National Nonprofit Sector Advocacy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Cathy Barr Imagine Canada
  • Bernadette Johnson Imagine Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/cjnser.2021v12nS1a545

Keywords:

Advocacy; Nonprofit; Charity; Public policy; COVID-19 / Défense des droits; Organisme sans but lucratif; Organisme de bienfaisance; Politiques publiques; COVID-19

Abstract

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Canada in March 2020, charitable and nonprofit sector leaders quickly realized the survival of many organizations was at risk. Three national coalitions formed to seek support for the sector from the federal government. Their efforts produced several concrete policy outcomes, including the inclusion of charities and nonprofits in all major federal relief programs and two support programs designed for charities and nonprofits. They also contributed to significantly increased awareness among policymakers of the role and challenges of charities and nonprofits. This has opened a policy window that the sector can use to advance several long-standing goals.

RÉSUMÉ

Quand la pandémie du COVID-19 a frappé le Canada en mars 2020, les dirigeants du secteur caritatif et sans but lucratif se sont vite rendu compte que la survie de plusieurs organismes était menacée. On a donc formé trois coalitions nationales afin de chercher un appui au secteur auprès du gouvernement fédéral. Les efforts de ces coalitions ont mené à plusieurs politiques concrètes, y compris l’inclusion d’organismes de bienfaisance et sans but lucratif dans tous les programmes d’aide fédéraux majeurs et la création de deux programmes d’aide conçus spécifiquement pour les organismes de bien- faisance et sans but lucratif. Ces coalitions ont aussi contribué à accroître de manière significative la conscience parmi les stratèges du rôle et des défis des organismes de bienfaisance et sans but lucratif. Ces progrès ont créé des occasions politiques dont le secteur pourra profiter pour faire avancer plusieurs objectifs de longue date.

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Author Biography

Cathy Barr, Imagine Canada

Cathy Barr is Vice-President, Mission Effectiveness at Imagine Canada, a national charitable organization whose mission is to strengthen and support Canadian charities and nonprofits so they may better serve and engage individuals and communities here and around the world.

Cathy has been with Imagine Canada since 2002, when it was still known as the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy. She spent five years as Director of Research, was the founding Director of the Insurance & Liability Resource Centre for Nonprofits, and led the creation of Imagine Canada’s National Standards Program. In her current role as Vice-President, Mission Effectiveness, Cathy is responsible for ensuring that Imagine Canada makes measureable progress towards meeting its strategic goals.

Prior to moving to the charitable sector, Cathy was an Assistant Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University. She has a PhD in political science from York University.

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Published

2021-11-02

Issue

Vol. 12 No. S1 (2021): Special Issue: Crisis, Pandemic, and Beyond: Nonprofits and the Adaptive Capability of Communities

Section

Perspectives for the Field

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Cathy Barr, Bernadette Johnson

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