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The Report of the National Project on Sharing
Resources: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION A. BACKGROUND Initiated by the Canadian Congress for Learning Opportunities for Women (CCLOW), this Project was developed to research models, strategies, and structures for collaborative fundraising and resource development within the women's sector. Efforts to bring together national women's groups for the purpose of exploring the potential for collaborative fundraising emerged from the development of the Canadian Women's Foundation (CWF). The work of the CWF in this area led to a 1991 conference called Enlarging the Pie. The conference, co-sponsored by the Canadian Women's Foundation, the YWCA of Canada, and the National Action Committee on the Status of Women, brought together 18 national women's groups to begin the process of working together more effectively by pooling resources, experiences, and knowledge. One of the results of this meeting was an agreement that women's groups should investigate opportunities in collaborative fundraising. Other areas of work identified included information sharing on fundraising, and development of a common message or case statement to support fundraising efforts. In an increasingly competitive fundraising environment, women's groups recognize that a simple reshuffling of existing fundraising dollars will not bring about the kind of financial stability and organizational capacity needed. Instead, the women's sector requires an infusion of new funds -- a larger pie -- which could best be achieved by working together rather than in isolation. This concept is in no way meant to suggest that women's groups accept the increasing reluctance of governments to fulfill their responsibilities in providing support to groups working to redress social inequalities. Instead, groups recognize the reality of their situations. For many, the success and survival of their organizations in the coming years will depend greatly on developing new sources of revenue, though continuing to advocate government support for their efforts. The National Project on Sharing Resources is a Feasibility Study which assesses the degree of need, willingness, capacity, and consensus among women's groups for a collaborative fundraising initiative and recommends a plan of action for achieving success. CCLOW invited the original partners of the Enlarging the Pie Conference and other national women's organizations to form a Planning Committee to work together on the project. Nine national women's organizations agreed to have a representative on the Planning Committee. For a variety of reasons, not all groups were able to participate actively in Planning Committee meetings and discussions. All have been supportive of the Project. Groups that participated in the Planning Committee are:
A team of Consultants composed of Mary Chrow, Suzanne Gibson, and Ratna Omidvar worked with the Planning Committee on the Project. With a combined background and knowledge in organizational development, fundraising, and strategic planning, the Consultants circulated a questionnaire, conducted interviews and focus groups, and synthesized the information for presentation in this Report. Funding for the Feasibility Study was obtained from the Women's Program, Department of Human Resources Development, and the Voluntary Action Directorate, Department of Canadian Heritage.
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