Fact sheet: Campaign Focused On Funders
Background
One of the barriers facing voluntary organizations in acquiring technology
is often the restrictions applied by some government departments and
foundations to the use of funds for the acquisition of technology. Many
funding bodies fail to see the investment in technology as key to efficient
and effective service delivery.
Work of the IM/IT Joint Table
IM/IT Joint Table representatives initiated discussions with a number
of foundations and government agencies that fund voluntary organizations.
These discussions demonstrated broad awareness of the need to provide
funding for investment in technology by voluntary organizations.
The IM/IT Joint Table strategy contains four elements to support increased
IM/IT investment:
- develop a business case that demonstrates the value to funding agencies;
- develop a business case that voluntary organizations can use to
support applications for funding of IM/IT investment;
- enlist the support of governmental and foundation partners who favor
the policy changes; and
- disseminate the business case for voluntary organizations for direct
use with funding agencies.
Expected Benefits of the Recommendation
Several foundations and government agencies have been working toward
the recommended changes in funding practices and, in some cases, have
already taken action. The Secretariat will work with Treasury Board
on this issue, but it is the responsibility of senior sector representatives
to convince the foundations.
A change in funding practices would result in substantial increases
in available funds for IM/IT investment by voluntary sector organizations.
While the total amount of funding available would not be directly affected
by the change in funding practice, investing a greater share in technology
would lead to more effective use of all funding. This would increase
the overall capacity of voluntary organizations to deliver services.
Investment in technology not only strengthens the capacity of organizations
to achieve their missions, but also provides the basis for simplified,
more efficient application and reporting processes. In this way, funding
agencies and voluntary organizations both benefit.
For more information, contact the IM/IT Secretariat at (613) 990-7233
or e-mail: imit@ic.gc.ca
