Associations and Governments in Collaboration

Associations and Governments in Collaboration
by Paulette Vinette CAE

At CSAE's 2001 national conference in Calgary, Paulette Vinette, CAE, delivered a session entitled "Partnering with Government." She began by explaining why "partnering" may not be the best term to describe the huge opportunities available to associations, and suggested ways in which an association's resources and outputs could be augmented through "collaborating" with government and other organizations. This article is a follow-up to that valuable presentation.

Many non-profit organizations take advantage of the opportunity to partner with governments, and in doing so receive financial and/or other assistance. The term "partnering," however, is a misnomer; the correct terminology for most arrangements is "collaboration." Why? The term partnership is based in contract law, and a true legal partnership refers to a relationship among legally distinct entities in which each partner's actions are fully binding on every other partner.
Collaborative arrangements are different; all parties:

	Have shared or compatible objectives
	Contribute resources (e.g., financial, information, human resources, equipment)
	Share in the benefits of collaboration
	Agree to a fair allocation of risk-taking
	Have an explicit agreement, contract or other instrument setting out terms
	Liability is not shared – each party will have their own.

The federal government has produced a 38-page report entitled "The Federal Government as a "Partner": Six Steps to Successful Collaboration." To obtain your copy, visit http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca or call 613-957-7167. This comprehensive report addresses the legal, management and operational complexities of a collaboration effort.

Treasury Board expressed the rationale for the use of a collaborative arrangement as an alternative to the traditional federal structure of departments, agencies and Crown corporations in a report entitled "Framework for Alternative Program Delivery"; it can be found at http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca.

Associations interested in knowing about available grants should consider purchasing the Guide to Canadian Grants; details can be found at http://www.interlog.com/~cgs/. Alternatively, visit the federal government's Website, http://www.governmentgrants.com/, or call 800-505-8866, ext. 418.
Another commercial service that can help is Grantscan; visit http://www.boldview.com/grantscan.

There are additional ways non-profit organizations can collaborate with government. You can approach government for:

	Grants – unconditional cash transfers, not audited; has eligibility criteria
	Contributions – conditional cash transfers, subject to auditing
	Core Funding – regular payments to sustain operations (different than program funding)
	Contracts – Used to confer legitimacy to an interest group; for ongoing or one-time services
	Services – may be provided in kind by government to 3rd parties such as interest groups (e.g., office space, office costs)
	Cost Awards – some regulatory agencies provide to interventors to participate in regulatory proceedings
	Loans – forgivable, "soft" or concessionary but no examples found!
	Reimbursement – to participate in policy making process or knowledge dissemination
	Indirect Financing – too complex to summarize!
	Tax Expenditures – government gives by not taking
	Preferential Tax Rates – lower tax rate on small business
	Tax Credits ... As deductions from the amount payable
	Corporate Sponsorship Agreements – "corporate" being the Association

Exemptions: allow businesses to deduct their advocacy expenses from taxable income

And there are more!
Another popular way of collaborating with government is to become involved in the "Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI)." The VSI is a joint venture between the voluntary sector and the Government of Canada to strengthen the voluntary sector's capacity to meet the challenges of the future and to enhance their relationship in the service of Canadians. This five-year program is supported by a $94.6 million budget established to support research and development activities on the key priorities; for details visit http://www.vsi-isbc@pro-bcp.gc.ca . Also visit CSAE's Web site, http://www.csae.com/ which features a report on this initiative in the Advocacy area of the "Professional Section."

Another less-known government initiative involves the matching grants available from the Business Network on Crime Prevention (n.b., which the author serves on a part time basis as Director). BNCP supports associations which can contribute to community safety through social development and crime prevention. Complete details of the grants and key issues (including prevention of workplace violence, helping youth-at-risk, etc.) can be found at http://www.bncp-repc.gc.ca.

An e-survey of CSAE members in early summer revealed that a large number of associations are taking advantage of collaborating with provincial and municipal governments in a number of ways: • Publishing information binders

	Financing workshops
	Supporting educational programs
	Conducting research
	Co-funding summer students
	Underwriting international exchange programs

When planning to collaborate with government, associations need to remember governments' needs; they include:

	To serve the public interest (key priority)
	To prepare effective accountability agreements (clear roles, expectations, responsibilities, evidence of capacity, credible reporting arrangements and pre-planned evaluation and audit programs)
	To demonstrate transparency An Auditor General's Report, http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca, also identified challenges that have been experienced in collaborative arrangements. They included:
	Ensuring effective leadership
	Dealing with complex relationships
	Co-ordinating efforts among partners and within the federal government
	Building trust and confidence
	Reassurances in these areas can serve to strengthen your proposal Many non-profits turn to professional "grant writers" and a Web search will identify many. Or you can visit the International Alliance of Grantwriters and Non-profit Consultants at http://www.iaogwanc.org. The search I undertook for "Grant Writers – Canada" identified 81,700 files. Charity Village also lists grant writers; http://www.charityvillage.com/marketplace/consult/congrant.html. If you think you can develop your own grant proposal, you can find a grant writers guide at http://www.npguides.org/grant, and in several other places through a search for grant writing. As a completely different alternative, you can identify potential partners outside of government. The Canadian Subsidy Directory 2001 can be ordered at http://www.mgpublish ing@financier.com. It lists 2,300 programs (subsidies, grants, loans and general help) and costs $49.95. Not-for-profit organizations (including associations) are fortunate to have access to government resources that will help them participate in improving the quality of life for people living in Canada and abroad. Good luck in your efforts. Paulette Vinette, CAE, is President of Solution Studio Inc., which provides interim leadership and consulting services to not-for-profit organizations.