Sharing for Social Change Beyond Trusteeship & Incubation: Supporting Emerging Groups Through Shared Infrastructure Models -Doug Kerr, Sage Centre at Tides Canada

Sharing innovation in the charitable sector What is Sage Centre? Our Mission Organizational Structure Types of Projects Our Services Benefits of Sharing Infrastructure Plans for the Future Discussion

Sage Centre was started by Tides Canada Foundation to meet the changing needs of grassroots initiatives. We enable projects to focus on action not administration. In Fall 2006, Sage Centre & Agora Foundation began a pilot to support unincorporated initiatives in Ontario. Funder Learning Circle was established to explore how the sector supports small and emerging groups. We are supporting emerging initiatives in Toronto, York Region, Ottawa and Waterloo.

What is Sage Centre? We are a federally registered charity working on: Conservation Education and Research (Environment & Social Justice) Leadership Development Civic Engagement Charitable Capacity Building 36 projects comprise our single entity

Our Mission is to Advance Social Change lessen society’s impact on the environment; develop leadership skills; engage creative arts for social change; advance affordable housing issues; conduct violence prevention and poverty alleviation programs; promote social justice

Organizational Structure Sage Centre Board of Directors Core Management & Sage Staff Team Shared Services Sage Projects Project

Types of Projects  Community Collaborations –York Region Alliance to End Homelessness  Coalitions –Halifax Initiative Coalition –Rainforest Solutions Project  Pilots –National Green Legacies –Water Loss Initiative –Capacity Waterloo  Time-limited Initiatives –Northern Rivers Initiatives –BC Marine Conservation Analysis  International Organizations with projects in Canada –ForestEthics Canada –Island Conservation Canada  Great Ideas (individuals or groups) –Centre for City Ecology –Global Women’s Memorial –Reel Youth

More Than Financial Management… Financial Management Human Resources Risk Management Grant Administration Information Sharing Resources Our Suite of Services Sage provides all these services for of project revenue 9 to 12%

“Sage Centre has allowed our very small staff team to be able to do the work we feel passionately about. For a reasonable cost Sage provides us with financial expertise and a legal home. Our coalition thrives in an atmosphere of collaborative leadership without the stress of establishing an infrastructure that might be perceived as competing with or depleting resources from member organizations.” Fraser Reilly-King Halifax Initiative Coalition Our projects say…

Strong Financial Management Annual Independent Financial Audit Monthly Financial & Cash Reports Regulatory Compliance Charitable Receipting for Donations Payables & Receivables Banking and Bank Reconciliation

“I see so many senior managers of NGO’s spend enormous amounts of time on administration, and we are a campaign driven organization, we should be spending our time on our core mission. Until Sage came along there was no back up support. When we needed cheques cut, health insurance coverage etc, there was no one there to help.” Tzeporah Berman ForestEthics Canada Our projects say…

Comprehensive Human Resources Standard Policies & Procedures Offer Letters / Employment Contracts Contracting Payroll Services Group Benefits & Administration

“Sage allows us to have access to employee benefits that used to be exclusive to larger organizations. Sage makes small initiatives feel like they are part of a greater community with expertise that can be drawn on when needed.” Sharon Kurtz, Rainforest Forest Solutions Project Our projects say…

Rigorous Risk Management Lease Administration Insurance Coverage Contract Review Advocacy Tracking Legal Oversight

“Sage has helped me get my job done by being available and engaged. They’ve connected me to funders, tour walk leaders, community groups and government representatives who have all been useful in pushing this event forward. In less than a year they have helped me turn this event from a local initiative to an international phenomenon.” Jane Farrow, Jane’s Walk - Centre for City Ecology Our projects say…

Sound Grant Administration Support Documentation for Grants Financial Reporting Proposal Review and Submission Compliance with Grant Agreements

“Sage has been an enormous support in allowing us to do this work. They have provided a platform for us that has all the compliance pieces in place so we can apply for funding. We have been able to secure two years of funding to build our capacity because of Sage. It’s amazing.” Jane Wedlock, York Region Alliance to End Homelessness Our projects say…

Information Sharing and Resources Project to Project Networking Project Access Only Website

Benefits to Funders Provides: –governance –accountability –transparency –a neutral third-party home for coalitions –projects that meet funder goals Supports –social innovation –emerging ideas and people Leverages –funding dollars “The Sage Centre provides a critical service to both BC conservation funders and the people directly working to protect the province's outstanding natural values. Its flexible approach and strong accountability systems allow the Moore Foundation to confidently invest in important projects that might otherwise have gone unsupported.” Ivan Thompson Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Benefits to Projects fast set-up process professional and experienced administration participation in a diverse network of projects and funders comprehensive HR benefits, insurance credibility with stakeholders allows project idea to be incubated and ‘tested’ in the community “ Sage Centre has given us a neutral space for our coalition. Sage allowed us to hit the ground running with efficient administrative systems without over burdening one of our member organizations or spending time discussing who would handle what administrative task. Sage allowed us to simplify start up and bring existing financial and intellectual resources together quickly to work for a common purpose. ” Chris Allnut Rainforest Solutions Project

Future Work HRSD Canada’s Sharing Innovation in the Non- Profit Sector Legal and Regulatory Work – Law Foundation of Ontario Working with sector on ways that we can support emerging initiatives