ADVOCATING FOR THE CHARITABLE SECTOR

Fundraising professionals are adept at showcasing the worth of their causes, but historically those same skills and knowledge have not been applied to the growth of the sector itself. Some of the most underutilized, highest impact engagement opportunities are with elected officials.

AFP’s Government Relations Committee engages this important stakeholder group by mobilizing leaders, advisors, and chapter representatives to actively monitor issues and legislative changes at all levels of government. The committee develops strategies and plans to advocate on behalf of the AFP membership.

Every AFP Chapter is encouraged to appoint a person to hold the position of Government Relations Chair, to ensure that their membership is up to date on public policy issues and opportunities that impact the charitable sector.

It seems that the Government Relations Committee’s voice is being heard loud and clear, as evident in the federal government’s Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience. Among its 739 pages, the words “charities” and “charitable” appear 67 times—a significant increase from the nine references in the last budget.

This is a positive sign that AFP leaders from across Canada are playing an important role in educating the government in the important role of our sector.