News and Updates

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

In spite of the obvious focus that all of us have had on the fallout of the impact of the economy, we were able to continue to make significant strides in the Government Non Profit Initiative (GNPI) over the past quarter. There is no doubt that part of the work over the past few months has been focused on strengthening our relationship through these challenging economic times.

We’re pleased to share some of our successes from the last update, which include:

• Social Innovation Workshop held
• Leadership Exchange announcement
• Joint Procurement Project kick-off
• Aboriginal Engagement Team launched
• Labour Market Partnership (LMP) Program moving forward
• 'Human Resource Issues in the Sector' paper completed and ready for circulation

Social Innovation Workshop: On June 18, a number of provincial government senior staff and non profit sector leaders gathered to discuss the activity in BC relating to social innovation, social enterprise, and social entrepreneurship. The group discussed gaps and priorities, and will reconvene this fall to determine how we can best move forward to address these issues and what actions the GNPI is uniquely positioned to lead and/or support.

Leadership Exchanges: In September, the GNPI announced that it would be facilitating Leadership Exchanges between the provincial government and the non-profit sector. The goals of these exchanges are to build leadership capacity within the government and non-profit sectors, advance the issues being addressed by the GNPI, and build mutual understanding of our respective sectors.

As the first exchange, we are pleased to announce that Andrew Wharton, Special Advisor, Disability Services (Ministry of Housing and Social Development), has accepted a one year Secondment to the Vancouver Foundation, providing liaison with both government and the non-profit sector. This assignment will leverage his broad strategic approach and the relationships that he has formed over the last few years developing the province's Disability Strategy. Further exchanges are being considered from the applications submitted in early October and will be announced as soon as they are finalized.

Joint Procurement Project gets underway: Over the past quarter, the government and the NPS have worked to determine how we might simplify the procurement process from each of our respective lenses. On September 18, the Joint Working Group gathered to agree on the Project goals, discuss organization selection, and determine steps for moving forward. The Working Group is pleased to announce that it will be conducting procurement reviews (from both government and NPS perspectives) in partnership with the following organizations: Family Services of Greater Vancouver, PLEA, and Penticton and District Community Resources Society. Over the next three months, the group will conduct the necessary research to determine best procurement practices and recommend changes which will be implemented with the pilot organizations in the new year.

Aboriginal Engagement Team Kick-off Meeting: On September 24, a group of Aboriginal leaders from across BC came together to discuss the opportunities and priorities to enhance the relationship amongst the government, non-profit sector, the aboriginal nonprofit sector and the aboriginal community. There was rich and positive conversation regarding how we can improve the engagement of aboriginal people in the GNPI. The group discussed a number of priorities, such as the greater need for support for urban Aboriginals. This group will reconvene in November to decide on priorities for action in the coming year.

Non Profit Sector Labour Market Partnership (LMP) Program: The NPS LMP Program, managed by Vancouver Foundation, is putting the structure and processes in place to help distribute $5 million over three years in support of the non-profit sector’s HR capacity building in BC. Catherine Crucil was hired as the Program Manager, and Dr. Carol Matusicky has been agreed to chair the LMP Advisory Committee, which will provide guidance and leadership to the program. Over the next few months, the Program will focus on developing the funding model and communicating it with the NPS.

Human Resources Issues Paper: In collaboration with the LMP and the Federation of Community Social Services, the GNPI has developed an HR Issues Paper that summarizes the key issues and challenges in BC's nonprofit sector. The Issues Paper will be instrumental in guiding the priorities and focus of the GNPI HR Advisory Committee and the LMP.

We are also pleased to announce that the GNPI Story, which documents the history of the Initiative, and the Commitment for Collaboration Agreement, which formalizes the sector relationship, are now available on our website.

We are proud of our progress over this quarter, despite the economic constraints that we all face and look ahead with continued optimism. It is important to remember that now more than ever, we need to work together. With that in mind, we are pleased to announce that we will be hosting the 2nd Annual GNPI Summit: Now More Than Ever on Friday, November 27, 2009 in downtown Vancouver.  The Summit will celebrate joint successes of the last year, share learning, and give us an opportunity to further enhance the relationship between the sectors. Please stay tuned for further information.

