Through an investment by the federal government, Trico Charitable Foundation will launch a project to help not-for-profit organizations increase the impact of their social enterprises. The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, made the announcement today.
The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development“Our Government is committed to exploring new ways to achieve better results for Canadians, which means working with local organizations to develop solutions that meet the individual needs of communities,” said Minister Finley. “We are proud to partner with organizations such as Trico Charitable Foundation to help address complex social issues and we are excited to see the results of this project.”
Trico Charitable Foundation is receiving over $1.5 million in federal government funding for its Enterprising Non-Profits Canada project. This project will test the ability of not-for-profit organizations to leverage non-federal government funding to address social challenges. Trico Charitable Foundation will support the development of the social enterprise sector by coordinating and pooling ideas and resources across the country.
“Trico Charitable Foundation is honoured to be partnering with the Government of Canada in the creation of Enterprising Non-Profits Canada,” said Michele Fugiel Gartner, the Trico Charitable Foundation’s General Manager. “This partnership advances the work of regional Enterprising Non-Profits affiliates by creating a national network enabling the growth and development of social enterprises. We are pleased to receive the support of the Government of Canada to advance social enterprise as a way to build strong non-profits and create healthier communities.”
This project is being funded as part of the Government of Canada’s Social Partnerships Strategy. Economic Action Plan 2012 builds on previous commitments to encourage the development of partnerships that cross traditional boundaries between the public, for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. By working closely with communities and relying on local expertise to find local solutions to social issues, the government is exploring new approaches to increase the impact of federal spending.
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Backgrounder
Social enterprise
Social enterprise is the use of business strategies by both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations to achieve a social good. This emerging business model is helping to increase the financial strength of community organizations by providing an alternate source of revenue to tackle complex social problems.
Not-for-profit organizations (NFPs) are encouraged to invest in change and adopt new approaches for greater organizational resilience and community impact. Social enterprise can be an option for NFPs to stabilize and diversify their funding base while enhancing their programs or services. The result: stronger, more sustainable non-profits and healthier communities.
The Government of Canada’s support of social enterprise will enhance a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, while sharing risk and responsibility. Through a social enterprise, an NFP can advance its mission, fill a market need in their community, and provide opportunities for its client base to participate in community.
Social Development Partnerships Program
The Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) invests in organizations that support the well-being of Canadians – from developing a better understanding of the issues Canadians face, to providing greater access to information, programs and services.
The SDPP supports community programs through grant and contribution funding that directly assists non-government organizations to develop and implement innovative solutions to overcome barriers. For example, organizations carry out projects to help families taking care of elderly parents while raising children; to help youth who are at-risk of dropping out of high school, and to increase participation, opportunities and accessibility for people with disabilities.
For more information on the Social Development Partnerships Program, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca