Wishing communities a happier New Year

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. – African poverb

There’s no doubt that charities around the world were happy to see the last of 2009 – waving an eager farewell to a year that put communities through a turbulent time full of anxiety and duress.

And although the signs are looking better for 2010, it’s clear that the recovery  is going to require endurance and optimism. We rode out the storm, but setting a new course is going to take time and patience.

But before we turn our attention to the journey ahead, it’s important to look back. Did we become more skillful sailors in the downturn’s rough seas? Did we learn more about our community and the people who call it home? Did we open our eyes to new possibilities and partners?

As I look back over the past year I can find many examples of individuals and organizations that rose to the challenge. I think of the donor in Guelph who walked up to the community foundation’s executive director with a cheque, saying “Use this where it’s most needed.” Or the businesspeople in Kelowna who helped raise more than $100,000 to support urgent priorities. There are countless examples of donors who stepped forward to help communities across the country weather the economic storm.

Most foundations continued to grant, albeit at reduced levels, and that made our movement even more conscious of the need to grant for impact. Niagara just announced $100,000 for poverty, Toronto partnered on a new after-school program , Victoria focused on homelessness, and Newfoundland and Labrador reached out to rural and coastal communities, to name but a few.

Then there are the stories about how communities came together to support each other: how The Winnipeg Foundation used its regular ad space to encourage people to support their favourite charity at a time when that support was needed the most. Community foundations in Hamilton and Vancouver surveyed local non-profits to determine key issues and priorities so existing funding could be used as strategically as possible. The Calgary Foundation hosted a Sustainability Summit bringing government, the corporate and charitable sectors together to find collaborative solutions to the issues facing charities.

Throughout the year I encountered many examples of determination and perseverance – tales of communities that refused to stop dreaming and doing, even in the face of shrinking dollars. I think of the Fundy Community Foundation’s efforts to reduce poverty in the rural communities of Charlotte County, New Brunswick and how they, and other community foundations, were key partners in the province’s first comprehensive poverty reduction strategy.

At Community Foundations of Canada, the membership association for Canada’s 170+ community foundations, we did what we could to bring our members together to encourage and augment local, regional and national impact. Together, we released 16 Vital Signs reports shining a spotlight on national and local issues and success stories. We continued our collaborative work in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed and started a new partnership with the Ontario Land Trust Association. We also worked with our members to explore new ways to better align the investment of our assets with our mission and values.

The waters were not smooth in 2009, but the journey was rewarding all the same. We know the sailing will not be easy in 2010 either, but I think we’ve become more skillful sailors and are ready for what’s ahead.

Monica Patten is President and CEO of Community Foundations of Canada.