Impact Insider #30: Why should you care about open government?
This was originally shared in our email newsletter. To get news like this straight to your inbox, sign up here.
Over the last few decades, the world has seen an exponential increase in individuals’ access to technology — and along with that growth has come a movement for democratizing access to public data.
Along with this movement has come the rise of open government — making government data more accessible and involving citizens in decision-making. It’s an area that’s still being built and explored, but what most people don’t realize is that it holds promise as a positive force for impact.
To learn more about open government in Canada and its benefits for the world of social impact, we sat down with five passionate federal public servants leading this work.
This Week’s Most Popular in Future of Good
1. The 5 Competencies the Impact Sector Needs for the AI Revolution with James Stauch & Alina Turner
Why It Matters: In order to create a future where artificial intelligence helps us create lasting social impact, the social sector needs to catch up. In this final article in James Stauch and Alina Turner’s series on AI and social impact, we explore the five competencies needed in order to successfully realize that future.
2. 3 Ways the Canadian Justice System is Failing Women (& How We Address It) by Kenza Moller
Why It Matters: As cultural perspectives shift, so do a country’s expectations of its governance and systems — so it’s not entirely surprising that in July, Canada’s federal government announced nearly $2 million in funding to help advance gender equality in Canada’s justice system. But exactly where is that inequality showing up most, and how are national women’s organizations tackling these issues?
3. What’s a Community Bond, Anyway? by Christopher Trotman
Why It Matters:Thanks to ever-changing political environments and limiting restrictions imposed on nonprofits by funding bodies, the ability of non-profit organizations to grow and secure their long-term is often hampered. One solution? Community bonds present an opportunity for organizations to leverage the power of their community to fund projects that can have a big impact, even beyond real estate usefulness. Christopher Trotman of Tapestry Community Capital gives us a primer on the impact investing tool.
4.Edge & Main, Episode 2: Moving From an Individual to a Collective Worldview with Indy Johar
Why It Matters: Climate change, poverty, hunger, division — these global challenges are all symptoms of a larger root problem, says Indy Johar, co-founder of Dark Matter Labs. To solve them, we need to move in a meaningful way from an individual worldview to a collective one.
What Matters from the World of Impact
Each week, our editorial team scans the top 50 impact-focused newsletters from Canada and around the world, so you don’t have to. We curate to bring you key news, insights, and analysis.
1. Are Canada’s youth less civically engaged than older generations?
Why It Matters: Canada’s 2015 federal election saw a 40 percent increase in youth turnout from the 2011 election before it. As we lead up to another federal election, though, the Samara Centre for Democracy asks in a new report: was that increase a one-off spike, or part of an ongoing trend in youth political engagement?
Go deeper
2. How can nonprofits better communicate the costs of programs and organizational infrastructure?
Why It Matters: For years, nonprofits have had to fight to defend the funding of organization infrastructure costs, with donors and funders often looking at any admin, fundraising, and marketing spending as unrelated to a program’s direct costs. To change this view, argues Curtis Klotz of Propel Nonprofits, we need to change how we communicate costs and funding.
Go deeper
3. How one community foundation is bringing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals local
Why It Matters: It’s easy to feel like the UN’s 17 SDGs are too large-scale, too challenging, and too global to tackle on a local level — but unless we can map them out at a community level, it’s hard for individuals to feel like they can make a difference. By basing research, grants, and events on the SDGs, however, local organizations can start to shift that perception.
Go deeper
4. Business Roundtable in the United States redefines the purpose of a corporation
Why It Matters: It’s a sign of the times, and a good one at that: this week, the Business Roundtable — a group of the United States’ top corporate leaders — said that the purpose of a business is no longer just to seek profits for shareholders. Their new definition of purpose now includes employees, the environment, and society at large.
Go deeper
5. Inside the innovation lab solving climate financing
Why It Matters: Despite the expensive damage climate change could cause both governments and private companies, funding for natural climate solutions remains low. But could the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance’s plan to brand climate solutions as investment opportunities help change that?
Go deeper
Opportunities from the World of Impact
This is a community-oriented space to share valuable impact-focused opportunities. If you have something you’d like for us to include, just email info[at]futureofgood[dot]co.
1. Registration opens for Ontario Nonprofit Network’s Nonprofit Driven 2019 ✅
Taking place in November, the ONN’s Nonprofit Driven will bring together 600 nonprofit and community leaders and policymakers at a public policy forum for Ontario’s nonprofit sector. Join for two days of plenary sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities. Register now.
2. Working on an initiative to help communities adapt to climate change? 🌳
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation is currently accepting applications for initiatives to fund that aim to make communities more resilient to extreme weather events. Projects should work on enhancing communities’ capacity to prepare, respond, and adapt to events like droughts, floods, wildfires, and extreme weather on a community level. Proposals due September 6.
3. Imagine Canada explores the rise of social impact in business in Winnipeg 🧐
Winnipeg charities and nonprofits are invited to join Imagine Canada on Tuesday, August 27 to explore the rising focus on social purpose within companies and how that shift is affecting those in the charitable field. Register now.
4. Apply for Laidlaw Foundation’s Youth Action Fund 💪
Laidlaw Foundation recently launched a new Youth Action Fund, which offers grants to grassroots initiatives working with youth underserved by the education system and overrepresented in the justice and child welfare systems. Initiatives must be Ontario-based. Apply by September 16.
5. Register for Nesta’s FutureFest 2020 🚀
Join Nesta in London next March for a festival of artistic installations, performances, talks, and debates that will help you explore and co-create a better future for us all. Register now.
6. Registrations open for Advocate! 2019 📣
Bringing together current and emerging leaders from across North America, Advocate! is a conference focused on building successful advocacy initiatives across politics, public policy, business, and the social sector. It’s on November 14-15 in Calgary.
Sign up to get the next Impact Insider delivered straight to your inbox.
Tell us this made you smarter | Contact us | Report error
