ATKINSON DECENT WORK FUND2016

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.

“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

“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, PUBLISHERTORONTO STAR, OCTOBER 30, 1930

Professional Pay and Decent Work for All ROUND TWO PARTNER

EMBER ROUND ONE PARTNER

ChangeWork ROUND ONE PARTNER

WOODBINE EXPANSION, TORONTO

Woodbine Expansion, Toronto

Communities Organizing for Responsible Development (CORD)ROUND TWO PARTNER

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.

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.

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 WORKLEARNING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF CBAs AND TOWER RENEWAL

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 PROJECTREMOVING BARRIERS TO WORK

JENN MILLER, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL INVESTMENTATKINSON 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 INVESTMENTATKINSON FOUNDATION

JENN MILLER, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL INVESTMENTATKINSON FOUNDATION

PAT THOMPSON, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL IMPACTATKINSON 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.caPHILL ROH, ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR ATKINSON FOUNDATION

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.