COVID-19 and Nonprofit Associations

Becker Associates is keeping an eye on developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Our staff have all been given the option to work remotely, and we review the situation daily.

While we deal with the immediate ramifications of the rapidly changing situation, we are also keeping an eye on developments that affect our clients. We are monitoring news from Ontario Nonprofit Network, and the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) among other sources.

ONN has written to the Ontario government asking for stabilized funding, a review of employment standards, clear communication flexibility in budgetary and reporting by nonprofits that are provincially-funded, and for inclusion of nonprofit leadership in discussions around contingency funding for COVID-19.

CSAE has written to the federal government to advocate for the inclusion of financial support to the nonprofit association sector. We have also written to 4 federal ministers, 2 chiefs of staff, and the policy adviser to the Prime Minister (see below for list).

CSAE has provided a template letter that associations can use to amplify the message that nonprofits are at risk of serious financial harm when revenue generating conferences, networking events, or other activities are cancelled.

We encourage you to add your voice to ensure that the nonprofit sector, your association, is considered when financial support is mapped out to deal with the impacts of COVID-19.

Please consider downloading the template letter and adapt as you wish, to advocate for your organization and the sector as a whole.

When complete, you can send the letter to the following:

Hon. Bill Morneau
Minister of Finance
Bill.Morneau@Canada.ca

Hon. Chrystia Freeland
Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of Cabinet Committee on COVID-19 Response
DPM-VPM@dpmo-cvpm.gc.ca

Hon. Melanie Joly
Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages
ED.minister-ministre.DE@canada.ca

Hon. Mary Ng
Minister of Small Business,
Export Promotion and International Trade
Mary.Ng@international.gc.ca

Jeremy Broadhurst
Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister
jeremy.broadhurst@dpmo-cvpm.gc.ca

Elder Marques
Chief of Staff to the Minister of Finance
elder.marques@canada.ca

Rick Theis
Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister
rick.theis@pmo-cpm.gc.ca