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John Hallward

Chairman of GIV3, President at Sector3Insights

Just to say, I have posted Blog #8 in our series calling for a change in the Charity/Social Sector. https://lnkd.in/eR3D4SPZ Our charity sector needs a holistic strategic plan to help optimize the allocation of efforts towards the highest priorities for the sector.  To respect the true meaning of setting priorities, only a few key items can be presented. Outlining dozens of problems works to distract, overwhelm, and dilute efforts. Here are my top three initiatives I believe are most important: 1.     To address the growing charity gap, and to reverse the decline in giving in Canada, we need to encourage greater generosity among all targets.    →  Since religious people are more generous, the decline of religiosity challenges the future of the charity sector. We need to learn what it is about religion which drives greater generosity and then replicate it elsewhere. - To get an initial insight on the influence of religiosity, see this recent Canadian research study: https://lnkd.in/esFZcghy  →  It might be a good idea to develop and deliver an on-going ‘generosity’ campaign. This would be akin to ParticipACTION (for greater exercise), but for greater generosity.  →   It should also be said that it is inappropriate to increase charity tax incentives to incent greater giving since this is both expensive to the public purse and because generosity is more strongly influenced by culture than it is by tax credits. - For example, Quebec has the highest charity tax credits of all provinces, but has the lowest level of charitable giving per capita. 2.     To help deliver more charitable services, we need to invest in, train, and retain more motivated staff and volunteers. We need to enhance the supply. •       We need programs to make Canadians aware of the need, the opportunity, and ease to work in the charity sector, as paid staff and/or as volunteers. •      The vast majority of charities do not have HR departments so it might be useful to establish a “central, universal HR hub” for the sector (?) •       We need to defend the rationale for ‘overhead costs’ (as per “Uncharitable” by Dan Pallotta). •       It might even be interesting to allow (underpaid) staff in the charity sector to be able to claim a tax credit (say, 10% of their salary as reported on the T4s), up to some maximum (perhaps $3,000-$5,000).  •       Perhaps corporations can register for staff volunteering, with a certain portion of staff time volunteered for charitable purposes earning tax credits (?)   3.     We need better dissemination of best-practices to all 85,000 registered charities in Canada. We need to help charities become better. •       Perhaps we need a ‘central knowledge hub’ to help teach and host best-practices for the sector? Something akin to the “What Works Network” in the UK.  What other priorities do you think are most relevant to those in need? 

Generosity in Canada - Summary Report

Generosity in Canada - Summary Report

https://sector3insights.com

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