As a not-for-profit organization with a history spanning over seven decades, Vantage Point has experienced many transitions over the years. Our most significant change was from a volunteer centre to a capacity-building focus for not-for-profit organizations. Throughout each adaptation, we have maintained an ongoing focus of supporting the not-for-profit sector.

We love working one-on-one with our clients – the people behind not-for-profit organizations throughout the province. In the process we have learned about many common challenges the sector faces.

We have realized a key dimension to building the capacity of not-for-profits is to build a strong public policy environment; to develop and share policies and regulatory changes which have a positive impact on organizations like yours.

Join us as we move into public policy advocacy

After extensive planning and ongoing dialogue with our partners, we have decided to provide additional support to our organizational members in public policy advocacy.

Members will now receive several new benefits, supports, and access to a community of leaders throughout the province. This includes essential tools to engage in public pollicy advocacy. Additionally, we will be convening members and sector leaders to work together to address the most critical topics that impact every not-for-profit organization in BC.

By building membership in this way, we will amplify the voice of not-for-profit organizations frome very sub-sector. Our goal is to work with leaders in advocacy, our members, and our partners to address the issues that impact the entire not-for-profit sector and find powerful solutions together.

What types of advocacy have we done to date?

When the Ministry of Finance announced the Employer Health Tax, we worked with leaders in health, housing, community services, and arts and culture organizations to communicate the impact of the proposed changes to the Ministry.

This year, to create a submission for the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, we worked with other provincial organizations to identify common recommendations for the 2020 BC Budget. One recommendation focused on making changes to the way Community Gaming Grants are reviewed and administered.

These are the types of changes we strive to continue recommending with your input.

What will this look like going forward?

True democracy means every voice being heard, and that means yours. We encourage you to join us as an organizational member and be involved in our sector advocacy work. Your board, staff, and volunteers all receive access to our member benefits when you sign up!

Here are the four NEW ways organizational members benefit:

• Receive updates on key issues that impact BC’s not-for-profit sector
• The opportunity to have your say on sector issues through our online, forum-style working groups
• Grow your network through member convening events such as coworking days and webinars
• Shape Vantage Point’s public policy recommendations

Even better: all the previously existing membership benefits are here to stay! This includes access to post on Govolunteer.ca, the ability to take out books from our library, and discounts on workshops & our annual BOSS conference.

We want to hear from you!

As we venture into this new area, your voice is key. Tell us what aspects you are most excited about. As an ever-evolving organization, we are eager for this work to grow into areas that benefit our members even more. Connect, engage, and share your experience with us! At Vantage Point, we are a living laboratory, and we strive to be adaptive and relevant for our members and the not-for-profit sector.

To learn more or become a member visit our membership page.

If you have any questions about membership, we would love to answer them! You can reach myself, Mark Friesen, Director of Capacity Development at mfriesen@thevantagepoint.ca.