Thank you all for your interest in and commitment to this Initiative.

Best wishes always,

Faye Wightman & David Morhart
GNPI Co-Chairs

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The last few months have seen a lot of progress for the Government-Non Profit Initiative (GNPI). Our successes this quarter include:

• Establishing and recruiting the members of the Leadership Council
• Approving a formal Collaboration Agreement
• Signing the Labour Market Partnership (LMP) Agreement
• Hosting a Human Resources Summit
• Initiating procurement strategies

We are pleased to announce new members have joined the GNPI Leadership Council and we are now fully recruited.  The Leadership Council provides strategic direction, leadership, and accountability to ensure the short-term and long-term success of the GNPI.  This Council represents both continuity and fresh perspective, as we welcome a handful of members from the Phase I Steering Committee and a number of new leaders to the table.

In addition to welcoming our leadership group, we have approved a written document that formalizes the partnership between the Government and the Non Profit Sector (NPS).  This document, a Commitment for Collaboration, was approved on March 11, 2009 at the first Leadership Council meeting.  This document will be formally launched at the Annual Fall GNPI Summit, and will be available to the public for viewing online.

We have confirmed the organizational structure of the GNPI for the Implementation Phase of the project, which branches out into four sub-groups: Business & Finance; Human Resource Capacity Building; Integration, Inclusion & Innovation; and Aboriginal Relations & Engagement.  The chairs/co-chairs have been recruited for the groups but we are still looking to populate the membership for these groups.  Please see the recruitment section on our website for more information on the various teams and how to get involved.

We have made some great progress on a number of projects and we want to highlight three key successes here:

1. Labour Market Partnership (LMP) Agreement has been signed:

   The Labour Market Partnership Agreement, announced at the GNPI Summit in November of 2008 has been signed between the Employment and Labour Market Service Division (ELMS) at the Ministry of Housing and Social Development (MHSD) and Vancouver Foundation.  Funds of $5 million over the next three years will be committed to increasing human resource capacity in the Non Profit Sector (NPS). 

   Through the Agreement, the Vancouver Foundation will establish an LMP Program that will be responsible for developing a funding structure, receiving applications, evaluating proposals, and approving and allocating funds accordingly.  The LMP will be guided by a GNPI Advisory Committee made up of a cross section of individuals from around the province from different sectors.  Vancouver Foundation is currently in the final recruitment stage of hiring a Project Manager to oversee the day to day administration and management of the LMP Program.  Sharon Halkett was retained to draft the LMP Project Charter which is scheduled to be finalized by the end of this month.

2. HR Summit & HR Council Meetings

   On May 6 and 7, the GNPI in partnership with the Federation of Community Social Services of BC (formerly known as the Federation of Child and Family Services) hosted a Social Service Sector Human Resource Summit in Vancouver.  Approximately 60 participants attended the two-day Summit, spanning frontline practitioners to senior leaders; regional, cultural, and demographic diversity; and government, non-profit, and union representation.  The Social Service Sector HR Summit served as one of several important conversations taking place that bring together a broad range of diverse stakeholders to discuss workforce issues.  A number of strategies and potential actions were developed, which will go towards informing sector HR planning.

   On May 13, Vancouver Foundation and GNPI co-sponsored with the HR Council for the Voluntary & Non-profit Sector (HR Council) to host a BC forum on HR issues in the NPS, part of a national series.  Approximately 35 key leaders from the non-profit sector and government collectively explored strategies to tackle key workforce issues that voluntary and non-profit sectors face in British Columbia. These events advance the work on labour force issues that the GNPI is undertaking so that we have the right people with the right skills to meet the needs of our communities, this sector, and the province over the next decade.

   A write up on both these sessions will be available shortly on the website.

3. Procurement Pilots & Training Program Development Underway

   Key representatives from Government and the Non Profit Sector have been recruited to begin to test and record efficiencies that could be gained through contract coordination and multi-year funding.  Two simultaneous pilots (one government lead, and one non-profit lead) will work with Non Profit Agencies to identify procurement and contract efficiencies that streamline contract management and administration and ultimately improve service delivery integration.

   Representatives have also been identified to support the development of Procurement Training between the government and Non Profit Sector.  Initial meetings have identified the need to increase understanding about the accountabilities and needs of both sectors around procurement.

