1. Environmental Charities and Political Advocacy: Donor
Opinions By Sarah May [email protected]
2. Agenda Part I Background Research Research Question Part II
Research Survey Results Part III Conclusions Sarah May
[email protected]
3. Advocacy Chill Climate of fear in charitable sector.
Environmental groups have received the most attention, but the
chill affects all charities Many misconceptions about what
charities are allowed to do Result: Only $1 of every $10,000 is
spent on political advocacy (source: Mark Blumberg) Sarah May
[email protected]
4. Advocacy Chill Only 7 environmental charities are in the
list of top 50 who spent the most on political activity: #1 Ducks
Unlimited #12 Environmental Defence #25 Tides Canada Initiatives
Society #32 Ecojustice Canada Society #39 Canadian Wildlife
Federation #42 Ecology Action Centre #43 The David Suzuki
Foundation (Source: Mark Blumberg) Sarah May
[email protected]
5. Advocacy Chill Environmental Defence: Mission: We are
Canada's most effective environmental action organization. We
challenge, and inspire change in government, business and people to
ensure a greener, healthier and prosperous life for all.
http://environmentaldefence.ca/ % Spent 10 8 6 4 % Spent 2 Sarah
May [email protected] 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
2005 2004 2003 0
6. Advocacy Chill Tides Canada Initiatives Society: Mission:
Provide uncommon solutions for the common good by leading and
supporting actions that foster a healthy environment and just
Canadian society. http://tidescanada.org/ % Spent 2.5 2 1.5 1 %
Spent 0.5 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 0 Sarah
May [email protected]
7. Advocacy Chill Ecojustice Canada Society: Mission:
Ecojustice is a national charitable organization dedicated to
defending Canadians right to a healthy environment. Our lawyers and
scientists set legal precedents and strengthen environmental laws
that protect and restore the environment, both today and for the
future. http://www.ecojustice.ca/ % Spent 2.5 2 1.5 1 % Spent 0.5 0
Sarah May [email protected]
8. What do these charts mean? Even the most political
environmental charities are not spending as much as we might assume
on advocacy WHY? Sarah May [email protected]
9. What do donors think? The biggest risk charities face if
they become more political is that they may have their government
funding cut Environmental groups are facing these cuts anyways (75%
reported cuts in 2003*) *Source: 2003 NSNVO Sarah May
[email protected]
10. What do donors think? Only 7% of Canadians give to
environmental charities (according to Statistics Canada) And yet,
15% of the revenue reported came from individual donors* Plus
another 35% came from fees for goods/services and memberships*
*Source: 2003 NSNVO Sarah May [email protected]
11. The Bottom Line? DONOR OPINIONS MATTER Sarah May
[email protected]
12. The Survey Target audience: Canadians who donate to
environmental charities Surveyed: 77 people completed the survey
Survey distributed through social media, friends, family,
colleagues. Many people in my circle are supporters of
environmental charities but most of them live in Ontario Sarah May
[email protected]
13. Results Age Range of Survey Participants 65-74 4% 55-64 20%
18-24 17% 25-34 15% 45-54 26% 35-44 18% Sarah May
[email protected]
14. Results In the past year, have you donated to a Canadian
environmental charity? 0% Not Sure 5% Yes 47% No 48% Sarah May
[email protected]
15. Results How much have you donated? 0% $1-30 23% $101-300
30% $31-100 40% Sarah May [email protected]
16. Results To the best of your knowledge, are the
environmental charities that you support involved in political
activity? Not Applicable 24% Yes 44% Not Sure 28% No 4% Sarah May
[email protected]
17. Results Do you agree that environmental charities should be
allowed to spend 10% on advocacy? Not Sure 12% Too Much 6% Yes it
is perfect 41% Should be more 41% Sarah May
[email protected]
18. Results 71% of those surveyed feel environmental charities
should be allowed to advocate for: -Getting toxic substances out of
household products -Reducing emissions -Regulating or disallowing
oil sands pipelines -Protecting and conserving land -Regulating
industry Sarah May [email protected]
19. Results Would you maintain your support of the organization
if they increased their political activity? Not Applicable 17% Not
Sure 22% Yes 58% No 3% Sarah May [email protected]
20. Summary of Results About half of those surveyed donate to
environmental charities; few are major donors Majority believe that
environmental charities should be political and would continue to
donate if these charities decide to become more politically active.
Sarah May [email protected]
21. Continuing the Research Next step would be to take this
survey to an environmental charity who can send it to their donor
list Goal would be to get the opinions of major donors and people
who pay for membership fees and goods/services Sarah May
[email protected]
22. In Summary Many Environmental charities have a
responsibility to be politically active They must relate any
advocacy to their mission and follow the CRA rules They need to
diversify revenue sources so that government funding is not relied
upon Use political advocacy as a way to engage volunteers and
supporters. Get them active! Donors will support your role in their
communities. Sarah May [email protected]
24. Sources Bridge, R. (2002). The law governing advocacy by
charitable organizations: The case for change. The Philanthropist,
17(2), 1-33. Retrieved September 22, 2013, from
http://sectorsource.ca/resource/file/law-governing-advocacy-charitable-organizations-case-change.
Bridge, R., & Gilbert, N. (2005). Helping charities speak out:
What funders can do. The Philanthropist, 20(2), 153-157. Retrieved
September 22, 2013, from
http://thephilanthropist.ca/index.php/phil/article/view/30. Canada
Revenue Agency. (2013, Apr 4). Charities listings. Retrieved from
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/lstngs/menu-eng.html. Grandy,
J. (2013). Environmental charities in Canada. Toronto, ON: Charity
Intelligence Canada. Retrieved September 22, 2013, from
http://www.charityintelligence.ca/environmental-charities. Wyman,
K. (2013, Sept 23). Melt the charity chill [Webinar]. In CEGN
Shared Learning Opportunities. Retrieved from
http://sustainabilitynetwork.ca/. Melt the charity chill - Hilborn,
October 16th 2013, Janet Gadeski
http://www.charityinfo.ca/articles/Melt-the-charitychill?utm_source=eNews%3A+October+17%2C+2013_&utm_campaign=Oct+17+eNews&utm_medium=email
Statistics Canada. September 2004. Cornerstones of Community:
Highlights of the National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary
Organizations. Cat. 61-533XIE. Ottawa.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/chrts/cmmnctn/pltcl-ctvts/slf-ssmnt-tl-eng.html?utm_source=charities&utm_medium=eml
CRA Political Activity Self-Assessment tool Which Canadian
Registered Charities Spent Money on political activities and how
much did they spend? Mark Blumberg; 2012
http://www.globalphilanthropy.ca/images/uploads/Which_Canadian_Charities_Spent_Money_on_political_activities_and_how_much_did_they_spe
nd.pdf How accurate are the T3010 charity returns when it comes to
political activities? By Mark Blumberg Apr 2008
http://www.canadiancharitylaw.ca/index.php/blog/comments/how_accurate_are_the_t3010_registered_charity_information_returns/
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2012001/article/11637-eng.pdf
Sarah May [email protected]