Investing in community quality of life

by hanspetermeyer

I was just reading a column by Nancy Lublin about burn-out in the NGO sector. That got me thinking about PnPPs (Public non-Profit Partnerships).... and the neglected status of NGOs.

What do NGOs do?

NGOs invest in quality of life in our communities. PnPPs make this work more effective, long-lasting. But how many people understand what NGOS do in our communities? Here's the short version: We've experienced a generation of senior level government downloading; this has left our neighbourhoods and communities vulnerable; responsibility for community quality of life is now pretty much squarely on the shoulders of our NGOs. 

Historically, it's been through voluntary and NGO sector investments that have given soul and character to our hamlets, towns, and small cities. Public parks were – and still are – often donated. Festivals, trails, benches, ornamental tree-planing is often carried out by volunteers. Water systems are often directly developed and managed by residents. Dance halls and recreation facilities are usually the product of a dedicated association of dancers, gymnasts, swimmers and their parents. This is how NGO sweat and financial equity turns into investment in community quality of life. At some time, management and care of facilities is either shared with (in a PnPP) or assumed by local government. The history of my favourite community dance hall, the Native Sons Hall in downtown Courtenay, is an excellent example of this kind of PnPP development and process.

Why should we be thinking about NGOs and PnPPs now?

As we look to the challenges of replacing eroding infrastructure, mitigating and/or adapting to climate change and an aging population, private-public partnerships are hailed as a solution. Indeed, the private sector should be engaged as we look at the (significant) challenges we're facing. And, we should also be engaging the proven capacity, passion, and energy of the non-profit sector – and of PnPPs. Particularly with things that the private sector is unable or unwilling to do, like stream stewardship, child/teen/family programs, and neighbourhood watches that don't have a profit angle.

It's important to note that while most NGO activities don't have profit angles, NGO sector activity already has a positive impact on the private and public sectors. NGOs, on their own, but particularly through PnPPs, make investment for long-term community well-being and quality of life. Financial reward is not an anticipated return on investment (ROI); safer streets, seniors' housing, and proper-function salmon habitat, are, however, expected and demonstrated ROIs.

Private and public ROI on NGO and PnPP investments

NGO and PnPP investments do, however, show up positively on private and public sector balance sheets. Proper-function stream systems mean less insurance (and other mitigation) costs related to flooding, higher real estate values for homeowners adjacent to greenways and streams, and higher property tax revenues for local government. Until recently, little of this was appreciated. Even less was measured or evaluated. Which is why the nP/NGO sector is often neglected, or even dismissed as resource. This is beginning to change.

An example: In many communities PnPPs are already established to provide for a range of housing needs. This is contributing to community quality of life. And that, as BC's real estate professionals have formally recognized, is something that has a positive impact on the value of real estate sales and equity.

Another example: amenity migration – people moving to locales with well-preserved/protected environmental amenities. It's a curious paradox of the development industry: resistance to business-as-usual growth and development sometimes preserves the values (environmental, social, aesthetic) that, in turn, make communities more attractive and of higher value in the marketplace. A smart developer in the Kootenays, Okanagan, or east coast of Vancouver Island sees stewardship groups as partners in adding or sustaining financial value in the land. 

How can we support these investments?

NGOs are a good thing for our communities. PnPPs are ways to leverage and enhance the good things NGOs do. How then can we make sure that the individuals working in them, and the organizations themselves, don't burnout as they help deal with the challenges our communities face?

An example is given by the Real Estate Foundation of BC. I love to work for this Foundation. In 20+ years they've made sustainable land use practices a focus of what they do. They've also shown a commitment to actively working with NGOs to get better, more effective ROI. An example of this kind of collaboration and investment is the South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Partnership (SOSCP). Another is the Comox Valley Land Trust (CVLT). SOSCP is explicity a PnPP. A good part of its work involves coordination of and capacity-building within government agencies. CVLT engages in informal PnPPs, particularly through its Regional Conservation Strategy. Both initiatives are having an impact on how the public and private sector are understanding long-term regional sustainability. These PnPPs are positively shaping the long-term quality of life in the respective regions.

Keeping the fire alive

While good things are happening for NGOs (and for PnPPs), generally speaking, the sector is not in good shape. As Ms. Lublin makes clear: People burn out because their passion and commitment to community isn't being fed. It's the same at an organizational level: NGOs (and PnPPs) are important, but their value isn't recognized. They are not understood for what they are: caretakers of our communities' sustainability, quality of life, the soul and character of the places we call home.

Ms. Lublin's suggestions for addressing personal burn out are good ones. For organizational level challenges, we need to better understand, measure, and communicate the ROI of NGO investments. With that information we can start making our own investments – as individuals, families, businesses, and taxpayers. For example: every year my four kids get $100 to "invest in their world." It's not a lot of money, but I'm hoping it gets them thinking about what's important in their life, how they can support it. Sometimes it goes to farm animals in Africa. Sometimes it goes to supporting cancer research. Sometimes it goes to the local land trust. It all goes into NGOs that are building quality of life. And that makes my kids' world a better place.

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