Community organizations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador urge the new Progressive Conservative government to deliver on its election pledge for a multi-year core funding model. Annual funding applications create ongoing uncertainty as each fiscal year ends.
Challenges of Annual Funding Cycles
Kaberi Sarma-Debnath, executive director of the Multicultural Women’s Organization of N.L., notes that her group submits applications every February for provincial government funding. The organization also secures program-specific support from provincial and federal sources and employs two full-time and two part-time staff members. However, retaining employees proves difficult without long-term commitments.
“There is no multi-year program, and that’s the biggest distress or challenge we face,” Sarma-Debnath states. “We cannot offer staff any benefits or long-term programs, making retention very difficult.”
Enid Pendergast, executive director of the Froude Avenue Community Centre, highlights the time demands of annual applications. The centre receives core funding from Newfoundland and Labrador Housing but seeks additional grants for other initiatives.
“It takes an extreme amount of time and it’s constant,” Pendergast explains. “To support other programs and meet community needs, we constantly battle for available grants.” She adds that multi-year funding would enable better forward planning and reduce repetitive applications.
Benefits of Multi-Year Funding
Angela Crockwell, executive director of Thrive, describes a multi-year provincial funding program as a “game changer.” Her organization juggles funding from various government agencies, and stable support would offer staff security, cut administrative burdens from repeated proposals, and eliminate annual financial audits.
“We know our funding for the next 12 months but nothing beyond, making long-term planning challenging,” Crockwell says.
Sheilagh O’Leary, NDP MHA for St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi, supports the shift during ongoing pre-budget consultations. “Most organizations hang on by their fingernails,” she observes. “A multi-year model provides certainty, stability, and sustainability for planning.”
Finance Minister Craig Pardy has not yet responded to inquiries on the matter.
