2016 Atkinson Decent Work Fund - Webinar Slidedeck
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The Atkinson Decent Work Fund is a grants program that supports movement-building work that takes aim at addressing growing income and wealth inequality. In this webinar we shared examples of projects that we support, addressed assumptions and included questions from Webinar participants about the application process. Please click on Notes to see the annotation accompanying the slides. For more information about the fund, and for the application guidelines visit: http://atkinsonfoundation.ca/grants/atkinson-decent-work-fund/ Deadline for the Letter of Inquiry is September 1st 2016 through our simplified online system. If you have any questions, please contact: Jenn Miller, jmiller@atkinsonfoundation.ca
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2016 Atkinson Decent Work Fund - Webinar Slidedeck
- 1. ATKINSON DECENT WORK FUND 2016
- 2. Launched the fund in 2014. Received close to 100 letters of inquiry; short- listed 16. In 2015, received 49 LOIs; short- listed 13. To date, funded 21 projects for a period ranging from 8 to 18-months.
- 3. “Projects make us see the possible, policy helps make the possible standard practice, and power is what ultimately drives policy reform.” − DR. MANUEL PASTOR, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- 4. “Canada has too much wealth and too many natural resources to have any excuse for permitting any of its people to be without the necessities of life … Further progress towards a solution of the [unemployment] problem awaits the prodding of public sentiment.” − JOSEPH ATKINSON, PUBLISHER TORONTO STAR, OCTOBER 30, 1930
- 5. Professional Pay and Decent Work for All ROUND TWO PARTNER
- 8. WOODBINE EXPANSION, TORONTO Woodbine Expansion, Toronto Communities Organizing for Responsible Development (CORD) ROUND TWO PARTNER
- 10. Online registration deadline is August 24th. Letters of Inquiry are due in September 1st Short-listed candidates will be informed by the end of September and asked to submit full proposals for November. A group of advisors will be selected to review proposals and provide input into the board review process in November. Atkinson’s Board of Directors will review proposals and recommendations, and will make their funding decisions in December; successful applicants will be notified before the end of the year.
- 11. COMMON (AND OFTEN TRUE) ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT FUNDERS (THAT AREN’T NECESSARILY TRUE ABOUT US): − Funders don’t like advocacy work. − Funders like evidence. − Funders are risk adverse. − Funders don’t want proposals for projects they have funded before. − Funders want projects to be sustainable. − Funders will reject your proposal if the financial request is too high.
- 12. ASSESSING ELIGIBILITY You or one of your project partners must have charitable status in Ontario. We’re compatible in terms of our missions, values, and ambitions. WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY WALLS TO BRIDGES PROJECTMOVING FROM PRISON TO WORK LEARNING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF CBAs AND TOWER RENEWAL
- 13. BEFORE MAKING A FINANCIAL REQUEST Read our last annual report to assess the size and scope of our grant making. Consider how much money is needed to make reasonable progress over a 12 – 18- month period. Keep in mind that this is a competitive process – demand will invariably exceed the resources available. WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY WALLS TO BRIDGES PROJECT REMOVING BARRIERS TO WORK
- 14. JENN MILLER, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL INVESTMENT ATKINSON FOUNDATION CONTACT JENN If you want to know: − More about our grants and awards programs. − How we invest our assets in keeping with our mission. jmiller@atkinsonfoundation.ca @jennmiller1973 JENN MILLER, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL INVESTMENT ATKINSON FOUNDATION
- 15. JENN MILLER, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL INVESTMENT ATKINSON FOUNDATION PAT THOMPSON, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL IMPACT ATKINSON FOUNDATION CONTACT PHILL If you want to: − Ask a general question about the Atkinson Foundation and our work. − Ask a question about our simplified online application portal − Schedule a meeting with us. proh@atkinsonfoundation.ca PHILL ROH, ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR ATKINSON FOUNDATION
- 16. Questions & Answers: Can an organization submit more than one application? We don’t have a policy that restricts organizations from submitting more than one proposal but we recommend you keep a couple of things in mind: • it is a competitive process and demand invariably outstrips supply • project concepts submitted from the same organization should be suitably distinct from one another (e.g. different focus, different partners, etc.) If you are unsure, please reach out to us to discuss further. Can the project budget include in-kind contributions? We recognize and accept both in-kind and monetary contributions in a project budget.
