The Neoliberal Foundations of Fundraising, 1995–2008

Abstract

This chapter identifies the policy changes, trends, and debates in the years 1995–2008 pivotal to understanding the neoliberal foundations of fundraising in Canada. Neoliberal policy restructured the relationship of government to the nonprofit and voluntary sector by making government funding scarce and conditional on winning short-term contracts. New representatives of the sector did not contest these changes but sought consensus-oriented partnerships with government. Resulting trends included intense competition between nonprofit organizations and growth in the size and number of major gifts, but fewer charitable donations from ordinary Canadians. To keep major gifts flowing and growing, fundraising bodies lobbied successfully for augmented income tax incentives for charitable donations primarily benefitting the wealthiest donors.