Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story-"The Very Long Engagement: Public policy and the voluntary sector's role

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story: "The Very Long Engagement: Public policy and the voluntary sector's role
Andy Levy-AjzenkopfApril 10, 2006
By Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf

Canada's voluntary sector is as diversified as it is ubiquitous. Yet most nonprofit organizations share a common objective: the need to engage in an ongoing, mutual dialogue with government to help shape and influence public policy. From large, well-funded foundations, down to the smallest community groups, all have a stake in public policy issues. And in order to help the sector better engage on various issues, umbrella organizations have been popping up across the country to provide nonprofits with the means to achieve more leverage with government.
Build it and they will engage
Katherine Van Kooy is president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO). In 2003, the CCVO officially launched its operation to provide the city's nonprofits with a strong, central support network. 'One of our roles is to act as a clearinghouse of information, a 'go-to' place for organizations who want to engage with the sector around their issues,' she says. To that end, the CCVO publishes bi-weekly e-bulletins, conducts surveys, and convenes workshops to keep their members informed and engaged about impending issues and trends. But Van Kooy realizes that the CCVO and other organizations like hers have a lot of work to do to"