- 17. Questions & Answers: How does the Atkinson Foundation assess impact? We are interested in both the impact of our individual partners as well as our own impact as a foundation. We ask partners to share the metrics they plan to track over the course of the project as we recognize that a single set of metrics determined by us would not be relevant or useful to a diverse set of projects. Signs of progress related to decent work and shared prosperity that we’re interested in learning more about include: • changing the frame • engaging people • changing behaviour • contributing to shifts in policy and practice
- 18. Questions & Answers: Can an organization apply for general operating support or can they only apply for project-based funding? While the Atkinson Foundation has a long tradition of supporting social justice organizations with multi- year operating support and recognizes the value of this type of funding, for the purposes of the Atkinson Decent Work Fund, general operating support is not eligible. We can fund “operating costs” (e.g. salaries, portion of overhead or administrative costs, etc.) as part of a project budget. What is the maximum percentage that can be allocated towards administrative costs? We don’t have a set policy related to administrative or overhead costs. As part of the review of the project budget, we will assess the amount requested for admin costs in the context of the overall project and the results you hope to achieve.
- 19. Questions & Answers: Are Ontario-based charitable organizations allowed to partner with for-profit companies on a project? We would encourage you to contact us to talk about the specific project and the role that a for-profit company would play to determine if the initiative would be appropriate for the Fund. We will look at the nature of the partnership and the specific roles partners play and the charitable outcomes that will be served. Does the Atkinson Foundation prefer projects with a certain geographic scope? We support projects in Ontario that are working at a local/community or sector level as well as those that have a broader reach. Across the 20+ projects that we have partnered with to date, you will see a real mix – for example the Communities Organizing for Responsible Development project is focussed on the Rexdale neighbourhood while the ChangeWork project is both provincial and sector wide (NFPs/charities). As part of our review process, we will assess whether your proposed reach is aligned with your intended impact.
- 20. Questions & Answers: Is an existing project eligible for funding? Where appropriate, we will consider supporting activity aligned with the focus of the Fund that is already taking place and where additional resources are required to deepen or expand its impact. Can the Fund support an innovative employment services program? The Atkinson Decent Work Fund, is not a source of financial support for service delivery – neither new nor proven services. The Fund invests in organizations and networks that are building stronger movements for decent work and shared prosperity. For examples of types of projects that we have funded, please check out the project descriptions on our website. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you aren’t sure if your project is a good fit for the fund.
- 21. STAYING CONNECTED Follow us on Twitter @AtkinsonCF. Join the conversation at #decentwork and #communitywealth. Subscribe to our mailing list for occasional updates at www.atkinsonfoundation.ca.
Editor's Notes
- This year is our third call for letters of inquiry for the Atkinson Decent Work Fund. We launched the fund in 2014 and received close to 100 letters of inquiry; from those we short-listed 16 and invited them to submit a full proposal. In 2015, we received 49 letters and short-listed 13 projects for full proposal. To date, 21 projects have been funded for a period ranging from 8 to 18-months. While these projects are all quite diverse and distinct, what they have in common is that they are all exploring what makes work decent and how to share wealth more equitably in community. As we head into this third year of the fund, we are excited to discover other strategies, initiatives and projects with a similar vision for Ontario. The great thing about an open fund like this one is that it attracts big ideas and promising solutions. Your letters help us see what’s going on, where there’s energy for change, and who’s demonstrating what’s possible.
- We’ve been influenced by the work of an American academic and activist, Dr. Manuel Pastor, who says “projects demonstrate what's possible and policy makes the possible standard practice. It's power - power of the people, however, that ultimately drives policy reform.” For this reason, the Atkinson Decent Work Fund is a source of support for organizations with a growing membership base. We call these organizations “movement builders” because they develop communities and engage people directly affected by the issue in the process of solving it. These organizations come in different sizes from quite small to very large, but what they have in common is their drive to change unfair systems and structures. That means they hope their projects will eventually lead to policy improvements. We do of course value the services provided by organizations to help people cope with systemic and structural problems. This Fund, however, is not a source of financial support for social service delivery – neither new nor proven services.
