The Increasing Importance of Waterloo Region Charities

Recent organizational changes across the local not-for-profit sector have been remarkably similar to Waterloo Region forprofit businesses. Mergers and amalgamations are a popular option for increasing operational efficiencies, reducing expenditures, and providing improved service delivery across constituencies served.

Five years ago, two local United Way agencies merged into United Way Waterloo Region Communities. The amalgamation of United Way Cambridge and North Dumfries with United Way Kitchener Waterloo and Area became effective on April 1, 2017. At that time, combined services were considered beneficial for managing regional population growth and accompanying complex client issues.

On July 1 of 2022, the Cambridge and North Dumfries Community Foundation amalgamated with the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation to become the new Waterloo Region Community Foundation. The new organization will continue existing efforts around three major areas – granting, impact investing and convening. At the same time there exists significant potential for increasing collaboration with individuals and other groups on working together for developing forward thinking solutions to meet current and future needs across the community.

The new YMCA of Three Rivers is the official unification of the YMCAs of Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo, the YMCA-YWCA of Guelph and the YMCA of Stratford-Perth. Through the amalgamation process existing strengths and expertise have been combined to better serve all clients and communities. The new entity claims that through 150 years of operation they have demonstrated a lasting commitment by showing up and delivering the programs, outreach and services that people need. Through unification, the organization is better equipped with a bold new vision and purpose.

As Waterloo Region’s population continues to grow and the COVID-19 pandemic persists, fiscal and other pressures will increase for all levels of government to provide necessary social and related services for supporting our most vulnerable residents. The many delivery gaps in Waterloo Region are prominently serviced by these new organizations and others who provide food, clothing and essential programs that assist residents on belonging within their communities.

They deliver services to the disadvantaged, support local and national health care, assist with youth services and education, and manage settlement programs for recent immigrants. Since March of 2020, their responsibilities have collectively been exponentially expanded. One of the factors that separates Waterloo Region from many other communities across Canada is the unique cooperation between local charities and local business. Staff and volunteers from not-for-profit organizations serve on the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and member committees along with assisting on event planning or other functions. Our Chamber is an organization of employers in public, private and non-profit sectors across the Region and collectively our capacity to make a significant difference on the lives of our residents is immense.

Our Region is well known across Canada for the tremendous community services we provide to immigrants arriving from around the world. When the federal government required communities to assist with refugee settlement, Waterloo Region through our historical commitment to collaboration and cooperation, has been and will continue to be available for support.

Looking forward to the future, an outstanding group of individuals are serving across the Region of Waterloo notfor-profit sector. Joan Fisk, a former business manager and President of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, is leading the local United Way. The new Waterloo Region Community Foundation recently announced the appointment of President and CEO Eric Avner who brings extensive American philanthropic experience.

In many respects the traditional lines between for-profit and not-for-profit organizations are clearly less defined than previous generations. The charitable sector is recognizing the benefits of larger organizations with expanded responsibilities and higher efficiencies. Our growing local population with accompanying challenges requires strong leadership and we are collectively prepared to deliver where required.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ian McLean

Ian is President and CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce

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