We are very pleased with the progress of the GNPI over these last few months and are eager to continue the momentum.  Here’s a preview of what GNPI will be up to in the coming months: 

• Social Innovation Workshop: On June 18, the GNPI will host a day long workshop with community leaders who will paint a picture of social innovation in B.C. and identify opportunities for GNPI support or engagement.
• Aboriginal Relations and Engagement: GNPI will host an initial meeting with leaders in the Aboriginal community to explore opportunities to further Aboriginal engagement and inclusion within the GNPI context, including identifying short-term actions and outcomes.   
• Leadership Exchange Opportunities: GNPI will facilitate and coordinate leadership exchanges between members of the Government and Non Profit Sector.  In particular, we are looking for opportunities in procurement and contract management, human resources and shared services.  Please let us know (via GNPI@gov.bc.ca) if you or your organization are interested in participating in an exchange, either by taking on a temporary assignment or secondment in the other sector, or by hosting an exchange within your organization.
• Regional GNPI Tables: GNPI is exploring potential options for how we might further GNPI at a regional or local level, including piloting Regional GNPI Tables.  In the next few months we will be engaging with community representatives from both sectors to identify opportunities.

In light of the economic downturn, the need to collaborate and work together better is more important than ever.  We are proud of the work that we are doing, and will continue to forge ahead.  Thank you for your continued support for and encouragement of the GNPI. 

Best always,

Faye Wightman and David Morhart
GNPI Co-Chairs

Dear Colleagues,

The Government Non Profit Initiative (GNPI) has approved a short-term Action Plan for the fiscal year 2009/10. This Plan has been posted in Power Point format to the GNPI website for you to view at your leisure. We hope you take the time to peruse it, share it with others in your organizations and pass it on through your networks.

This Action Plan has been developed over the past year in collaboration with hundreds of Government and Non Profit participants like you, who have shared your time, talent, energy, intellect and ideas to identify strategies and define actions that will strengthen the partnership between the two sectors and improve the quality of life for British Columbians.

Teamwork between the sectors and amongst the communities has given the Initiative credibility and respect, and is largely responsible for our success to date. As we move forward with the Action Plan, we anticipate further engagement opportunities for the GNPI, including involvement in Work and Advisory Groups, consultations, pilot projects, surveys, and workshops and conferences. If you would like to participate in future GNPI activities, please send a note that expresses your interest to the e-mail indicated below.

Thanks to your involvement with the Initiative, you are presently on the GNPI distribution list. Members of the Distribution List will receive periodic updates on the status of the Initiative and may receive additional requests for involvement.

If you’d like your name to be removed from this distribution list, or if you know of someone who would like to be added, please send a request via email to: GNPI@gov.bc.ca or Amanda.Louie@gov.bc.ca.

As always, we thank you for your continued support. We look forward to building on the initial success of the GNPI as we move into this next Phase, and are committed to keeping you involved and informed.

Faye Wightman President & CEO Vancouver Foundation and Solicitor General

David Morhart Deputy Solicitor General Ministry of Public Safety

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing on behalf of the Government/Non-Profit Initiative (GNPI) to inform you that the Proceedings Report from the November 19, 2008 Summit has been posted to the GNPI website.

The GNPI Summit resulted from the joint efforts of many individuals and organizations who, over the past 18 months, have laboured diligently to support the work of the Initiative. The purpose of the Summit was to:

• Develop a prioritized Action Plan for implementation, and
• Discuss the leadership and support necessary to move the Action Plan forward.

The proceedings summarize the events of the day, as well as the results of the action planning sessions and conversations within the two sectors about the commitments needed to support successful implementation. The Steering Committee and the GNPI staff team are now working on a detailed Action Plan for 2009 and 2010, and will be sharing that with you in the New Year.

We invite you to review and share this document with your colleagues, networks and associations. Please direct any questions or comments to the GNPI e-mail address (GNPI@gov.bc.ca).

Our warmest wishes for the holidays,

Sincerely,

Faye Wightman President & CEO Vancouver Foundation and Solicitor General

David Morhart Deputy Solicitor General Ministry of Public Safety