- As you might imagine, everything we do is inspired by the example of Joseph Atkinson who was among those who fueled social movements in the last century with his fiery Toronto Star editorials. We’ve inherited his sense of responsibility for the growing numbers of people who are unemployed, underemployed, and precariously employed in today’s economy. We also share his ambition. We’re backing people who are working for worker’s rights, and also helping to build a bigger tent to include people who are realizing they can use their economic power differently to make things better for low-income communities. So, we’re talking more about equitable and inclusive community economic development strategies than poverty reduction, more about decent work as our end rather than precarious work as our challenge.
- Probably the best way to talk about the Atkinson Decent Work Fund is through the stories of our partners: Here you see a picture of early childhood educators in Sudbury brought together by the Association for Early Childhood Educators, the Ontario Coalition for Better Childcare and the Atkinson Centre. Since receiving funding in late 2015, this partnership has organized gatherings in eight cities across the province to ensure that the voices and participation of early childhood educators and their allies are amplified in the movements for decent work. They are making connections and building solidarity with the Fight for $15 and Fairness, the Living Wage and Work and Health campaigns.
- There are several important province-wide conversations underway on employment standards, labour relations, early learning and other issues tied to income and wealth inequality. The Changing Workplaces Review, for example, provides a one in a generation opportunity to discuss the kind of work and workplaces we want and influence the policy framework that governs work and conditions for workers in this province. This photo shows Dr. Andrew Pinto who is part of the highly collaborative EMBER Project – one of the 12 projects we funded in the first round of the fund. In June 2015, he spoke to the Changing Workplaces Review special advisors, Michael Mitchell and John Murray. Andrew made the connection between health and decent work and supported the Workers' Action Centre’s recommendations on how the Employment Standards Act and Labour Relations Act should be amended to protect worker’s rights. The Fund supports the efforts of health care practitioners like Andrew, his colleagues and his patients to contribute their best ideas to the policy development process. Last year, we also supported Workers’ Action Centre’s Feet on the Ground project, which brought together 32 participants from five cities, five sectors and seven languages/communities to deepen their organizing skills to engage in the Changing Workplaces Review and similar efforts.
- The Ontario Nonprofit Network, a 7,000-strong network of not-for-profits and charities in the province launched a project in 2014 with their partners the Mowat Centre and the Toronto Neighbourhood Centres. This project explores how the mission-focused objectives of the sector can be better supported by strong labour practices and an enabling policy environment for decent work. In the project period, they released a comprehensive report that identifies many ways that the sector can act together to thrive as a decent work employer. Further, the Toronto Neighbourhood Centres, an association of over 30 neighbourhood based multi-service agencies, has developed a “Decent Work Charter” for its members to adopt. In the second year of the Fund, the collaborative turned their attention to exploring a sector-wide pension plan.
- Finally, late in 2015, Communities Organizing for Responsible Development, a coalition made up of Labour Community Services, Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre, UNITE HERE Local 75, and the Hospitality Workers Training Centre, was funded to engage residents and stakeholders connected to the expansion of the Woodbine Racetrack and other planned development in the area. Partners recognized that the expansion creates opportunities for local hiring and training in North West Toronto. This project aims to build community organizing capacity and support political engagement at the neighbourhood level, including deepening partnerships in Rexdale and developing a local hiring pipeline to link residents to tourism and hospitality jobs. This picture is from a gathering held this past spring which brought together community members to co-design what community benefits could look like as a result of planned development in the area. This collaborative is driven by the belief that all parts of the community, but particularly those most marginalized, deserve to benefit from the investments made in their neighbourhoods.
- These projects fit into different stages in Atkinson’s movement building model as depicted in the image on the screen. As we see it, there are four stages in the model - framing the issue (or often reframing a dominant narrative), seeding the work or action, growing the work and finally, in more mature movements pivoting or persevering. The types of projects listed under each are provided as examples, not to limit possibilities. For example, the EMBER is in the framing stage – conducting research and developing a plan of action. The ChangeWork project is in the seeding stage – forming alliances and piloting new approaches. Although the guidelines indicate funding is available for a 12 - 18 month period, we’re very aware that it could take a decade or more to have the impact all of us are seeking. We’re in for the long haul but we think of these short-term grants as catalytic and a way to get to know each other and to see if our approaches are compatible. We are also learning a ton from all of our partners about what it takes to move the needle on decent work and equitable and inclusive economic development in communities.
