Symposium June 8, 2007 Project Summary & Key Findings Alison Caird & Eric Saunter Steering Committee Co-Chairs

2 Background  How the project began  OCVI discussion  MCI proposal & funding  What the project wasn’t  No ‘magic bullets’  No media attention  What the project was  Learning from strategic partnerships  Building a growing consortium of organizations dedicated to acting on what the sector wants  Project Challenges  Difficult to get the sector to talk about this

3 Contracted objectives & deliverables 1. Provincial ‘Unified Voice’ Mechanism: To explore options and identify a preferred model to support the development of a strong, inclusive coordinating body for the non-profit, voluntary sector. 2. Working Differently to Work Better Models: To identify effective approaches for working together to address organizational and operational needs of sector non-profits, including regionally based best practices. 3. Consult with the Sector: To effectively dialogue with the non-profit, voluntary sector about the value of a provincial coordinating body mechanism offering a unified voice on common good issues, and about regional or cross-sectoral collaborative models and approaches. Work Plan Elements

4 Milestones Steering committee & work groups established Sector Leaders Forum (Nov 06) Research & Environmental Scan Report (Dec 06) Sector Consultation (March to May ’07)  Regional Focus Groups - 5 sessions (Kingston, Kitchener, Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay)  Key Informant Interviews  On-line Sector Survey Symposium VI (June 2007)  Education & dialogue on model approaches  Consensus-building agenda  Networking and collaborations

5 Environmental Scan & Research Results

6 Environmental Scan and Research Report analyzing current approaches prepared by the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development (CVSRD) of Carlton University. Key findings include: Reviewed 25 specific initiatives from North America and United Kingdom Identified a range of 7 component-model approaches Scan found that associations that have a broad membership to be the most prevalent form and also appears to be the most sustainable. The ‘pure’ coalition is most common form to address a particular issue but is less sustainable.

7 Environmental Scan and Research Report identified ‘Success Factors’ for a mechanism including: Sector led and independent Reflecting all parts of the sector Sticking to cross-sector issues Establishing positive links with all levels of government Having staff strength to enable strong organizational and follow-through capacity Demonstrating benefit/value to the sector Listening, responding and building

8 Sector Consultation Results

9 Sector Consultation Strategy Variety of communication vehicles employed Broad questions posed: 1.What are your needs and wants? 2.Would a mechanism be useful? 3.What would a provincial mechanism look like?  Structure Matrix Review (see hand-out) 1.Network 2.Alliance 3.Coalition 4.Confederation

10 Yes! We want a mechanism! Sector Leaders Forum: unanimous agreement On-line Sector Survey: 88% said yes Key Informant Interviews: 75% said yes Regional Focus Groups: yes

11 "We need strategic planning at the provincial and national level to ensure that the voluntary sector has the resources necessary to improve. This strategic planning cannot be done - at the level necessary - by individual organizations. It needs research and planning. It is not a goal - rather it is to be used for advocacy…on an ongoing basis with government and major businesses and associations.” Key Informant Interview 2007

12 On-line Survey Results

13 How useful would it be for your organization to have a cross-sectoral, provincial, coordinating mechanism that would assist your organization in each of the following areas? % Rating 5 Very Useful; 3-4 Useful; 1-2 Not useful/a little useful

14 How useful would it be for your organization to have a cross-sectoral, provincial, coordinating mechanism that would assist your organization in each of the following areas? % Rating 5 Very Useful; 3-4 Useful; 1-2 Not useful/a little useful

15 Please rate the priority that you think should be given in the first year to each of the following areas: % Rating 5 Very high priority; 3-4 Moderate priority; 1-2 Low priority

16 Please rate the priority that you think should be given in the first year to each of the following areas: % Rating 5 Very high priority; 3-4 Moderate priority; 1-2 Low priority

17 Overall, do you agree or disagree that a provincial coordinating mechanism is needed to support organizations in the non-profit, voluntary sector?

18 Which of these four approaches would be your 1st and 2nd choice as the most appropriate type of mechanism:

19 Regional Focus Group Results

20 Most pressing issues facing organizations: 1. Funding 2. Recruitment/Retention of volunteers 3. Increased training burden (due to ↑turnover) 4. Specially skilled volunteers ( ↑need) 5. Changing demographics (traditional sources more difficult to access) 6. Recruitment funding (i.e. new money needed to recruit) 7. Required professionalization of administrators of volunteers 8. Competing organizations 9. Communication and awareness 10. Northern Ontario issues (i.e. geographical, economical, limited access to professionals)

21 What could a provincial wide, coordinating mechanism do? Identify needs and address/represent sector on common issues Share knowledge and organize regional meetings like the focus groups to facilitate dialogue at the local level Work with all levels of government to find solutions to keep volunteer centres open Be a representative voice, advocate on volunteer, corporate funder, and public issues to government Facilitate sharing of resources focused on education, best practices, capacity building (funding)

22 “Confederation (model option) received the most discussion during the focus groups and may be one of the favoured options to move forward with the design of a provincial mechanism.” Meeting Input Summary SVO Participants comments offering the rationale for that selection: Ability to access multi-way communications and decisions from grass roots to the political level Democratic and reflective of common issues in the sector Open membership and opportunity for networking locally The opportunity for all non-profits to be represented Diversity of membership so that geographical, cultural and ethnic issues can be addressed Powerful voice because it would represent the whole sector Defines a new level of commitment and accountability Larger pool of ideas that can be refined to a common goal

23 Questions Generated by the Sector During the Consultative Process

24 Questions generated by the sector include: What benefit would there be for local organizations? Who will it serve, will it speak to the volunteer sector and serve the needs of the volunteer community? How will the mechanism represent the urban and rural communities? Why do we have to create something that we already have in Provincial Organizations?

25 How would a mechanism be different than previous organizations like COVO/OCVI? How would priorities be determined? How would representation be determined? Is this provincial body a group to strengthen volunteerism in Ontario, or is it to build capacity for the non-profit voluntary sector?

26 Where do we go from here?

27 Learnings to date Strong desire in the sector to develop a cross- sectoral and inclusive provincial mechanism Mechanism will strengthen volunteerism at regional and local level Growing recognition that a mechanism will offer value to the sector & civic society Diversity and complexity of the sector presents strength & challenges While a mechanism is wanted, questions remain about it will it look like

28 Next Steps? Symposium VI: continuing to gather feedback from the sector, and defining a preferred mechanism/approach  Purpose of the process  Refine and build  Commit to move it forward  If a Confederation/Coalition/other Model?  Define the Guiding Principles, and  How do we design it so it can serve the sector?

29 "If the Strengthening Voluntarism in Ontario project does not result in the development of a provincial mechanism, we believe that a lot will be lost: synergy, momentum, a voice to government, sector recognition, advocacy for the profession, growth, and an opportunity to do something historic.” Key Informant Interview 2007