We are pleased to announce the launch of the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector Infrastructure Collaborative Fund—an initiative providing multi-year general operating support to nonprofit networks across Canada. Amid growing uncertainty in the sector, the Collaborative Fund helps address the longstanding underfunding of organizations that serve as essential infrastructure for Canada’s nonprofit and charitable sector.
A growing group of funders has come together through the Collaborative Fund to strengthen charitable and nonprofit infrastructure across Canada. Current funding partners include the Benefaction Foundation, Catherine Donnelly Foundation, The Counselling Foundation of Canada, Definity Foundation, Laidlaw Foundation, Lawson Foundation, McConnell Foundation, RBC Foundation, and Tiny Foundation. Additional funders who share this commitment are welcome to join.
The Collaborative Fund has raised $1.5 million annually for three years and is building toward an ultimate goal of $3 million annually for five years, supporting provincial and territorial nonprofit networks across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, and Nunavut, to strengthen provincial and territorial infrastructure and national coordination.
Addressing a Persistent Funding Gap
Provincial and territorial nonprofit networks play a critical role in strengthening the overall health of Canada’s nonprofit and charitable sector. They serve as comprehensive regional resource hubs for organizations across all subsectors, from healthcare and social services to arts, environment, and sports.
Their work furthers charitable purposes by promoting high standards of practice within the sector, including by conducting vital “state of the sector” research, advancing education through capacity-building and professional development, advocating to governments on sector-wide issues, and promoting efficiencies and offering collective solutions—such as employee benefits, insurance programs, and purchasing discounts—that individual charities and nonprofits often cannot access on their own.
Despite their impact, provincial and territorial networks have faced persistent underfunding. This leads network organizations to expend significant energy pursuing funding from multiple sources, which, in turn, reduces their capacity to focus on serving their members’ needs.
A Streamlined, Trust-Based Approach
The Charitable and Nonprofit Sector Infrastructure Collaborative Fund is grounded in trust-based philanthropy and designed for both equity and efficiency, recognizing that networks at different stages of development require different levels of support, while ensuring that funding reaches every region of Canada.
- Multi-year general operating support gives networks flexibility to address the most pressing charitable needs in their area.
- Non-competitive equitable support ensures that every qualifying provincial and territorial network receives funding based on a transparent, equitable formula.
- National infrastructure support strengthens national coordination and shared learning across the country.
- Annual convenings bring together network leaders and funding partners to share learning, assess progress, and strengthen collaborative relationships.
Strengthening Capacity Across the Sector
When intermediary networks are well-resourced, the benefits ripple across the charitable and nonprofit sector. Their success strengthens provincial and territorial sector environments, directly supporting thousands of organizations working in communities across Canada, and enabling them to operate with greater capacity and resilience.
The Collaborative Fund reflects the adaptability of Canadian philanthropy to quickly respond to emerging sector challenges. Through this collaborative approach, participating foundations strengthen sector infrastructure beyond what any single funder could achieve.
Provincial/Territorial Nonprofit Networks Supported via the Collaborative Fund
- Alberta: Alberta Nonprofit Network / Nonprofit Chamber
- British Columbia: Vantage Point
- Manitoba: Manitoba Network of Networks
- New Brunswick: New Brunswick Nonprofit Network
- Newfoundland & Labrador: Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia: Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia
- Nunavut: Nunavut Association of Non-Profit Organizations
- Ontario: Ontario Nonprofit Network
- Prince Edward Island: PEI Community Sector Network
- Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Nonprofit Partnership
- Yukon: Yukon NGO Hub Society
Made Possible by the Following Growing Group of Funders
Amanda Mayer
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