- Let’s turn now to the process for applying for funding - the nuts and bolts if you will. Key deadlines and steps in the process are outlined on the screen: Letters of Inquiry are due September 1st through our new simplified online application portal. The online registration deadline is August 24th. In order to have access to the system you must register for account. It is an easy process and we are happy to help out. In fact I think many of you have already started the process! The online application process is also straightforward: you will be asked to fill out a few fields with your contact information and then upload a single document – your letter of inquiry covering the five points listed on our website and in the guidelines. As a reminder they are: • A brief description of your organization or network • What decent work and shared prosperity means to you • A brief description of your project • The impact you expect it to have and who you are working with • Your project timeline • Finally, an approximate budget and the amount of your request Again, we’re happy to help should you have any technical difficulties. Short-listed candidates will be informed by the end of September and asked to submit full proposals for early November. Unsuccessful applicants will also be informed of the decision and invited to contact us for feedback. In November, a group of advisors will review proposals alongside staff and provide input into the Board review process. Atkinson’s Board of Directors will review shortlisted proposals and recommendations, and will make their funding decisions in December; all applicants will be notified before the end of the year.
- We’ve discovered that there are a lot of assumptions in circulation about funders’ attitudes and expectations. A lot of them are backed up by experience but not all of them apply to Atkinson. Let’s go over a few common ones we have heard: First, funders don’t like advocacy work. Well, we do. Second, funders like evidence. We do like evidence – the peer-reviewed, academic kind – but we also understand its limitations. We look to ‘lived experience’ as a reliable and relevant source of knowledge. Third, funders are risk averse. Here at Atkinson, we see smart risk as a prerequisite to innovation and progress. It’s one of our values. We make careful, calculated bets but we’re not risk adverse. Fourth, funders do not want applications for projects they have already funded. This is not always the case here at Atkinson. It’s important to talk with us about the current status of your project first. In fact, a couple of projects from our first round were successful last year for the second phase of their work. Fifth, funders want you to demonstrate how you will sustain the project when their funds are no longer available. Again, talk with us about this. We’re looking for organizations to have sufficient funds to fulfill their mission over time, but sustainability is not the only or top criterion we use to assess the viability of a project. And sixth, funders will reject your proposal if your request is too high. If we think you have a great idea, we’ll talk through our financial constraints with you.
- When you assess your eligibility for the Atkinson Decent Work Fund consider these two questions: Do we have project partners that have charitable status in Ontario? At least one of your partners must be a charity, and; Is our work compatible with Atkinson? Refer to our Funding Guidelines for more detail on compatibility but in a nutshell, we are looking to partner with work that is: • People-centred. You are directly connected to and engaged with residents and their realities. • Asset-based. You focus on community strengths, not deficits. • Multi-disciplinary. You bring together unlikely partners. • Inclusive. You draw a wide circle to include those who are most affected and/or who have been historically excluded. • Networked. You seek collective impact as part of a broadly based social movement. • Engaging. You facilitate participation, learning and innovation. • Effective. You have chosen metrics and can demonstrate your progress.
- Before making a financial request: do your homework. Read our annual report to size up the scope of our grant making. Ask yourself how much money is needed to do this work and what’s a reasonable request given the impact you expect to have over the project period. Your project budget should not be bigger than the budget you have to run your organization. We do not have minimums or maximums but last year we gave a grant as small as $14,000 and as large as $80K. This is a competitive process so remember that you have to make a convincing case for funding. Demand will invariably outstrip supply.
- You might be wondering what support we’re prepared to provide to you in preparing your letter in the period leading up to the deadline. While we can’t review drafts, you can contact me for answers to questions and feedback on your ideas.
- Phill is your go-to person for general information about Atkinson and how we operate. He can also help trouble shoot any difficulties you encounter with our online portal.
- We look forward to seeing your letters of inquiry on September 1st. Until then, enjoy the summer and thank you for tuning in!