Re-introducing Nonprofits Vote!
Dani Deboice, Alexa Briggs and Christi Cruz at the Nonprofits Vote relaunch.
On September 16th, nonprofit advocates, communities, and partners from across Alberta celebrated the return of Nonprofits Vote. What began in 2019 as a get-out-the-vote campaign evolved into a collaborative effort not just to increase voter turnout, but put nonprofit issues on the political agenda.
The relaunch marks a shift: from limited election-cycle activity to year-round advocacy, meeting demand for bolder sector representation, and supporting political engagement among communities of nonprofits. And yes, a cool new logo! We're making a space to access resources, connect with peers, and understand Alberta’s political landscape through the nonprofit lens.
Joining us for the celebration were Courtney Theriault, Matt Solberg, Philippe Fournier, Lisa Young and Amanda Reaume, who led a titillating discussion about new municipal parties in Alberta and what that may mean both for Albertans and for nonprofit advocacy. The panel was part of our ongoing series, Political Gossip with Friends. Look for more on their insights next week!
What’s New
A community of practice, updated news and political analysis, and resources to support your advocacy. Explore the website to find out more!
Why Policy Priorities Matter
We paired the relaunch with our ongoing event series Political Gossip with Friends, which featured an all-star panel covering Alberta’s foray into municipal parties. Click the image to watch!
With a sector as large and diverse as nonprofits, it’s easy to get pulled in many directions. That’s why in 2023 we identified priority issues that affect all nonprofits– and hosted party leaders Danielle Smith and Rachel Notley to respond to them, with hundreds of our nonprofit friends. These policy priorities are not a wish list, but a focused strategy to ensure our advocacy is focused, credible, and effective. We continue to make good progress, some of which you can check out here.
Why Nonprofits Should Care About Politics
Decisions made by elected officials can dramatically change our ability as nonprofits to do our work effectively, with repercussions for the communities that rely on them. Government decisions impact:
Funding & Resources – budgets for housing, health, arts, and more.
Policies – nonprofits see the frontline realities for issues like poverty, housing, climate, and equity and can push for smarter, fairer policies.
Protecting Organizationl Mission – laws and regulations that can affect nonprofit operations.
Building Partnerships - nonprofit engagement in politics opens doors to collaboration and influence.
If nonprofits don’t speak up, policies are written without the voices of the people we serve, and our work risks being limited by rules we didn’t help shape.
What’s Next
The return of Nonprofits Vote marks a shift from one-off election campaigns to a stronger, sustained voice for Alberta’s nonprofit sector. With clear priorities and a growing community, we can make sure nonprofits are at the table when decisions are made.
Join us in shaping this movement! Sign-up to stay connected with Nonprofits Vote for resources, events, and opportunities to make the sector’s voice heard. Together, we can ensure nonprofits are a part of every political conversation that matters.