This text is part of the special section Philanthropy
Speak with one voice so that it is better heard and pool efforts to promote new practices: this is the path that nearly twenty foundations have taken by joining the Collective of Quebec Foundations Against Inequalities . Together, these organizations also reflect on their role in society.
The Collective was born in 2014 in response to the Quebec government’s announcement of budgetary austerity measures. had a say in the public debate,” says Jacques Bordeleau, strategic advisor in partnership and development at the Béati Foundation. The latter, which he led until April 2022, launched the group which signed an open letter to express its concerns in 2015.
“This unexpected speech found an echo in community circles,” recalls the strategic advisor.
A political gateway
This founding act gave birth to a living space that today brings together 17 public and private foundations of different sizes (there were 9 when the Collective was created), which carry out their activities mainly in Quebec, but also in Canada. “They realized that by pooling their resources and their intelligence, they could go further,” rejoices Jacques Bordeleau.
I believe that we are coming to a time when foundations understand that they can no longer limit themselves to trying to do good. They must develop an in-depth reflection on their contribution to the common good.
In the early years, the Collective wrote open letters and briefs to make its hopes and expectations heard so that the Quebec and Canadian governments would adopt public policies favorable to the reduction of social inequalities. He also met with deputy ministers of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity.
“Previously, there were no or very few bridges between the government apparatus and the philanthropic sector. But I believe that the government wanted to understand it better,” said the strategic adviser.
A look at yourself
Jacques Bordeleau has worked in the philanthropic community since 1998. He has long known a sector made up of organizations working in autarky. “Everyone developed their own programs. There was no sector awareness or encouraged or supported reflective practice,” he says.
Mobilized for a good cause, philanthropic organizations questioned little about their legitimacy and the impact of their action. “I believe that we are coming to a time when foundations understand that they can no longer limit themselves to trying to do good,” says Jacques Bordeleau. They must develop an in-depth reflection on their contribution to the common good. »
This is also the objective of the Declaration of commitment posted online in September 2021, to which 15 members of the Collective have signed up. It invites organizations in the philanthropic sector to define their role and challenges them to demonstrate their tangible contribution to the common good.
“The signatory foundations undertake to ensure that their governance and investment practices and their relationships with the communities they support are aligned with the concern to reduce what we call their “inequality footprint”, which designates the impact of our practices on social inequalities”, specifies Jacques Bordeleau.
The declaration also poses a responsibility of transparency. “Foundations must redouble their efforts to be accountable for what they do with their money”, underlines the strategic adviser, who observes a positive evolution. “Until recently, there were foundations that didn’t have a website or an activity report. But things are changing, and I believe that the Collective contributes to it in its own way”, says the one who wishes to widen the circle of member foundations.
A common space
Jacques Bordeleau perceives an expectation from the philanthropic sector vis-à-vis the Collective, which goes beyond its historical mission on the issue of social inequalities. “Its monitoring and reflection role can lead it to play an important role in the development of best practices, support and training,” he predicts.
The Collective is currently working on setting up a self-assessment tool that will give charities the desire to move forward. It also offers a space for networking, learning and sharing allowing them to get to know each other, develop bonds of trust and act together.
Mr. Bordeleau also notes that more and more foundations see an interest in joining forces within the framework of collaborative approaches. This new form of philanthropy is embodied in particular by the pooling of financial support (pooling of financial resources for a common project).
“This type of new practice increases the impact and the leverage effect of the support of foundations and reduces the administrative burden of the organizations supported. This allows them to focus their efforts on their mission,” he concludes.