A B.C. group will lead the development of formal non-profit network in the province to help organizations better support their communities.

Vantage Point, which serves other non-profits, got a $650,000 boost from the province Friday (Feb. 9), announced B.C.鈥檚 Community Development and Non-profits Parliamentary Secretary Megan Dykeman. She said non-profits are vital to people and communities in the province.

Vantage Point will lead the development of a provincewide non-profit network to help other non-profit organizations 鈥渟trengthen their potential and improve their ability to support and advocate for the people and communities they serve.鈥�

The funding is meant to support research, planning and data sharing about the state of the non-profit sector, and Vantage Point will develop a steering committee of sector leaders that will set a governance model and strategic priorities for a formal B.C. non-profit network. The network will then meet regularly to collaborate and advance work that addresses issues affecting all non-profit organizations in the sector.

Vantage Point CEO Zahra Esmail says non-profits are not optional, but instead essential.

鈥淭his investment in a provincial network will help to elevate non-profits in B.C. through improved co-ordination, research, visibility and ability to advocate. These efforts will contribute to a stronger, more sustainable and even more effective sector, all of which will make the lives of B.C. residents better.鈥�

A release from the Social Development Ministry says that non-profit organizations help the government deliver on its priorities, including affordable and supportive housing, addressing homelessness and strengthening food security.

In B.C., there are more than 31,000 non-profit organizations employing about 335,000 people, with women making up 74 per cent of employees in the sector. Non-profit organizations make an economic contribution of $28 billion to the provinces gross domestic product.

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