Designating a secretariat in government for the charitable sector that is properly resourced (staff and budget) would be the most significant way for the government to understand the needs of the sector, to properly engage the sector in policy development, and to ensure the ability of charities to meet the wide-ranging needs of Canadians today and in the future.
The time to act is now. Canadians need the government to create a secretariat.
- There is no single place in government tasked with increasing the sector’s vibrancy, its growth and its ability to deliver critical services in communities across the country.
- A secretariat would work with public servants in different departments and agencies to help them consider the potential impacts of policies, programs and laws on the sector.
- It would result in greater collaborative policy development and an understanding of the importance of the sector.
- It would improve the use of government and charitable sector resources enabling both to better meet the wide-ranging needs of Canadians now and in the future.
- Charities and nonprofits supplement government by focusing on some of the biggest problems our country faces today (e.g., poverty, hunger, healthcare, disasters, inequalities).
- Charities and nonprofits provide support to those affected by important challenges that the government aims to tackle such as climate change, cost of living, affordability and jobs.
- With more than 9.6 million Canadians relying on the sector to help meet their basic needs, the demand for services is growing. The sector must have government policies that strengthen its ability to be there for the people it serves.
- In its written response to the special senate committee report on the sector in 2021, the government expressed support for the creation of a single window into government. This would be accomplished through a secretariat.
Background
Despite the fact that the charitable sector contributes more than 8% to Canada’s GDP, our sector does not have a dedicated secretariat in government, tasked with ensuring the well-being and viability of the more than 170,000 charities and nonprofits in the country.
After holding more than 25 meetings with organizations and officials in 2018 and 2019, the Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector issued its report on the sector, which included a Recommendation (Recommendation 22) for the Government to create one.
In its official response to this report, the government indicated it is supportive of the creation of a window into government for the charitable sector. Despite this, no progress has been made, and the sector continues to find itself left out of regulatory and policy decisions at the federal level.
AFP Canada continues to advocate for the need for a designated federal entity for the charitable sector for a number of years.
About AFP Canada
AFP Canada is a leading national voice for fundraising professionals who are vital in advancing charitable work. The 3,000 AFP members in Canada play a critical role helping to shape Canadian policy and raising funds that change lives. They fundraise for organizations large and small, in rural and remote communities as well as towns and major cities across the country. Fundraisers support the arts, culture, shelters, emergency services, healthcare, education, reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and social justice, all while contributing over 8% to GDP annually.
AFP members in Canada are part of the larger AFP Global network—the largest community of professional fundraisers in the world. The approximately 26,000 members worldwide raise over $100 billion annually to support thousands of philanthropic causes and organizations across the globe in accordance with AFP’s Code of Ethical Standards.
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