ADVOCACY
Pillar Nonprofit Network Public Policy Priorities and Actions 2021
Our communities’ needs and values are changing as they grow more diverse, and the leadership, strategy and approaches of nonprofits, charities and social enterprises are not keeping pace with this change. If we want to address persistent challenges and improve quality of life for all, our solutions and organizations need to represent the communities we are a part of and examine the systems that inhibit equity and inclusion.
Our mission is to strengthen individuals, organizations and enterprises that are invested in positive community impact. Engaging all three levels of government - municipal, provincial and federal - through advocacy and awareness efforts is vital to delivering on this mission and to supporting an enabling regulatory environment that will help our network achieve their desired impact. In this work Pillar doesn’t operate alone, but uses a network approach, connecting organizations to each other and to business and government.
Strategic Plan Alignment
Pillar’s public policy priorities and actions are aligned with the themes and priorities of our 2021-2023 Strategic Plan:
Equity in Action
To acknowledge our shared complicity in anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism and all intersecting oppressions, and drive ourselves and our network to action.
Change in Action
To work together across sectors and shift inequitable structures and systems to create transformational change.
Recovery in Action
To promote an equitable and sustainable recovery that addresses the inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This moment calls for us to move forward as an organization and as a sector and do all we can to shift the systems that maintain inequities, many of which have been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. At a societal level we are all being called upon to confront problems of pandemic proportions, including colonization and anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, gender inequities, oppression and a climate emergency.
2021 Public Policy Priorities and Actions
The following represents Pillar Nonprofit Network’s current focus in terms of proactive policy advocacy. We bring a cross sector approach of engaging nonprofits, social enterprise, business and government to this work. Our network, Public Policy & Government Relations Committee, Board and Executive Director set public policy direction and priority areas. Our key policy priorities are sector-focused, rather than issues-focused. The issues that Pillar focuses on are sector wide and affect more than one sub-sector (e.g. arts, education, environment, faith, health, heritage, social services, sports, and volunteerism/philanthropy).
Local/Regional Priorities
- Advocate for our network and raise awareness about its needs and how we can contribute to an equitable and sustainable recovery that addresses the inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Advocate for an Inclusive Economy, including measures that support Decent Work for Nonprofits.
- Advocate for policy that advances environmental sustainability in our network and community (e.g. London Environmental Network - Green Economic Recovery)
- Advocate for social innovation, social enterprise and social finance as tools for equity, change and recovery in action.
- Advocate for structural changes to address institutional forms of oppression showing up in funding mechanisms.
Provincial Priorities
- Advocate for our network and raise awareness about its needs and how we can contribute to an equitable and sustainable recovery that addresses the inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic across the three pillars.
- Advocate for recovery supports for nonprofits and social enterprises and the role of business in rebuilding our communities.
- Advocate for an Inclusive Economy, including measures that support Decent Work for Nonprofits, social enterprise, social finance, community-owned structures and social procurement.
- Advocate for social innovation, social enterprise and social finance as tools for equity, change and recovery in action.
- Advocate for an enabling regulatory environment.
- Advocate for structural changes to address institutional forms of oppression showing up in funding mechanisms.
NOTE: Pillar is an active member of Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) and we work collaboratively to move forward shared policy priorities.
National Priorities
- Advocate for our network and raise awareness about its needs and how we can contribute to an equitable and sustainable recovery that addresses the inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Advocacy for an equitable recovery for all (e.g. Just Recovery for All)
- Advocate for an enabling regulatory environment (e.g. Funding Reform)
- Advocate for social innovation, social enterprise and social finance as tools for equity, change and recovery in action.
- Advocate for structural changes to address institutional forms of oppression showing up in funding mechanisms.
NOTE: Pillar is an active member of Imagine Canada and we work collaboratively to move forward shared policy priorities.
Key Networks
Municipal
- London Community Recovery Network
Provincial
- Ontario Nonprofit Network
Federal
- Canadian Federation of Voluntary Sector Networks
- Imagine Canada
- National Impact Investment Practitioners Table
- Volunteer Canada
Pillar Policy Talk Sessions & Reports 2019
Pillar recognizes that one of the strengths of the nonprofit sector is our ability to collaborate and share best-practices. Accordingly, it is important that we hold space for our members to discuss policy so they can develop tools, partnerships, and strategies that will help further their missions.
Navigating the New Economic Realities was hosted by Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN), Pillar Nonprofit Network, United Way Elgin-Middlesex, and London Community Foundation on June 18, 2019 with 88 participants. At that event we discussed the current climate of uncertainty created by the 2019 Budget and Expenditure Estimates and heard how organizations can engage in policy development and advocacy efforts.
To check out this report click here
Beyond the Talk, Getting to Action was created as a follow-up discussion so we could start to learn from one another with 35 participants. But this dialogue isn’t limited to one event; we can take our conversation online. Pillar members are encouraged to seek advice, share expertise, and exchange ideas with like minded organizations right here on Pillar’s online community.
To check out the report click here
Future Forward Thinking was a third Policy Conversation was hosted on September 30, 2019 with 29 participants. Andrew Chunilall, CEO of Community Foundations of Canada and Vinod Rajaskeran, Future of Good, discussed Future Forward Thinking and the trends and shifts we need to be paying attention to as a community as well as the actions we can take to prepare for these anticipated changes.
To check out this report click here
AWARENESS
Pillar generates awareness of individuals, organizations and enterprises invested in positive community impact through...