About

We will convene the nonprofit sector so it can:

• Share knowledge and learnings to improve the day-to-day work of organizations.
• Discover opportunities to collaborate and share services.
• Explore what sector transformation means and what is required to ensure operations, funding, and governance systems adapt to 21st century challenges and reflect a more equitable world view.
• Conduct meaningful cross sector conversations.

We will build capacity so the nonprofit sector can:

• Effectively respond to ongoing changes in organizational and political leadership, technological capabilities, societal values, and demographics.
• Be the leaders society needs to expand equity, diversity and inclusion in our communities.

We will amplify the voice of the nonprofit sector so it:

• Is recognized in all its diversity by government, business, and society as an equal partner.
• Has influence on regulation and policy changes impacting the sector.
• Has access to sector-wide research and data that guides policy and funding requests.
• Develop shared key messages on broad issues of importance to the sector.

We will model the sustainable, creative, transparent, and inclusive organization we want to see in the sector, aiming to:

• Hire and retain exceptional staff and board members who reflect the diversity of our communities.
• Continue our EDI learning journey guided by our 2021 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan.
• Share services and resources wherever possible.
• Implement policies that ensure the health and well-being of our staff.

The sector and society are shifting, and our work at ECVO must respond appropriately. We seek sector transformation that will enhance sector agility and resilience so organizations and their personnel may adapt to the social, environmental, and economic changes of the 21st Century.

We seek to be bold in our ideas and in the way we communicate our work because the issues our sector face require honesty and approaches beyond the status quo. We push into uncomfortable places in order to achieve new learnings and opportunities for growth and necessary change.

We believe collaboration, not competition, strengthens our communities and sector partnerships. We support sector organizations to find common ground and discover ways they can share resources and ideas. Internally, we encourage our team to work without silos and find interdisciplinary solutions to common challenges.

We conduct our work and relationships in ways that build trust. We aim to fairly, transparently, and accurately represent our members and community so they can rely on our strong voice and reputable programs to achieve their goals.

Relationship is at the core of everything we do, whether through supporting the development of interpersonal relationships—member to member, mentor to mentee, volunteer to staff—or more macro sector partner relationships. We understand that the way we relate to each other can be marked by inequality and injustice that is structural in nature. In all of our relationships we strive for equality, justice, and reconciliation.